Ralston Valley senior Andrew Wingard (28) is greeted in the end zone by junior Tanner Hauptman (24) after one of Wingard’s five first-half touchdowns during the Mustangs’ 48-0 victory against Grand Junction on Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex. (Dennis Pleuss)
ARVADA — Ralston Valley senior Andrew Wingard did his best Tony Dorsett impression late Friday afternoon at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Wingard had a 99-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter against Grand Junction in the first round of the Class 5A state football playoffs. It was one of five first-half touchdowns for the senior tailback as the No. 1-seeded Mustangs galloped to a 48-0 victory.
Ralston Valley senior Dalton Pribble (15) turns up field after catching a pass from quarterback Cooper Loyd in the first quarter Friday. Pribble scored a pair of touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 48-0 victory over Grand Junction. (Dennis Pleuss)
“Ninety-nine yards, I’ve dreamed about that. Not many people have been able to do that. To go 99 yards is a great feeling,” said Wingard about his run that put the Mustangs up 41-0 and induced a running clock for the remainder of the game. “I owe it all to my teammates and offensive line. I just had to get through the hole and finish the rest.”
Wingard, who committed to the University of Wyoming a few weeks ago, admitted he nearly ran out of steam during his attempt to match the feat Dorsett accomplished during a Monday Night Football game for the Dallas Cowboys back in 1983.
“I was completely gassed,” said Wingard, who hurdled diving defender to make it into the end zone. “I felt like I was running the final 50 meters in a 400 on the track.”
He became the 15th player in state history with a 99-yard run, the third this season, and is now officially tied for the state record when it comes to the longest touchdown run from scrimmage.
Wingard didn’t see the field after halftime. His six carries for 163 yard and three touchdowns, along with a 78-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Chase Heffley and 60-yard punt return for a touchdown was enough to allow the two-way player to take in the second half from the sideline.
“He’s has got some work to do,” Ralston Valley coach Matt Loyd joked about Wingard’s first-half performance. “He probably ran 130 yards when all was said and done on the (99-yard TD) run. He can make guys miss. He makes it look effortless.”
It wasn’t a one-man show by any means for the Mustangs. Ralston Valley quarterback Cooper Loyd threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior Dalton Pribble to start the scoring in the first quarter. Pribble had the lone score in the second half with a 31-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Ralston Valley’s defense was just as impressive pitching a shutout against No. 8 Grand Junction (4-6). The Mustangs put pressure on Grand Junction senior quarterback Michael Poland early and often. Five different Mustangs (Nick Eberly, Anthony Vessa, Jack Martin, Kyle Emery and Collin Root) each recorded a sack in the first half.
“Today we threw in a new blitz going ‘A’ gap and it was wide open. We made the plays,” Eberly said. “Give credit to the defensive line. They opened up the gaps for us.”
Grand Junction quarterback Michael Poland (3) tries to ward off Ralston Valley defenders Jack Martin and Parker Gregston near the sideline Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
The Mustangs’ stingy defense hasn’t allowed an in-state opponent to score more than 15 points in any game so far this season. La Serna in California put 24 points on Ralston Valley in its season opener, but the Mustangs’ offense posted a 47-point performance.
“That undefeated regular season means nothing if you don’t come out here and prove it,” Matt Loyd said after his team improved to 10-0 on the season. “I was pleased with the focus. Offensively we came out sharp. Defensively we made plays like we have all year.”
Ralston Valley, one of the four No. 1 seeds, plays the winner of Eaglecrest/Legacy in the second round next week. The Legacy Lightning hosted the Raptors at North Stadium on Friday night.
Back-to-back wins over Hinkley and Gateway to close out the regular season got Grand Junction into the 32-team field. The Tigers had a 0-5 record against 5A teams that made the postseason tournament.
“You can’t overlook anyone,” Wingard said looking forward. “Grand Junction is tough every year. We came out with a really good passion this week.”
Ralston Valley senior Collin Root (9) gets behind Grand Junction’s defense Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex. Root had two catches for 48 yards, along with a sack on the defensive side of the ball in the playoff victory against Grand Junction. (Dennis Pleuss)
Ralston Valley junior Nick Eberly, left, puts pressure on Grand Junction quarterback Michael Poland during the first quarter Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Mustangs recored five first-half sacks in the 48-0 victory in the first round of the Class 5A state football playoffs. (Dennis Pleuss)