Hollens helps Columbine handle Pomona, 3513

LAKEWOOD» Doitall Tanner Hollens had the Rebels running wild.

The junior twoway player powered Columbine past Pomona Friday night to solidify their spot atop the 5A Metro West league with a 3513 victory at Jeffco Stadium. The Rebels remain unblemished at 90, 40 league.

Hollens made it 280 at 2:11 in the third quarter with his second shortyardage rushing touchdown. Senior quarterback Logan DeArment followed with a 48yard touchdown run to bookend his scamper that opened Columbine’s scoring.

“We sent a statement and the state knows who we are now,” Hollens said. “Keep pounding it down their mouth. We were doing five yards at a time and they were getting tired. Came out with the ‘dub.’ “

Adam Harrington sounded the opening salvo minutes into the second half with a 67yard touchdown run to push Columbine’s lead to 210. Pomona’s answer stalled when David Ross was ruled out of bounds at midfield on a 30yard, thirddown, circus catch.

Dominic Bettini cracked Columbine’s shutout with 9:07 left in the game on a 10yard run that was set up by a 22yard strike from Riley Welsch to Jack Pospisil. The senior quarterback found his sophomore receiver streaking righttoleft across the hash marks, draped by two Rebel defenders.

Sophomore running back Ben Cruz set up a 1yard touchdown run from Welsch at 3:34 with the longest play of the game — a 61yard rush.

Columbine spoiled Pomona’s early chances with interceptions on consecutive drives. Pomona’s opener crossed into Rebels territory but Welsch was picked by Luke Folsom off a deflected pass just outside the red zone. DeArment capitalized on the Rebels’ theft with a 14yard run at 6:56 of the first quarter. Hollens intercepted Welsch at the Rebels’ 3yard line to snuff Pomona’s ensuing drive and the Rebels profited again.

Run after run lead to DeArment completing a 13yard pass to Julian Martinez, who got behind 10 Panthers, which pushed the Rebels into Pomona territory at the 48yard line. Hollens later pounded to the Pomona 2yard line and punched it in a play later to seal a 97yard drive and give Columbine a 140 lead with 7:20 until halftime.

Columbine’s punter made his first appearance with 1:13 left in the game.

Pomona running back Therious Robison, and his 133.4 yards per game, was absent because of injury.

“That scoreboard looks worse than what it was,” Rebels coach Andy Lowry said. “It felt like a grind, every yard and step of the way.”