Just when Empower Field at Mile High went silent with the Broncos’ bye week, the boys’ high school state championships filled the void in Ft. Collins. The CHSAA Boys 5A champions were crowned along with other divisions over the weekend, and games were played at CSU’s Canvas Stadium in Ft. Collins.

The Cherry Creek Bruins returned as state champions after a 13-10 hard-fought battle over Legend High School. It was the sixth championship title for Cherry Creek in the past seven years. Last season, the only loss for Cherry Creek came in the championship game to No. 2 Columbine. This time, it was a come-from-behind victory after Legend took a 10-0 lead in the first half. Trailing with zero points on the scoreboard, things worsened for the Bruins. Cherry Creek running back Jayden Fox suffered an ankle injury late in the second quarter.

Fox was used sparingly in the third quarter and did not play in the fourth quarter. Despite his injury, he still finished with 99 yards on 11 carries for the Bruins. Stepping up with Fox’s injury was freshman Elijah Cromwell, who finished the game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Cromwell’s valiant effort earned him the title of the National Football Foundation Player of the Game.

“Credit Legend,” Bruins coach Dave Logan said. “I knew this would be a difficult game, they’re a really good football team. We had some things go not our way in the first half and I told the guys’ we have committed to playing 48 minutes, and we’ve only played 24.’”

“I think the thing that stands out the most about this team — this was a really close team,” Logan said. “Maybe closer than some other teams. … I think that and this team was resilient. We had been in close games before. We were tied in the fourth quarter against Pine Creek.”

No. 6 Legend advanced to the championship game with a 35-21 win over No. 7 Fairview in the Final Four and a 35-16 victory over No. 3 Ralston Valley in the quarter-finals. For No. 1 ranked Cherry Creek, they beat No. 5 Valor Christian in the Final Four 42-17 after beating No. 9 Erie, 34-14.

“Both teams had big turnovers,” Logan said about last Saturday’s title game. “And I think it probably aged Legend coach Monte Thelen and me. When you’re coaching 15, 16, 17, 18 year old men, those things happen. But two really good teams, hard fought game and I’m just really pleased that we were able to hang in there and find a way to win this game.”

In other championship action last Saturday at Canvas Stadium, No. 5 Broomfield beat No. 2 Montrose, 35-38, to win the Boys 4A State Championship. It was the fifth state championship win for Broomfield. In the Boys 3A CHSAA State Championship, Thompson Valley beat Mead 16-14 to finish the season undefeated and win their first championship. The game went down to the final play.

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