Valor Christian earned another shot at Cherry Creek on Nov. 26 with a 42-41 double overtime victory over Ralston Valley in a Class 5A semifinal playoff game at Valor Christian.
After Ralston Valley failed to convert an extra point in the second OT period, Valor scored on a run by Trey Scott and added the extra-point kick by Jeremy Claycamp, which ended the game and sent the Eagles (11-2) heading to Empower Field for a 5A state championship game against Cherry Creek (11-2) on Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Valor has lost the past two 5A title games to Creek by 21-0 scores and the Eagles have not been strangers to CHSAA championship encounters.
The Dec. 3 game will match two of Colorado’s most prominent football programs.
This will be Valor’s sixth showing in a 5A state title contest. The Eagles have won eight state titles, including one in 3A and one in 4A.
Cherry Creek has won the past three 5A state titles and will be making its fifth straight appearance in the state title contest. The Bruins have captured 12 state titles.
Ralston Valley lost to Valor during the regular season but had a 28-21 lead heading into the final 4:40 of regulation time in the semifinal contest.
Valor mounted a 71-yard drive with Gabe Sawchuk scoring on a 10-yard run to send the game into overtime.
Asher Weiner, Valor’s quarterback, passed for 74 yards and ran for an additional 123 yards. Roman Bradley rushed for 142 yards and two TDs for the Eagles.
“When they missed the extra point, we thought we had a chance,” said Valor coach Bret McGatlin. “We still needed to score a touchdown, which was big and put the extra point through. We had little time to win it.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to play for a state championship. Cherry Creek is pretty good. We’re going to see what we have to offer this next week. I know one thing, that it’s our blood and we’ll be ready to play against a real good Creek team.”
On defense against Ralston Valley, Bradley, Jackson Oriol and Blake Kirschke each had seven total tackles. Scott and Ethan Carlson each had an interception.
In a Class 3A semifinal game, Lutheran (11-2) defeated Durango 45-28, and will play in its first state championship game against undefeated Roosevelt (13-0) on Dec. 3 at CSU-Pueblo.
Lutheran, which had four interceptions, built up a 38-7 lead in the fourth quarter.
