PUEBLO — For the entire first half, it felt like both Eaton and Lamar just needed a big play to solidify control of the Class 2A football championship game.
Nothing came in the first 24 minutes, but Eaton’s Ryan Dircksen opted for two massive plays in the third quarter that quickly gave the Reds control and an eventual 28-21 win to give the team its second-ever state football title.
Dircksen blocked a punt setting up Tanner True’s one-yard score and on the next possession nearly sacked Lamar quarterback Zane Rankin in the end zone for a safety. He settled for an intentional grounding call, forcing Lamar to punt the ball from its own one. That play was rewarded later when Juan Maravilla scored from five yards out, his second touchdown of the game.
“That’s how we do it,” Dircksen said. “There are ups and downs all over the place and it’s just about if (the offensive) guys want it or not. We just had to ask what they wanted and that’s what they got.”
Surrendering 21 points doesn’t exactly scream defensive lockdown, but there is no doubt that Eaton doesn’t have a state championship without big plays on the defensive end. The Reds (4-2 overall) kept Rankin contained to just 28 rushing yards and 70 passing yards in the first half.
More photos from the game. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
Eaton was on the board thanks to a Maravilla six-yard touchdown run. But that was the lone score of the first half and Eaton knew that eventually, Rankin would find a way to make his big plays.
“We were up, barely,” True, the game’s Most Outstanding Player, said. “But it was like that last week and we had some tough plays right before half, we were getting down a bit but we just had to stay positive.”
Maravilla’s 68 rushing yards and rushing touchdown for the Reds helped set the early tone. That tone carried over in the second half as he rode the emotional momentum that the defense established.
“Honestly we didn’t make any major adjustments,” Eaton coach Zac Lemon said. “We knew coming into this we just had to do what we do. We weren’t going to do anything crazy or try anything different.”
Lamar (7-2) got on the board with 1:36 left in the third as Rankin finally found space and broke for a 29-yard touchdown run.
That seemed to free up Lamar a bit. The next drive, Rankin found Greyden Martinez for a 71-yard touchdown pass to make it a 21-14 game. Blake Buxton then ripped the ball loose from Maravilla on the first play of the next drive, to get the ball back with a chance to tie the game.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous,” Lemon said.
But the defense again showed up in a big way.
Brogan Barr ended any hopes Lamar had of pulling even as he picked off Rankin on a long 3rd down play and returned it for a touchdown to once again give the Reds a comfortable lead.
Rankin added another touchdown pass, this time finding Buxton from 32 yards out, once again getting Lamar within a score. Eaton’s final offensive drive stalled at midfield, giving Lamar one last chance to either extend the game or get a chance to get the win.
But the game was clinched thanks to a familiar theme. Morgan Tribbett sacked Rankin and knocked the ball loose. Dircksen jumped on top of the ball and held on to it the same way he and his teammates held on to the state championship trophy just a few minutes later.
More photos from the game. (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)
More photos from the game. (Lance Wendt/wendt5280.com)