AURORA | With at least part of a feeling of deja vu, the Eaglecrest football team finished furiously against Cherry Creek in its regular season finale.
The Raptors rallied from a 21-point deficit to tip the Bruins by a point in 2012 and scored the last 20 points in the rematch Friday afternoon at Legacy Stadium, but ran out of time in a 41-34 loss that clinched the outright Centennial League championship for Cherry Creek.
Junior quarterback Elijah Ross rushed for four touchdowns for coach Mike Schmitt’s Eaglecrest team, which finished the regular season 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the league and now awaits its position in the 32-team Class 5A state playoff field.
The Raptors got into last season’s playoffs with the win over Cherry Creek and proceeded to upset two higher-seeded teams before a close loss to Cherokee Trail in the 5A quarterfinals.
It was an emotional contest for Eaglecrest, which rallied around junior tight end Anthony Karmayzn, whose father Michael died from cancer at the age of 50 earlier in the week. Michael Karmazyn was a well-respected coach of youth football and baseball in the area.
A pregame tribute to Karmazyn included releasing of balloons and a moment of silence and the family served as honorary captains for the opening coin flip.
Cherry Creek 41, Eaglecrest 34
Score by quarters:
Cherry Creek 14 13 0 14 — 41
Eaglecrest 7 0 7 20 — 34
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel.
