AURORA | As wild as Centennial League football can be, Grandview has managed to find ways to win nine straight games in what is widely considered the toughest conference in Colorado.
Ranked No. 8 in the latest Class 5A Associated Press media poll, Grandview dominated top-ranked and previously undefeated Cherry Creek for three quarters on Friday night at Legacy Stadium, then had to hold on in a final few minutes for a remarkable 28-20 victory.
Junior Hayden Blubaugh continued his offensive explosion as he rushed for a touchdown, caught one and also threw one, all to help coach John Schultz’s Wolves build a 28-0 lead before the Bruins closed late. Coming off back-to-back 300-yard rushing efforts, Blubaugh piled up 195 on 27 carries.
“It feels amazing honestly; everybody was saying they are the No. 1 team in the state and all this hype for them, but we came out here and balled,” Blubaugh said. “Offensive line played amazing, offense played amazing and defense played amazing. We put our hearts out there and got the ‘W.’”
Two of junior quarterback Gunnar Lamphere’s five completions went for touchdowns — one to Blubaugh and one to Quinn Stokes, while Gunner Gentry caught Blubaugh’s TD toss — and Grandview improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Centennial League.
The Wolves have won nine straight games in league play stretching back to the end of the 2013 season when they lost to the Bruins.
Grandview’s defense smothered Cherry Creek (6-1, 2-1), which was shut out until a bizarre sequence of events in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins blocked the Wolves’ field goal attempt and returned it for an 85 yard touchdown, then capitalized on several personal foul calls to send an onside kick deep into the Grandview end.
Cherry Creek recovered at the 2 yard-line and scored a play later, then added another short touchdown in the closing minutes before time ran out.
Coach Dave Logan’s Bruins had a 13-game winning streak snapped dating back to a 24-6 loss to Grandview last October.
Grandview must likely win road games against Overland (Oct. 23) and Valor Christian (Oct. 30) to claim a second straight Centennial League championship.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
(8) GRANDVIEW 28, (1) CHERRY CREEK 20
Score by quarters:
Cherry Creek 0 0 0 20 — 20
Grandview 7 7 14 0 — 28
SCORING
First quarter
Grandview — Hayden Blubaugh 7 yard pass from Gunnar Lamphere (Ben Genovese kick)
Second quarter
Grandview — Quinn Stokes 11 yard pass from Lamphere (Genovese kick)
Third quarter
Grandview — Blubaugh 17 yard run (Genovese kick)
Grandview — Gunner Gentry 31 yard pass from Blubaugh (Genovese kick)
Fourth quarter
Cherry Creek — Marquise Davis 85 yard blocked field goal return (kick blocked)
Cherry Creek — Curtis Appleton II 1 yard run (run failed)
Cherry Creek — Trey Windham 1 yard run (Ammon Johnson pass from Joe Caplis)
RUSHING
Cherry Creek: Ashton Riley 22-49, Trey Windham 1-1, Curtis Appleton II 3-1, Nikolai Bryant 1-1, Joe Caplis 7-(minus 14)
Grandview: Hayden Blubaugh 27-195, Dom Chapa 2-4, Garrett Goulding 5-3, Alex Reyna 6-3, Deandre Shorts 3-2, Micah Chavez 1-0, Gunnar Lamphere 3-(minus 5)
PASSING
Cherry Creek: Caplis 12-29, 128 yards, 1 interception
Grandview: Lamphere 5-7, 78 yards, 1 touchdown; Blubaugh 1-1, 31 yards, 1 touchdown
RECEIVING
Cherry Creek: Dimitri Stanley 4-54, Ammon Johnson 4-43, Kyree Owens 1-14, James Herold 2-11, Anthony Martinez 1-6
Grandview: Marcus Lawrence 2-53, Gunner Gentry 2-35, Quinn Stokes 1-11, Blubaugh 1-10
