AURORA | When teams meet that combined to average 112.5 points, what happens? A defensive struggle, of course.
A high-flying Eaglecrest offense that tallied 56 points in each of its first two contests and a Denver South unit that scored 44 points or more in its previous outings found the end zone an oddly foreign place Friday night at frigid Legacy Stadium.
Swarming to the football — especially against behemoth running back Trevonte Tasco — and forcing turnovers in bunches, the Raptors’ defense rose to the occasion in a frigid 12-6 homecoming victory over Class 4A third-ranked Denver South at Legacy Stadium.
After they allowed 69 points in an opening loss in Florida and 33 more a week ago in a win over Highlands Ranch, the Raptors’ defense — led in the middle by junior Anthony Malone and senior Russell Denny — kept Denver South off the scoreboard completely.
The Rebels’ lone score came on a blocked punt return by Potros Mabany with less than a minute left in regulation, but Tommy Johnson recovered the ensuing onside kick for Eaglecrest, which ran out the clock to improve to 2-1.
Both of Eaglecrest’s scores came following turnovers forced by the defense.
Senior quarterback Elijah Ross — who had accounted for six touchdowns in each of the previous two games — cashed in an interception by young brother, Colbey, with a 31-yard touchdown to Anthony Karmazyn to give the Raptors the lead in the second quarter.
Following Denny’s fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter, a scrambling Ross found an open Glenn Washington for a 27-yard touchdown for what turned out to be the winning score after the late punt block.
Eaglecrest finishes off its non-league schedule with a 7 p.m. contest on Sept. 18 against Castle View at Douglas County Stadium before starting Centennial League play on Sept. 26 against Grandview.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or [email protected] Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel. IG: Auroraprepsentinel
EAGLECREST 12, DENVER SOUTH 6
Score by quarters:
Den. South 0 0 0 6 — 6
Eaglecrest 0 6 0 6 — 12
SCORING
Second quarter
Eaglecrest — Anthony Karmazyn 31 yard pass from Elijah Ross (kick failed)
Fourth quarter
Eaglecrest — Glenn Washington 27 yard pass from Ross (pass failed)
Denver South — Potros Mabany 40 yard punt block return (kick failed)
