(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)
ERIE — Erie football moved into the Class 3A title game for the first time since 2008 with a 31-14 win over Longmont.
“It’s surreal,” Erie’s Noah Roper said. “It’s been my dream ever since I was a little kid. It hasn’t fully hit me yet. I can’t believe it right now.”
In Cooper’s second year as head coach, Erie is in the championship thanks to swarming defense and a pounding run game.
“If you’re a championship team, it matters what you do,” Cooper said. “Not as much what the other team does. I thought we really stayed within what we do well.
Longmont jumped out front with a quick drive. A one-handed, diving catch by Jaydon Elkins and a short run by Oakley Dehning had the Trojans up 6-0.
Then, Erie ripped off 31 unanswered points.
“That was so big,” Roper said. “Our defense is so much better than we’ve been playing this season. We have some stars on our defense.”
A 99-yard drive after a goal line stand was capped by Jacob Mansdorfer’s second touchdown of the day, sending Erie into the half with a 17-6 lead.
(Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com)
“It was a change in the game,” Cooper said. “Our offense coming out and getting a score before halftime, and then getting the ball. All of a sudden, Longmont looks up like, ‘What happened to this game?'”
“When we got down there, I told them, ‘We got this,'” Roper added. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t get this. They buckled down, made a big play, and did exactly what I asked them to do.”
Noah Roper saw his efforts get rewarded with a touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter to widen the lead.
“Our offensive line really deserves a lot of credit,” Cooper said. “They were able to grind drives off, then Noah broke a couple. We were able to keep the ball away from their talented offense.”
On the ensuing drive, Roper intercepted Dehning’s pass at the goal line to put the ball back into the hands of the Tiger offense.
“We went in the locker room and talked,” Roper said. “We’ve been running the whole entire game right down their throats and they can’t stop us, so why stop now?”
And Erie took full advantage.
The Tigers ate up clock on the way to a Roper one-yard touchdown run to ice the game at 31-6.
“It’s so nice to know I have everyone around me and everyone supporting me,” Roper said. “Everyone is giving their contribution to the win.”
Erie’s last title appearance was in 2008 — a 22-21 overtime loss to Olathe in the 2A championship game. The Tigers won the 1A state championship in 1997.
“I’m excited beyond belief,” Cooper said. “One more step. We’re trying to keep everything in context.”
Erie will face undefeated Palmer Ridge in the championship. The Bears beat Palisade 28-14 in their semifinal matchup.
“They have a lot of talent,” Cooper said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity.”