(Bert Borgmann/CHSAANow.com)
LIMON — The Limon Badgers, ranked No. 2 in 1A by CHSAANow.com, totaled more than 500 yards total offense in downing Burlington 35-14 at Lloyd Gaskill Field. The game was Limon High School’s 51st Homecoming win in 68 tries.
With the win, Coach Mike O’Dwyer’s Badgers start the season 4-0, while Glynn Higgs’ Cougars fall to 1-3.
But miscues by the Badgers throughout the game gave life to the Cougars, who came back in the second half to make a game of it.
In the first half, Gavin Liggett was the key to Limon’s 21-0 lead. At 9:12 in the first quarter, Liggett scored from 21 yards out, but his PAT try missed, leaving Limon up 6-0 after one quarter. Liggett, who scored on a 38-yard run late in the second, ran for 117 yards in the first half.
Kerigan Kappel scored early in the second on a 6-yard run and Liggett added a two-point conversion to make it 14-0 in favor of the home team. Liggett’s 38-yard sideline to sideline romp and subsequent PAT made it 21-0 Limon at halftime.
Burlington, looking for a big defensive stand late in the third, saw Ligget slip around left end and ramble 92 yards for a touchdown. His PAT made it 28-0 and Limon looked to be cruising along.
The Cougars kept the pressure on, though, when Martin Torres rumbled off tackle for 58 yards and a score with 40.7 seconds left in the third. A Jonathan Lopez PAT made the score 28-7.
The fourth quarter saw both teams move up and down the field, with Burlington ultimately threatening at the 1-yard-line at 3:20 when Chance Carlin and Eloy Sandoval missed on a handoff. Liggett recovered the fumble and it looked like the game might be over. One the very next play, Liggett mishandled the snap and the Cougars’ Lopez fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. His PAT made it 28-14 and the Cougars were right back in the game with 3:10 remaining.
(Bert Borgmann/CHSAANow.com)
Several long passes and timely runs had Limon at Burlington’s 20-yard line with about 1:40 left. Liggett took a knee, but on the next two plays, Burlington’s defense stifled two attempts by Kappel. So, with 1:01 remaining Liggett dropped back to pass and hit Kappel in the end zone for a 22-yard score. His PAT made it 35-14.
Carlin moved the Cougars to midfield, but his final last gasp throw went just out of the reach of Mitchell Richardson and time ran out.
In end, Liggett had run nine times for 214 yards and three TDs, while completing 6-of-11 passes for 105 yards and the scoring toss to Kappel. He was intercepted by linebacker Josh Satterly in the third quarter.
Kappel had 155 yards on 23 carries and one TD, but also caught the TD pass. Luke Meier added 58 yards for the Badgers, while James Larson had 13. In all, Limon ran for 440 yards on 39 carries. The Badgers lost four of five fumbles.
(Bert Borgmann/CHSAANow.com)
For the Cougars, Torres pounded out 108 yards on 12 carries including his 58-yard TD run. Sandoval had 68 yards on 16 carries, while Nik Reese added 4 yards and Carlin 2. Carlin was 9-of-17 for 96 yards and one interception. Burlington lost one of two fumbles.
Limon plays host to Las Animas next Friday at 7:00 p.m., while Burlington plays host to Calhan Friday at 6:00 p.m.