AURORA | Close several times over the past few years, the Eaglecrest football team finally got the better of Grandview.
A showdown of two of the three unbeaten teams from the city — Aurora Central being the other — went to the Raptors in dramatic fashion at Legacy Stadium, as a late rushing touchdown by junior quarterback Jalen Mergerson proved to be the winning margin in a 36-29 victory.
Mergerson ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw another to Tyler Peabody and Victor Garnes rushed for 127 yards scored twice for coach Mike Schmitt’s Eaglecrest team, which downed the former Centennial League rival Wolves for the first time since 2010.
Grandview (2-1) had won the last six meetings between the teams, including overtime contests in 2012 and 2014.
Coach John Schultz’s Wolves — who won a one-point thriller in California the previous week — got 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns from senior running back Hayden Blubaugh, a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Gunnar Lamphere to sophomore Amaris Duggan and a defensive score from junior Luke LaFlam, but couldn’t overcome three turnovers in the end.
Quentin Bowen’s interception with just one two minutes remaining preserved the Raptors’ victory.
Aurora Central also remained undefeated with a 36-31 victory over Smoky Hill Friday night.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or [email protected] Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
EAGLECREST 36, GRANDVIEW 29
Score by quarters:
Grandview 7 7 7 8 — 29
Eaglecrest 14 7 8 7 — 36
RUSHING
Eaglecrest: Victor Garnes 14-127 (2 touchdowns), Jalen Mergerson 8-50 (2 touchdowns), Kyle Wagner 1-8, Elijah Anderson-Taylor 3-2
Grandview: Hayden Blubaugh 27-140 (2 touchdowns), Gunnar Lamphere 11-20, Tyler Ross 7-14, Jordan Billingsley 1-12, Robert Woods 1-6, Micah Chavez 1-2
PASSING
Eaglecrest: Mergerson 12-17, 181 yards, 1 touchdown; Theryne Sandoval-Jimenez 1-1, 3 yards
Grandview: Lamphere 9-13, 141 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
RECEIVING
Eaglecrest: Garnes 4-74, Tyler Peabody 3-52, Corey Corbin 4-48, Sandoval-Jimenez 1-7, Dawson Macomber 1-3
Grandview: Gunner Gentry 5-72, Amaris Duggan 2-33 (touchdown), Ross 1-12
