Pomona runs past Legend
ARVADA» Even after the injury bug bit the Pomona Panthers again Friday night, the run game kept churning out yards.
With breakout star running back Dominick Nichols knocked out of the game in the first quarter, Bennie Cruz filled the void as No. 5 Pomona racked up 200 yards rushing en route to a 36-7 win over No. 12 Legend in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs at NAAC Stadium.
“Our offensive linemen are doing a lot better job than earlier in the year,” said Pomona coach Jay Madden, whose Panthers (7-4) will face Regis Jesuit (11-0) in next week’s quarterfinals. “They’ve grown as much as any group of I’ve ever coached.”
Nichols rushed for over 500 yards in five games after Cruz went down with an injury earlier this season. But after the sophomore was injured on just his second carry Friday night, it was Cruz’s turn to step up with his first 100-yard game of the season.
“Our coaches are great,” said the junior, who had 18 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. “They produce us, you know. Work hard in the weight room, and that’s just it.”
After throwing two quick interceptions, junior quarterback Brady Ritzmann responded with three scoring drives in the second quarter to flip an early Legend lead into a Pomona rout.
“I just had to trust my guys up front and everyone around me to do their job,” Ritzmann said. “I just put it where it needs to be. And they do the rest.”
Ritzmann missed on four of his first five throws, including the two picks, but his sixth went to Jack Pospisil for a 38-yard touchdown and second-quarter lead the Panthers never relinquished.
“It’s awesome that he rebounded,” Madden said. “I’m glad he responded. He needs to take a deep breath sometimes and we’re going to need him down the stretch.”
Big multi-purpose athlete Chase Lopez was instrumental throughout the game on both sides of the ball for the Panthers. The senior had two rushing touchdowns on the goal line, including one right before halftime.
Lopez and the defense came out stout to start the second half, with Sanjay Strickland notching a safety. It was one of three sacks from the senior linebacker. But the defensive aggressiveness did lead to a donnybrook where Lopez was ejected — an incident that will carry a suspension for Pomona’s next game.
The loss ended the best season in program history for Legend (9-3), which set a new high for wins in a season and also notched its first playoff win.
Ralston Valley 42, Arapahoe 21.
Quarterback Walker Brickle found Devin Mcnearny and Caleb Rillos for touchdown passes and ran in a score of his own as the Mustangs held off a spirited Warriors upset bid in Friday night’s 5A state playoff game in Arvada.
Tyler Roybal added a pair of rushing touchdowns and Chase Wilson ran in a score of his own for the secondseed Mustangs (11-0), who advance to a quarterfinal matchup with Eaglecrest (9-3) next week.
Arapahoe quarterback Cole Hansen hooked up with Adam Bakke on a pair of touchdown passes, as the 15th-seed Warriors (7-5) pulled within one score twice in the second half before the Mustangs pulled away in the fourth quarter.