Pine Creeks wins 4A state crown
The Pine Creek Eagles capped a dominant season with a 34-3 win over Broomfield in the 4A state championship game at Empower Field at Mile High.
Leading 7-3 at halftime, Pine Creek blew the game open in the second half thanks to quarterback Gavin Herberg. The game's MVP ran for a touchdown, and then fired another to Eddie Kyle to give Pine Creek a 21-3 lead. They would never relinquish it.
David Moore III ran for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns. The final carry of his stellar career was a one-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter.
Kyle put the exclamation point on the win with a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown to cap the scoring.
Pine Creek clinched the fourth state crown in school history.
"Words really can't explain it," Herberg said. "It was a team effort with all of these brothers, knowing them forever. There's nothing like it."
Pine Creek's defense held Broomfield to just 142 yards of offense, registered five sacks, two takeaways, and a touchdown.
"We've been working since January," Tight End/ Defensive Lineman Rece Rowan said. "We've been lifting four days a week, five days a week. We went all out and we told each other if this isn't our year then we don't know when it is. We went out here and we did it. I'm proud of these guys. I love these dudes. I wouldn't want to have it with anybody else."
Broomfield's defense keyed in on Moore from the beginning, but the star running back still managed to eclipse the 100-yard mark.
"This group is special," Moore said. "We already knew we were special. In 8th grade, we were picturing winning state. This just means the world to me that we won it."
Pine Creek Cheats. Their coaches recruit from other schools. They’ve been caught before, but it hasn’t stopped them. Their championship should have an asterisk.
Wrong. Those boys work so hard and deserve their title. If “recruiting” is a valid issue and you are truly bothered by it then bring your evidence to the appropriate authorities. Otherwise support the teams involved and congratulate them BOTH on a good game! Good job Broomfield! Good luck to ALL the players involved in an exciting game.
Their Recruiting from outside their attendance area, and district, has been well documented. Indeed they sit outside Junior High/Middle school games in the area and hand out invitations to their summer program to the best athletes in the previous game. My son received one, even though he lives in the Cheyenne Mountain Attendance area. Pine Creek’s starting defensive end lives across the street. Three starters live in the Widefield attendance area. Don’t believe me still. Try reading the article below, where CHSSAA slapped then on the wrist. It served as no deterrent to their recruiting practices.
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/01/27/pine-creek-athletic-department-responds-to-chsaa-restriction-for-violations-that-include-recruiting/