Pomona freshman Max Borghi (29) tries to outrun Chatfield senior Garrett Hochevar (33) during the first quarter Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. Borghi had 13 carries for 171 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ wild 49-41 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
ARVADA — A wild and crazy Class 5A Jeffco League football finale between Chatfield and Pomona came down to an errant snap at the North Area Athletic Complex on Friday night.
Chatfield had a third-and-goal from the 3-yard line with less than three minutes to play trailing Pomona 49-41. The Chargers looked primed to go in for its seventh offensive touchdown and then be able to go for a 2-point conversion to potentially send the game into overtime.
However, a high shotgun snap to Chatfield senior quarterback Kyle Winkler sailed over his head. Winkler recovered the ball at the 23-yard line, but his throw into the end zone on the ensuing fourth-down play fell incomplete.
Chatfield senior Sean O’Dell (2) sprints down the sideline for one of his three touchdowns Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. (Dennis Pleuss)
“It was a huge relief,” Pomona senior Isaac Marquez said of the errant snap and following incomplete pass that led to the Panthers taking over on downs.
Pomona, ranked No. 4 in this week’s CHSAANow.com 5A poll, was able to run out the clock and survive with a 49-41 victory.
“This was (Chatfield’s) playoff life,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said after his team improved to 7-2, 6-1 in league on the season. “I don’t think our young kids realized how important it was to Chatfield and how hard they would play. Thank goodness we found a way to get one stop.”
Chatfield (3-6, 2-5) needed a win Friday to have a chance on making the postseason. The Chargers were ravaged by injuries this season and sat in the 35th spot in the wild card point standings going into the final week of the regular season. The top 32 teams advance into the 5A state tournament that begins next week.
Chargers’ coach Bret McGatlin said he had 13 players who would have been starting against Pomona that had been lost due to injuries before or during the season.
“I think our kids came out relaxed,” McGatlin said. “After battling what we’ve gone through all year we just went out and had fun. They played well and battled to the very end against one of the best teams in the state.”
Pomona’s running back tandem of Marquez and freshman Max Borghi each pulled their weight in the win. Marquez had 18 carries for 161 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also caught three balls for 34 yards and a score.
Borghi finished with 13 carries for 171 yards. Junior Dillon Pace pitched in a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter that gave the Panthers a 21-7 lead.
Chatfield senior Brayden Gilbert (6) heads up field with Pomona junior Chris Gatseos (8) in pursuit during the first half Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex. (Dennis Pleuss)
Chatfield answered nearly every Pomona score with one of its own. Senior Sean O’Dell had a pair of rushing touchdowns only 1 minute, 12 seconds apart in the second quarter that tied the game at 21-21. O’Dell accepted much of the offensive load for the Chargers with 34 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He also had six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown.
“Sean is our best player out there,” Winkler said. “He played a hell of a game.”
Winkler was also impressive picking apart the Panthers’ defense for the majority of the game. The senior was 27-for-35 passing for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Winkler also had two 1-yard touchdown runs.
Chatfield threw in several new offensive wrinkles against Pomona. Madden also had to deal with losing a pair of linebackers due to injuries in the game that cause him to change the Panthers’ defensive scheme.
“It was chaos. It wasn’t even controlled chaos. It was pure chaos, but we found a way to win,” Madden said. “We’ll take it.”
Chatfield concludes its season with a non-state bracket game next week.
Pomona waits until later this weekend to find out whom will be its first-round state tournament opponent. The 32-team 5A state tournament bracket will be posted on CHSAANow.com on Sunday.
The Panthers’ two losses this season were to No. 2 Ralston Valley and No. 6 Valor Christian. Pomona has a significant quality win over No. 5 Cherry Creek under its belt.
“Defense has to wash this one away and start new on Monday to be ready for playoffs,” Marquez said. “We are real confident going into playoffs. We just have to work hard every day of the week in practice to get it done.”
Madden’s squad finished second in 5A Jeffco behind Ralston Valley, who completed its undefeated regular season with a dominating 55-14 victory over Mullen on Thursday night at NAAC.
Pomona senior Isaac Marquez (27) breaks out of the pack for one of his three rushing touchdowns Friday night against Chatfield. Marquez also had a 9-yard touchdown catch in the Panthers’ 49-41 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
Chatfield senior quarterback Kyle Winkler (11) tucks the ball and runs with it Friday night against Pomona. Winkler threw for more than 300 yards and also run for two scores as the Chargers gave No. 4 Pomona a run for its money at the North Area Athletic Complex. (Dennis Pleuss)