Quick start pushes Pine Creek football past Denver East 41-16
It took Pine Creek only 20 seconds to take control of its second-round playoff game against Denver East on Friday.
Senior Justis Nicholson ran the game’s opening kickoff inside the red zone. Pine Creek’s Jonathan Coar scored on the very next play.
From there, it was all Eagles. No. 4 Pine Creek (10-1) won 41-16 to advance to the 5A quarterfinals.
“It was huge,” Coar said. “We knew what kind of game it was going to be. Justis getting that big return really set the tone for the game.”
Pine Creek’s offense was a group effort. Coar scored the game’s first two touchdowns on the ground.
Then, Ramon Pacheco scored a rushing touchdown to make it a three-score game. The Eagles’ next two touchdowns came through the air, as Cameron Cooper threw passes to Pacheco and Cannon Budge.
By halftime, Pine Creek led 34-0, thanks largely to the Eagles’ well-spread offense.
“We were really balanced,” Pine Creek coach Todd Miller said. “We were able to do a lot of things.”
Coar added, “We have a fantastic quarterback, fantastic O-line. When we have both of those, it’s easy.”
The game was never in doubt, but Denver East kept it closer than it needed to be. The Angels scored the first 16 points of the second half before Mason Miller finally scored the Eagles’ first second-half touchdown to ice the game.
Penalties and miscues kept Pine Creek from taking the 40-point lead needed to send the game into a running clock. It didn’t matter on Friday, but Miller knows the sluggish play in the second half can’t carry over to Pine Creek’s next game if the Eagles want to keep advancing.
The second half, we kind of bogged down every time we got inside the 30, whether it was penalties or just a negative play,” Miller said. “We have to clean that up for sure.”
Next for Pine Creek is a quarterfinal battle against No. 5 Ralston Valley. The Mustangs, 9-2, beat Rock Canyon 42-14 in their Round of 16 game on Friday.
The Eagles’ stellar first half gives Miller confidence that they can keep their run alive.
“You get one and you move on,” Miller said. “You just have to win what’s right in front of you. I thought we did a good job of focusing, and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Pine Creek’s Justis Nicholson returns a kickoff Friday against Denver East.
Pine Creek’s Mason Miller rushes against Denver East on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Pine Creek’s Jonathan Coar finds space against Denver East on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Pine Creek players watch as Denver East’s quarterback throws on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Pine Creek players celebrate after Ramon Pacheco scored a touchdown against Denver East on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.