Evergreen seniors Greysen Lincoln (16) and Jacob Ronder, on the ground, attempt to wrap up Glenwood Springs quarterback Dante Sparaco in the fourth quarter Saturday at Trailblazer Stadium. The Cougars sacked Sparaco eight times during Evergreen’s 24-7 Class 3A state playoff victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — If defense truly wins championships Evergreen has what it takes to make a run at the Class 3A state football trophy.
The No. 2 seed and undefeated Cougars (11-0) had a dominating defensive effort Saturday afternoon against No. 15 seed Glenwood Springs. Evergreen’s defense scored a pair of safeties and sacked Demons’ sophomore quarterback Dante Sparaco eight times in a 24-7 first-round postseason victory at Trailblazer Stadium.
Evergreen quarterback Dylan Reifeis looks for an open receiver during the first half Saturday. Reifeis was 14-for-34 passing for 168 yards in the Cougars’ 24-7 playoff victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
“We knew we had to get him (Sparaco) feeling uncomfortable. He is a pretty good quarterback,” Evergreen coach Rob Molholm said of the Demons’ 6-foot-4 signal-caller who is already getting looks from Division I college programs. “Our pass rush, our front seven, was dominate.”
Glenwood Springs (6-5) drew first blood with a 20-yard touchdown run by Sparaco midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The Demons didn’t threaten to score the remainder of the game.
Evergreen’s defense forced seven straight punts and finished the game off with senior Marcus Cassin sacking Sparaco in the end zone for a second safety in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
“That was our main mission,” Cassin said of focusing on Sparaco. “We watched film and he (Sparaco) was the major of the offense. We figured out early they couldn’t pick up our linebacker blitzes. He was slippery. He got away a few times.”
Sparaco had 21 carries for 15 yards, which included minus-60 yards on sacks. The sophomore was held to 6-for-22 passing for 59 yards. He completed just one pass in the second half.
“It was great. I love our defense. They played lights outs,” Evergreen junior quarterback Dylan Reifeis said. “They play with all their heart and play with everything they have.”
Evergreen started to chip away tackling Glenwood running back Luke Prosence in the end zone for a safety with 2:02 left in the first quarter. Junior Davis Price kicked a 37-yard field goal after the ensuing free kick to cut the Demons’ lead to 7-5.
Reifeis gave the Cougars the lead on a 41-yard touchdown pass to junior Seth Ausman on a third-down and long play midway through the second quarter. Reifeis scrambled out of the pocket while avoiding several Demon defenders before finding Ausman uncovered in the end zone.
“I was screaming, ‘Run. Just run.’ He (Reifeis) was right and I was wrong,” Molholm said of the go-ahead touchdown.
Glenwood Springs quarterback Dante Sparaco (10) gets ready to dump off a pass to senior Evrett Marr (88) during the first half Saturday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss)
Evergreen senior Robbie Weinel scored on a 9-yard touchdown run on the Cougars’ next offensive possession to give Evergreen a 19-7 lead at halftime. Senior Tanner Cassin was the Cougars’ workhorse on the ground with 23 carries for 122 yards.
Priced kicked a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter and Evergreen’s second defensive safety was the only scoring in the second half.
“It’s a big one,” Reifeis said of the Cougars’ first playoff win in 15 years. “Last time was 1999 and that team went to the state championship. You never know.”
Evergreen hits the road for the second round. No. 10 Fort Morgan went on the road to beat No. 7 Holy Family on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs host the Cougars next Saturday in Fort Morgan.
Despite ending the playoff victory drought, the Cougars feel they are far from done with major accomplishments this season.
“I don’t think the monkey will ever be off our back until we win state,” Evergreen senior defensive lineman Jacob Ronder said.
Evergreen junior Seth Ausman, right, gets a hug from teammate Connor Solawetz after Ausman’s 41-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter Saturday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss)
Evergreen senior Tanner Cassin, far left, dodges a pair of Glenwood Springs defenders Saturday at Trailblazer Stadium. Cassin had 122 yards rushing on 23 carries for the Cougars. (Dennis Pleuss)