Dynasty Alert! Cherry Creek High School's football program has etched its name deeper into the history books, securing their second consecutive Class 5A state championship and their 15th overall title! It's a testament to a program that consistently dominates, but what's the secret to their sustained success? Let's dive in.
Head Coach Dave Logan, with an astounding 13 state titles under his belt at Cherry Creek, led the Bruins to a resounding 56-28 victory over Ralston Valley at Canvas Stadium. Quarterback Brady Vodicka, who threw for an impressive 291 yards and four touchdowns, was named the National Football Foundation's Colorado Chapter Most Outstanding Player.
Vodicka emphasized the team's strategy: "We knew we came in here with a goal to start off strong and just create the tempo pretty early and that's what we did and then never took the foot off the pedal."
Cherry Creek's dominance is undeniable. Except for a single loss in 2023, they've clinched the 5A state title every year since 2019. Coach Logan attributes their success to the dedicated players and coaches, and the strong team culture they've cultivated.
The 56 points scored by Cherry Creek not only set a new state-title game high for the Bruins but also tied the Class 5A championship game record, previously held by Pomona (2017) and Valor Christian (2013).
Running back Jayden Fox had a stellar performance, rushing for three touchdowns and accumulating a total of 149 yards from scrimmage. He praised his offensive line, calling them "the best O-line in the country." Fox, who signed with UCLA earlier in the week, finished his senior season with an incredible 25 rushing touchdowns.
Cherry Creek wasted no time establishing their dominance, taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter with three touchdowns, including two rushing scores by Fox and a pass from Vodicka to Zai Davis. They further extended their lead with a pass from Vodicka to Ty Goettsche in the following quarter.
Ralston Valley's offense, led by quarterback Zeke Andrews, managed to find some success, but they were still down 35-14 at halftime. Andrews threw for 241 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Ethan Shirazi totaled 90 receiving yards.
The third quarter saw Cherry Creek extend their lead with touchdowns from Vodicka and Fox. Vodicka sealed the deal with his fourth touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, this time to Anthony Betti.
Goettsche led the Bruins' receivers with 102 yards and two touchdowns, while Maxwell Lovett added 83 receiving yards. Defensively, Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais led the team with seven tackles and half a sack.
Fox summed up the team's strength: "We have some dogs on offense and defense. Just great players all across the board. It's just hard to beat us because we just got so much talent."
Ralston Valley, despite their valiant efforts, finished their season at 13-1.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is Cherry Creek's dominance good for Colorado high school football? Does it stifle competition, or does it push other teams to raise their game? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
