More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
LAKEWOOD – For 11 consecutive quarters, Columbine’s football team kept opposing offenses out of the end zone.
While that streak may have come to an end in the closing minutes of Thursday evening’s victory over Ralston Valley, the only number that ultimately mattered to the Rebels was the one on the scoreboard at the end of the night.
“We feel good about it,” Rebels linebacker Tim Mullin said after No. 2 Columbine remained undefeated with a 21-7 victory over the third-ranked Mustangs at Jeffco Stadium. “But it’s the future that counts so we’re just trying to keep it up.”
Mullin made a pair of fourth-down tackles in the second half to end Ralston Valley drives, and Mikey Griebel finished the night with 216 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
Griebel hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Jake Lowry in the first quarter and broke off a 59-yard scoring run late in the third to give Columbine (4-0, 2-0 in the Class 5A Jeffco League) a three-score cushion.
“Ralston’s a great team that plays physical, plays tough and they execute probably better than anybody,” Rebels coach Andy Lowry said. “I’m very proud of our kids for playing so hard, just battling and fighting and making plays.”
More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Both teams came into Thursday night’s league tilt unbeaten, and the first half was all about refusing to give an inch on either side. Ralston Valley (3-1, 1-1) was forced to punt the ball four times and the Mustangs also turned it over on downs.
Columbine missed a pair of field goals, but a short pass down the right sideline in the closing seconds of the first quarter turned into a big play when Griebel used a burst of speed to break free.
“Any time you can move the ball, get first downs and keep the drive alive, it’s huge,” Lowry said. “Mikey’s just a great player. He’s one of the best players in the state and he just made a great play.”
The Mustangs moved the ball into Columbine territory on their first possession of the second half, but Mullin tripped up Ralston Valley’s Christian Prather on fourth down. The Rebels then pieced together an 11-play drive that Mullin capped with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 13-0.
“We worked in practice on reading them all week,” he said. “It just worked out in the game.”
After Ralston Valley went three-and-out, Griebel needed only one play to find his way into the end zone for a second time. The junior finished with 147 yards on 23 carries.
“Keep pounding it, and eventually it will open up,” Mullin said.
The Mustangs moved the ball more effectively in the fourth quarter, but a fumble ended one drive and Mullin made another fourth-down stop in Rebels territory to deny Ralston Valley a scoring opportunity.
With two minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the game, the Mustangs finally broke through on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Vowles to Carson Hunt. The senior made a great catch and then shrugged off two defenders to reach the end zone.
Kyle Rush and Tyler Shannon combined to rush for 93 yards to pace Ralston Valley, and Hunt had two catches for 84 yards.
Jake Lowry added 67 yards on the ground for Columbine and Mullin had 16 carries for 56 yards and a score.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Rebels, who pay a visit to No. 6 Mullen on Oct. 2.
“Obviously each step you take in the right column is a huge one in our league,” Andy Lowry said. “We’re two down right now with Bear Creek and Ralston, and we have a tough row to hoe right now.”