LAKEWOOD — Two programs with something to prove met Friday at Jeffco Stadium in a dramatic, thrilling game that went down to the final seconds.

Chatfield, looking to re-establish itself as a Class 5A powerhouse after a semifinal appearance last year, won 23-16 over Eaglecrest, which is looking to return to playoff contention under new head coach Jesse German.

Both defenses played well, but the difference was Cash Williams’ one-yard TD sneak, with the sophomore QB jumping over the line with 19 seconds left to lead the Chargers to victory. That scoring drive was set up by an interception a few minutes earlier by senior Riley Suddath, who had another pick on the Raptors’ Hail Mary heave to tie the game.

For Chatfield (3-0), the win was a pass in the Chargers’ first real test of the season after beating Dakota Ridge and Horizon in the first two weeks. Especially considering Chatfield graduated 25 seniors from the team last year.

“We knew we needed a lot of guys to step into new roles, but through these first three games, we’re starting to get it done,” said Suddath, one of several new starters for the Chargers. “This win tonight showed us that we can compete and (eventually) win it all. We want to go all the way.”

Third-year Chargers head coach Kris Rosholt echoed that sentiment for a program that went 5-7 in 2022, a year after returning to Class 5A following a 4A state title.

“Anytime you play a good team in a tight game, I look at our mental toughness,” Rosholt said. “Do we want to finish this game? Are we nervous, or where are we at? Seeing the confidence of our guys and the look in their eyes, and knowing that they believed in themselves, is what I was looking for and I was really happy to see that tonight.”

The teams ended the first quarter in a 0-0 draw, with neither attacking team able to build much momentum in a frame that predicted how long the match would last.

Midway through the second quarter, the Raptors recorded their first major momentum swing. Senior linebacker Ramadje Owens intercepted Williams, putting Eaglecrest at the Chargers’ 44-yard line.

A trick play followed via a wideout pass. Eaglecrest senior QB Joe Steiner motioned to senior receiver Burke Withycombe behind the line to the right side, threw the ball to him on the snap, and Withycombe then threw the ball downfield for a 41-yard completion to wide-open senior Brayden Black.

That set up Steiner’s one-yard touchdown run two plays later. Then Withycombe hit Owens on a pass for a two-point conversion — going for two is a staple for German, who previously revived Green Mountain as a Class 3A power — to make it 8-0 with 7:42 left in the half.

“That (interception and then the TD) gave us some great momentum,” German said, “but I just want us to keep that momentum going.”

Chatfield, which had a turnover or punt on its first five drives, finally got a boost thanks to an interception by senior Hunter Balderston in the closing minutes of the first half. That set up an 80-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 42-yard catch by freshman wideout Rome Bell, then capped by a six-yard TD grab by junior tight end Roni Rohlman with 18 seconds left.

“We started off slow, but my coaches and teammates kept me in it, kept me going,” Williams said. “We found our rhythm on that drive before halftime and that was huge to hit. We weren’t going to settle for a field goal there.”

The Raptors led 8-7 at halftime, but both defenses held their ground in the third quarter.

Chatfield’s offense had a long, clock-eating drive that ended with the Chargers being stopped by a fullback’s dive on 4th-and-goal from the half-yard line. But the Raptors’ defensive stand was quickly negated when Eaglecrest threw a swing pass on the next play and it was blown up in the end zone by Balderston for a safety.

That gave the Chargers their first lead, 9-8, and the home team extended their advantage on the next drive. Again, it was Bell who came up with another highlight play. The freshman’s 36-yard TD grab made it 16-8 with 9:35 left in the game, and suddenly Eaglecrest was on their heels.

“(Rome) is just starting to reach his potential,” Rosholt said. “For a 14-year-old to come in and have that much confidence in himself (at the college level), he deserves everything he gets here.”

But the Raptors responded with Steiner’s 58-yard TD pass to senior Logan Robitaille, followed by a catch by Black on the two-point conversion, tying the game with 8:56 left.

After Chatfield punted, the Chargers’ defense went into overdrive, with a long sack by senior Aidan Nesheim followed by a pick by Suddath at the Eaglecrest 36-yard line with 5:19 remaining. That set up a game-winning score on a drive that featured a key fourth-and-short conversion at the 10-yard line.

Rosholt said he opted not to take the field goal on that play and down the line because he had confidence in his veterans up front.

“I looked at our O-line, which is all seniors, and I looked them in the face and said, ‘Can you get this?'” Rosholt said. “And they said yes. If they want it on their shoulders, I’m going to put it on their shoulders.”

There were plenty of positives for Eaglecrest to take away despite not making it on the road. German says he expects the Raptors to be a playoff team and compete well into November in his first season at the helm.

“It was a good fight, but we have to earn the right to win,” German said. “There were a lot of little things we missed. … We were up against a really good team. Our team can play with anybody. I’m not discouraged because this train is moving.

“We have the windscreen mentality. The windscreen is huge, the rear-view mirror is small and we just have to keep our eyes on the front… we keep working on that mentality and we will be happy with the results.”

Originally published: September 13, 2024 at 7:57 PM