1
December 5, 2014 VOLU M E 1 4 | I SS UE 2
CentennialCitizen.net A publication of
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Cherry Creek quarterback Joe Caplis jumps on the back of coach Dave Logan to celebrate the 25-24 victory over Valor Christian for the 5A state championship at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Nov. 29. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Bruins back on top Milo Hall, gutsy 2-point conversion lift Cherry Creek to its ninth title By Jim Benton
jbenton@colorado communitymedia.com Once upon a time, Cherry Creek was as dominant a high school football program as there was in Colorado. Valor Christian has been the king for the past five years, but after a thrilling state championship game Nov. 29, Cherry Creek again wears the crown. The Bruins emerged with a 25-24 victory over the Eagles in the Class 5A title contest at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. “We are going to be remembered at (Cherry Creek) forever,” said Bruins senior running back Milo Hall, who rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns. “I’m real proud to bring back the tradition of winning.” Cherry Creek twice rallied from touchdown deficits in the fourth quarter, converted a game-winning two-point conversion with 5:09 left in the game and ended Valor’s bid for a sixth straight state championship. Creek was making its 16th trip to a state title game and the Bruins won their ninth championship. They captured eight championships between 1982 and 1996, with Cherry Creek’s last title coming 17 years ago, when Creek beat Dave Logan’s Arvada West team, 48-33. Creek had advanced to four championship games since 1996 but never won until beating Valor in the classic showdown between Colorado’s former football top dog and the new powerhouse pro-
gram on a warm November afternoon. Junior quarterback Joe Caplis, who attended Valor his freshman year before transferring to Cherry Creek, said the Bruins accomplished their objective. “Our goal was to win the state championship but to do it against such an incredible program was very sweet,” he said. “We have a lot of respect for those guys.” Logan, who has coached for 22 years and took the reins at Creek in 2012, won his seventh state title at his fourth different school. “They are all special,” said Logan. “This was special because it was today. These kids had never experienced a championship. “To start the season 1-2, we had a lot of battles and played the schedule we did. We had to play Valor twice and Regis Jesuit twice. It was a great accomplishment for a group of young men that worked so hard.” There were plenty of heroes for Cherry Creek (11-3), which earned its second win this season over the Eagles (10-4). Hall, who finished the season with 2,289 rushing yards, had touchdowns runs of 70 and 24 yards. His final scoring run was a highlight-reel play in which he eluded three tacklers and threw a straight arm while running backward into the end zone. Valor was penalized for a facemask on Hall’s run, and the Bruins decided to attempt a two-point conversion from inside Bruins continues on Page 17
Cherry Creek players celebrate with the state championship trophy Nov. 29. Photo by Tom Munds
Cherry Creek’s Milo Hall dives ahead for extra yardage during the Class 5A state championship game. Hall rushed for 214 yards to help his team edge Valor 25-24. Photo by Tom Munds