E-Mail This | Print This
Looney keys Rebels' rally to thrilling 21-14 win over Cherry Creek in title game
By Scott StockerDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
GREENWOOD VILLAGE -- The roller-coster ride for the Columbine football team came to an end Saturday. And, appropriately, it was with the Class 5A state football trophy held high above the Rebels' heads. As more than 7,500 watched at Cherry Creek's Stutler Bowl, which included national and international media and statewide television, Columbine defeated Cherry Creek 21-14 to win the school's first football title. The only other appearance for the Rebels in a championship game was in 1981 against Mitchell. Cherry Creek, seeking its ninth title and sixth of the 1990s, finished the year 11-3. And, Columbine won it in what coach Andy Lowry and players consider quite unconventional, a pass. It came on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Looney, the game's most valuable player, to tailback Andrew Conant on the second play of the fourth quarter. "We were able to get one in (pass) there -- surprised you, huh?" Lowry said. "We don't do it much, but it was time for it. It turned out to be a winner. "Football is an emotional game, and the kids played hard. We've run the gamut of emotions the past seven months," Lowry said. "We love those people (referring to the 12 students and teacher killed in the April 20 tragedy), and we pray for them everyday. "We played hard in the second half," Lowry said. "The kids just came out and started making plays. Cherry Creek is a great football team, but I'm so proud of these guys. I'm not surprised by how they stepped up." With 33 seconds left in the third quarter and the score tied 14-14, Looney, who also plays safety, intercepted Cherry Creek quarterback Andrew Petterson at the Bruins 29 and returned the ball to the Cherry Creek 8. On the second play of the fourth quarter and facing fourth-and-4, Looney dropped back, looked to his left and threw to a Conant, who was wide open, for the touchdown. The score culminated a comeback that saw the Rebels rebound from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to score three unanswered touchdowns. "Having Conant go into the flat was a great call from coach Lowry," Looney said of his only completion of the game on three attempts. "I just flicked it to him and thank goodness he held onto the ball because we couldn't do that for much of the game. But I'll remember everything about this game, the whole day." Conant, who also rushed for 41 yards, was surprised by the call. He, too, was happy to hang on. "It was pretty incredible because we don't pass that much," Conant said. "I wasn't expecting the play at all before it was called. When I went to the line my only thoughts were that I had better catch it. And considering I had fumbled twice, I was a bit scared about it. "This win is so huge for us," Conant said. "Just getting over everything is huge. Words can't explain how any of us feel. It's just amazing." Looney also recovered a fumble that led to Columbine's tying touchdown, a 16-yard run by Landon Jones. But it bothered him the Rebels couldn't seem to hold on to the ball (seven fumbles, four lost). "I don't know what was going on," Looney said. "It was uncharacteristic of us to drop that many." Columbine's first fumble was by Looney and recovered by Cherry Creek's Matt Terry. That led to the Bruins first score, a 20-yard run by David Ramsey with 5:09 left in the first period. The Bruins scored again on their next possession on a 69-yard run by Aaron Randolph. With the two quick scores, Columbine could have been worried. "Not a bit," said Jones, who rushed for 117 yards. "We were down 17-0 in the fourth quarter against Fairview, and that was scarry. This time it was only 14-0, and we had three quarters to go. We knew we were going to be fine." Looking skyward, Jones pointed his finger and said: "This is for all you guys up there. And, it's for everyone at school and our commumity." COLUMBINE 21, CHERRY CREEK 14 Columbine 7 7 0 7--21 Cherry Creek 14 0 0 0--14 Ch: David Ramsey 20 run (Travis Cloyd kick) Ch: Aaron Randolph 69 run (Travis Cloyd kick) Co: Garrett Looney 2 run (Scott Parker kick) Co: Landon Jones 16 run (Scott Parker kick) Co: Andrew Conant 4 pass from Garrett Looney (Scott Parker kick) Attendance -- 7,500 (estimate). cf48 ColumbineCherry Creek First downs 1311 Rushes-yards 53-24333-172 Passing yards 479 Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-3-08-17-2 Punts-Yds. 4-1384-165 Fumbles-lost 7-42-2 Penalties-yds. 8-556-55 Time of possession 20:4227:18 Rushing -- Co, Jones 21-116, Looney 21-89, Conant 9-41. CC, Randolph 23-146, Ramsey 8-29. Passing -- Co, Looney 1-3-0 4. CC, Petterson 6-12-2 64, Kelly Kercher 2-5-0 15. Receiving -- Co, Conant 1-4. CC, Randolph 2-35, Olson 3-23, Reffel 1-11, Miller 1-7, Alfano 1-3. Interceptions -- Co, Looney, Losh. Fumble recoveries -- Co, Looney, Dusty Hoffschneider. CC, Barga, Bonde, Linn, Terry. Sacks -- Co, Kennett. Tackles-assists -- Co, Reinking 6-5, Ingles 4-4, Dusty Hoffschneider 2-4, Losh 3-2, Kennett 3-1, Grengs 3-1, Jason Hoffschneider 2-2, Millazzo 2-2, Looney 1-2, Pesicka 1-1, Willis 2-0, Conant 1-0, Majcen 1-0. CC, Barga 6-7, Talibi 5-6, Clark 5-5, Epperson 5-5, Bonde 3-4, Linn 1-4, Moreland 3-2, Wells 2-0, Randolph 1-0, Olson 1-0, Rudden 1-0, Smethie 1-0, Spencer 1-0, Tesone 1-0. December 5, 1999
GREENWOOD VILLAGE -- The roller-coster ride for the Columbine football team came to an end Saturday. And, appropriately, it was with the Class 5A state football trophy held high above the Rebels' heads.
As more than 7,500 watched at Cherry Creek's Stutler Bowl, which included national and international media and statewide television, Columbine defeated Cherry Creek 21-14 to win the school's first football title.
The only other appearance for the Rebels in a championship game was in 1981 against Mitchell. Cherry Creek, seeking its ninth title and sixth of the 1990s, finished the year 11-3.
And, Columbine won it in what coach Andy Lowry and players consider quite unconventional, a pass. It came on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Looney, the game's most valuable player, to tailback Andrew Conant on the second play of the fourth quarter.
"We were able to get one in (pass) there -- surprised you, huh?" Lowry said. "We don't do it much, but it was time for it. It turned out to be a winner.
"Football is an emotional game, and the kids played hard. We've run the gamut of emotions the past seven months," Lowry said. "We love those people (referring to the 12 students and teacher killed in the April 20 tragedy), and we pray for them everyday.
"We played hard in the second half," Lowry said. "The kids just came out and started making plays. Cherry Creek is a great football team, but I'm so proud of these guys. I'm not surprised by how they stepped up."
With 33 seconds left in the third quarter and the score tied 14-14, Looney, who also plays safety, intercepted Cherry Creek quarterback Andrew Petterson at the Bruins 29 and returned the ball to the Cherry Creek 8.
On the second play of the fourth quarter and facing fourth-and-4, Looney dropped back, looked to his left and threw to a Conant, who was wide open, for the touchdown. The score culminated a comeback that saw the Rebels rebound from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to score three unanswered touchdowns.
"Having Conant go into the flat was a great call from coach Lowry," Looney said of his only completion of the game on three attempts. "I just flicked it to him and thank goodness he held onto the ball because we couldn't do that for much of the game. But I'll remember everything about this game, the whole day."
Conant, who also rushed for 41 yards, was surprised by the call. He, too, was happy to hang on.
"It was pretty incredible because we don't pass that much," Conant said. "I wasn't expecting the play at all before it was called. When I went to the line my only thoughts were that I had better catch it. And considering I had fumbled twice, I was a bit scared about it.
"This win is so huge for us," Conant said. "Just getting over everything is huge. Words can't explain how any of us feel. It's just amazing."
Looney also recovered a fumble that led to Columbine's tying touchdown, a 16-yard run by Landon Jones. But it bothered him the Rebels couldn't seem to hold on to the ball (seven fumbles, four lost).
"I don't know what was going on," Looney said. "It was uncharacteristic of us to drop that many."
Columbine's first fumble was by Looney and recovered by Cherry Creek's Matt Terry. That led to the Bruins first score, a 20-yard run by David Ramsey with 5:09 left in the first period. The Bruins scored again on their next possession on a 69-yard run by Aaron Randolph.
With the two quick scores, Columbine could have been worried.
"Not a bit," said Jones, who rushed for 117 yards. "We were down 17-0 in the fourth quarter against Fairview, and that was scarry. This time it was only 14-0, and we had three quarters to go. We knew we were going to be fine."
Looking skyward, Jones pointed his finger and said: "This is for all you guys up there. And, it's for everyone at school and our commumity."
COLUMBINE 21, CHERRY CREEK 14 Columbine 7 7 0 7--21 Cherry Creek 14 0 0 0--14
Ch: David Ramsey 20 run (Travis Cloyd kick)
Ch: Aaron Randolph 69 run (Travis Cloyd kick)
Co: Garrett Looney 2 run (Scott Parker kick)
Co: Landon Jones 16 run (Scott Parker kick)
Co: Andrew Conant 4 pass from Garrett Looney (Scott Parker kick)
Attendance -- 7,500 (estimate).
cf48 ColumbineCherry Creek
First downs 1311
Rushes-yards 53-24333-172
Passing yards 479
Comp.-Att.-Int. 1-3-08-17-2
Punts-Yds. 4-1384-165
Fumbles-lost 7-42-2
Penalties-yds. 8-556-55
Time of possession 20:4227:18
Rushing -- Co, Jones 21-116, Looney 21-89, Conant 9-41. CC, Randolph 23-146, Ramsey 8-29.
Passing -- Co, Looney 1-3-0 4. CC, Petterson 6-12-2 64, Kelly Kercher 2-5-0 15.
Receiving -- Co, Conant 1-4. CC, Randolph 2-35, Olson 3-23, Reffel 1-11, Miller 1-7, Alfano 1-3.
Interceptions -- Co, Looney, Losh.
Fumble recoveries -- Co, Looney, Dusty Hoffschneider. CC, Barga, Bonde, Linn, Terry.
Sacks -- Co, Kennett.
Tackles-assists -- Co, Reinking 6-5, Ingles 4-4, Dusty Hoffschneider 2-4, Losh 3-2, Kennett 3-1, Grengs 3-1, Jason Hoffschneider 2-2, Millazzo 2-2, Looney 1-2, Pesicka 1-1, Willis 2-0, Conant 1-0, Majcen 1-0. CC, Barga 6-7, Talibi 5-6, Clark 5-5, Epperson 5-5, Bonde 3-4, Linn 1-4, Moreland 3-2, Wells 2-0, Randolph 1-0, Olson 1-0, Rudden 1-0, Smethie 1-0, Spencer 1-0, Tesone 1-0.
December 5, 1999
