Chatfield junior quarterback Kyle Winkler, far left, drops back to pass while getting some protection by senior offensive lineman Denis Tsimbalist as Arapahoe defenders Charlie Leonard (33) and Brian Dennis (83) look to get to Winkler. Chatfield took a 48-46 victory Friday at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood on a last-second touchdown pass from Winkler in the final regular season game for both the Chargers and Warriors. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — Chatfield quarterback Kyle Winkler wouldn’t allow history to repeat itself Friday night at Jeffco Stadium.
Winkler, a junior, threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to running back junior Michael Callahan-Harris on the final play of the game as time expired against Arapahoe. The fourth touchdown toss of the night by Winkler gave the Chargers a dramatic 48-46 victory in the Class 5A Super 6 League showdown.
“It was just a great designed play. Michael was wide open,” said Winkler of the play called ’98 ducks.’ “We put it in about two weeks ago for this kind of situation. It worked out.”
Chatfield was in the almost exact state of affairs three weeks ago against rival Columbine. The Chargers trailed by seven points, but had the ball on the Rebels 18-yard line with 1.4 seconds left. Winkler’s pass fell incomplete, allowing Columbine to win 50-43.
Winkler said he had flashbacks to the Columbine game before taking the snap with 2.6 second left from Arapahoe’s 20-yard line and trailing 46-42.
Chatfield junior running back Jake Carstensen, far left, looses his grip on the football as Arapahoe defenders Talon Jones and Taden Jones combine on the tackle. Chatfield wide receiver Lander Davidson actually recovered the fumble on the play. (Dennis Pleuss)
Chatfield offensive coordinator Craig Aukland called the play, but head coach Bret McGatlin put in his two cents, keeping Callahan-Harris in the backfield on the play instead of on the line. McGatlin wanted to keep this running back hidden before coming out of the backfield on a wheel route.
“Just wanted to get me open and make something happen,” said Callahan-Harris, who also had 16 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with his game-winning touchdown catch.
Winkler was able to buy some time in the pocket before hitting Callahan-Harris with the pass. The junior running back caught the ball near the 5-yard line and quickly turned up field and into the end zone.
“I thought Winkler got sacked for a second. I couldn’t see what was going on,” McGatlin said. “Then I saw the ball in the air. It’s a great finish for our regular season.”
The victory actually helped out Chatfield’s chief rival; No. 6 Columbine (8-1, 4-1 in league) win the Super 6 conference title outright. Chatfield (7-2, 3-2) prevented Arapahoe (6-3, 3-2) from taking the crown. The Warriors handed the Rebels their lone league loss.
“I’m going to send (Columbine coach Andy Lowry) a text that just says ‘Your welcome.’ Andy is one of my best friends,” said McGatlin, who was an assistant coach under Lowry at Columbine for four years before taking over Chatfield’s program. “I don’t know if I want to see (Columbine) again in the playoffs, but we wouldn’t mind it.”
Winkler called helping Columbine win a league title out “bittersweet”.
Arapahoe and Chatfield will both head into the 5A playoffs next week after combining for 1,081 yards of offense from the line of scrimmage.
Arapahoe senior quarterback Gabe Peterson had a monster night throwing for 17-of-25 for 295 yards and four touchdowns. Peterson guided the Warriors’ offense for two fourth-quarter touchdowns after Chatfield had a 42-31 lead going to the final quarter.
Arapahoe senior running back Jose Cancanon, right, tries to avoid Chatfield junior Matt Gaiter during the Class 5A Super 6 League game Friday at Jeffco Stadium. Cancanon had 107 yards rushing and also caught a touchdown pass, but it wasn’t enough for the Warriors as they fell to the Chargers 48-46. (Dennis Pleuss)
Seniors Kevin Dement and Ethan Brunhofer combined for 11 catches to mass 219 yards and three touchdowns for the Warriors.
Arapahoe took 46-42 lead when Peterson connected with Brunhofer on a 13-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play with 1 minute, 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
However, Chatfield’s hurry-up offense mounted an 80-yard drive in 12 plays to pull off the remarkable last-minute comeback.
“Our offense helps with that tempo. We are used to having to drive in a short time,” Callahan-Harris said. “It shouldn’t have come down to that, but it did and we won.”
The other offensive standouts for Chatfield included running back Jake Carstensen. The junior had 119 yards rushing and a touchdown on just five carries. Senior Brandon Zanier had five catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Sean O’Dell had just one catch, but it went for a 74-yard touchdown during the Chargers’ 21-point first quarter.
Arapahoe senior Ethan Brunhofer turns up field after a catch Friday at the Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. Brunhofer had six catches for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Warriors’ 48-46 loss to Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss)
Arapahoe senior quarterback Gabe Peterson loads up for a pass as Chatfield lineman Matt Gaiter closes in Friday at Jeffco Stadium. Peterson threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns, but the Warriors fell short in their regular-season finale. (Dennis Pleuss)