A late push falls short as Columbine beats TJ 41-20.
by Scott Bruskin
photo by Kevin Fleming
The Spartans took the field on a somewhat chilly Thursday night game against #3 state ranked Columbine High School at Jefferson County Stadium. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it was not their night as they fell to the Rebels by a score of 41-20.
The first quarter had a promising start for TJ as Senior cornerback Efrem Woldu intercepted the ball on a bobble by a Columbine receiver. Little did TJ know that Columbine, who rarely passes the football, would consider letting it lose in the first few minutes of a game. The Spartans could not capitalize on the interception, but were able to pin the Rebels on there own 1-yard line. On 3rd and 8, the Rebels decided to throw the ball once more, and were bailed out on a passing interference call on the Spartans. No more than a few plays later, 6-1 215-pound Columbine quarterback Danny Spond broke a huge run on an option play to score a 56-yard touchdown. When all was said and done, the Spartans only trailed by a score of 7-0 after the first quarter. “They came out ready to move their feet and work hard…” said Senior Jordan Pruitt (Rocky Mountain News.)
The second quarter was filled with trouble, as the Spartans had problems executing snaps, fumbling two exchanges that ended up leading to a Columbine touchdown and field goal.
The third quarter started with an unlikely source in third string quarterback, Junior Clarence Graham, trying to mount a comeback for the Spartans. Graham hit Junior Billy Sprague down the right sideline for a spectacular 77-yard touchdown. “Right now we are very inexperienced at the quarterback position. Clarence is one of three guys that can take the position,” said Assistant Head Coach Matt Nicolo. However, only two plays later Columbine bobbled a snap from the shotgun, and Billy Sprague snatched it out of the air and rumbled to the house for TJ’s second touchdown of the game. Unfortunately, Columbine next tacked on another touchdown and field goal of their own, so the game was now 27-13. Columbine then scored on a 27-yard pass from Spond to Nathan Wiggins. At the end of the third, TJ was trailing 34-13.
The fourth quarter was really a way for both teams to get everyone into the game to make impressions on coaches and build on positive aspects for next week. Some positives included some of TJ’s young players receiving actual varsity game experience that they would not have received had the outcome been different. The final score of the game was TJ 13, and Columbine 41. “We played hard, it just was not our best. We came back in the second half knowing that we could hang with them. We just have a few mistakes to fix,” stated Junior Guard Valentino Lamorie.
Penalties played a huge factor in swinging momentum in general, as both teams had touchdowns called back due to infractions. “It is very apparent that we can play with anyone when we execute and eliminate mistakes, but to make those mistakes against a team like that puts us in a bad place,” stated Nicolo.
TJ will look to respond next week when they take on rival Montbello at All-City Stadium on Saturday, September 13 at 4:00pm. TJ should come out amped up and anxious to get their first win of the year.
