AURORA | The Anvil is staying put at Rangeview for another year.
The Raiders kept hold of the coveted traveling trophy for the fourth time in five seasons with an improbable, come-from-behind 25-24 victory over rival Gateway Oct. 12 at packed Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
In a game that lived up to the unpredictable nature of the series — which stretches back to the early 1980s — Rangeview (4-3) recovered two onside kicks and scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to rally from a 12-point deficit and stun the Olys.
“The resolve our kids displayed, I will never forget that as long as I live; this win right here,” said Raiders coach Dave Gonzales, who hasn’t lost the “Backyard Brawl” against Gateway since the 2008 season.
“With the ebbs and flows of this game, you can hardly believe it,” he added. “They are physical and well-coached, so we’re thankful to walk out of here with a win.”
Gateway (5-2) was in position to bring about the long-awaited return of the Anvil with a 24-12 lead after Miguel Gonzalez’s second touchdown run of the night, an edge that still stood with 4:17 left.
Junior quarterback Darien Odegard engineered two scoring drives in the final 4 minutes, rushing for a 37-yard touchdown with 3:04 left, then got the ball back when Rangeview engineered a successful onside kick.
Aided by a 15-yard pass interference call on Gateway — one of 19 penalties of the night whistled on the Olys by a flag-happy officiating crew — Odegard capped the Raiders’ drive by throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dezant Burks with 1:21 remaining.
Burks skied over Olys defensive back Eyob Teferi to pull in the ball and Ben Handy’s PAT provided the go-ahead point.
“Big players make big plays; give it up to Dezant Burks, he made the catch in the corner of the end zone and just made it happen,” Odegard said.
“It’s amazing, you can’t get any better than this.”
Gateway coach Justin Hoffman was frustrated with the officiating, which hindered his team’s ability to protect the lead and take time off the clock.
“This one stings; we never should have been in that position,” Hoffman said.
Notes: The physical game saw two ambulance trips to the field, as Gateway’s Jonah Mitchell and Rangeview’s Trey Nubine were each taken off under precautionary measures.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
RANGEVIEW 25, GATEWAY 24
Score by quarters:
Gateway 7 10 7 0 — 24
Rangeview 0 6 6 13 — 25
SCORING
First quarter
Gateway — Tate Johnson 2 yard run (Miguel Morales kick), 4:55
Second quarter
Gateway — Morales 30 yard field goal, 6:38
Rangeview — Felipe Fifita 7 yard fumble return (kick failed), 3:34
Gateway — Miguel Gonzalez 7 yard run (Morales kick), 0:17
Third quarter
Rangeview — Armon Brown 4 yard run (kick failed), 6:48
Gateway — Gonzalez 6 yard run (Morales kick), 3:33
Fourth quarter
Rangeview — Darien Odegard 37 yard run (kick failed), 3:04
Rangeview — Dezant Burks 24 yard pass from Odegard (Ben Handy kick), 1:21
RUSHING
Gateway: Miguel Gonzalez 25-135, Tory Adams 17-99, Tate Johnson 7-30, Nik Adams 4-14, Anthony Holmes 1-9, Darius Harvey 1-0, Lamont Lynch 1-(minus 2)
Rangeview: Darien Odegard 17-80, Armon Brown 13-22, Patrique Hall 2-3, Arealous Hughes 1-1, Zach Zuhse 1-1
PASSING
Gateway: Johnson 5-10, 56 yards
Rangeview: Odegard 14-29, 215 yards, 1 touchdown
RECEIVING
Gateway: Nik Adams 3-34, Holmes 1-11, Jessie Kranzler 1-11
Rangeview: Dezant Burks 2-60, Trey Nubine 3-53, Hughes 4-52, Kharim Mubili 4-46, Josh Gibbs 1-4
