GREENWOOD VILLAGE | Sean Watkins had blood running down his nose when the clock hit all zeroes Friday at Stutler Bowl, but he didn’t even notice.
Watkins was still feeling the euphoria of Eaglecrest’s improbable 29-28 come-from-behind victory over Cherry Creek, a win that put the Raptors firmly into the 32-team field of the Class 5A state playoffs.
Eaglecrest trailed the Bruins 28-7 midway through the third quarter, but Watkins caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Adan Soto and Greyson Hoffman rushed for a touchdown and the deciding two-point conversion as part of 22 unanswered points to end the game.
Coach Mike Schmitt’s Raptors, who came into the game on the bubble at No. 33 in the 5A wild card standings, snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-4 overall ahead of Sunday’s playoff seeding.
Watkins also made a crucial fourth down defensive stop on Cherry Creek quarterback Luke Papilion in the fourth quarter — on which he gashed open his nose — and Cameron Grove intercepted Papilion’s deep ball on the Bruins’ final possession for Eaglecrest.
Ryan Willey had the lone score for the Raptors in the first half, as he found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown that stopped Cherry Creek’s string of 14 consecutive points to start the game.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
EAGLECREST 29, CHERRY CREEK 28
Score by quarters:
Eaglecrest 7 0 14 8 — 29
Cherry Creek 14 7 7 0 — 28
SCORING
First quarter
Cherry Creek — Tahj Willingham 18 yard run (James Simpson kick), 6:06; Cherry Creek — Joseph Parker IV 38 yard pass from Luke Papilion (Simpson kick), 2:53; Eaglecrest — Ryan Willey 3 yard run (Daniel Silva), 1:14
Second quarter
Cherry Creek — Papilion 4 yard run (Simpson kick), 3:42
Third quarter
Cherry Creek — Willingham 4 yard run (Simpson kick), 7:41; Eaglecrest — Sean Watkins 25 yard pass from Adan Soto (Silva kick), 5:40; Eaglecrest — Greyson Hoffman 6 yard run (Silva kick), 2.9
Fourth quarter
Eaglecrest — Watkins 15 yard pass from Soto (Hoffman run), 7:21
