Prep football playoffs: Trojans squeak past Pine Creek to make state semis

By Joshua Lindenstein, Longmont Ledger
LONGMONT — When the touchdowns started pouring in from both sides on Saturday, the Longmont Trojans couldn`t help but think of last year`s trip to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

It was in the 2008 round of eight that the Trojans played a part in one of the games of the year but came out on the losing end, 51-44, against Dakota Ridge.

Longmont's Jake Johnson (14) runs for a gain as Pine Creek's Ben Molina (15) gives chase during the Class 4A State quarterfinals game at Longmont High School on Nov. 21, 2009. KASIA BROUSSALIAN /Longmont Ledger

LHS quarterback Jake Johnson called it his “worst nightmare game” that day.

Perhaps justly so, Johnson and his teammates got to experience the glory of winning such a thriller on Saturday at Everly-Montgomery Field.

The 11th-seeded Trojans out-gunned No. 3 Pine Creek for a 42-41 triumph that featured all kinds of craziness in the final minutes — most notably a missed extra point by Pine Creek kicker Armon Golabi that would have tied the game with 1:20 to play.

“To be on the opposite side of that, the adrenaline rush and just everything going through your mind, everything we put in this year … it`s a heck of a feeling,” Johnson said. “I can`t say anything more.”

The win boosts Longmont (10-2) into a semifinal matchup on the road against No. 7 Wheat Ridge, the defending state champion. The Farmers (11-1) knocked off No. 2 Greeley West Saturday in a rematch of last year`s title game.

Pine Creek, a state semifinalist last year that had won 23 of 24 games entering Saturday, saw its season end at 11-1.

“It`s as bad as it gets,” Pine Creek coach Todd Miller said of the loss. “These are good kids. It was a good ballgame. They had a great team. It could have went either way.”

There was only one lead change Saturday, but the game was tied on five different occasions as the Trojans and Eagles traded touchdowns.

The heroes were numerous for both teams.

Pine Creek had three 100-yard rushers in Josh Chance (128), quarterback Kris Kentera (114) and Shomari Cousar (110). Nick Markowski fell just short with 95 yards, but also caught a touchdown pass.

Longmont, meanwhile, saw Dawlton Cole catch five passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Herbert caught five balls for 113 yards. Brandon Deines recovered a fumble. And Dillon-Huber Parker intercepted a Kentera pass deep in Trojan territory.

But no one shined brighter than Johnson.

Despite three interceptions, the senior dazzled with his passing. He finished 21 of 29 for 417 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 43 yards. In all, he either ran or threw the ball on 43 of Longmont`s 52 offensive plays.

With the game tied at 35, Johnson found Cole for a 77-yard scoring strike to make it 42-35 with 3:58 to go. Cole went over Markowski to make the catch, and then raced untouched to the end zone after Markowski fell down.

“We`ve got big, tall wide receivers,” Johnson said. “I was just throwing it up to let him make a play on it, and he made a hell of a play on it.”

Pine Creek, which rushed for 512 yards, answered with a miraculous 42-yard touchdown pass from Kentera to Markowski, who made the catch around the 20-yard line and scampered home after a Longmont defender had missed an interception and batted the ball into the air.

But Golabi, who had been perfect on the day, pulled his PAT attempt wide left.

Pine Creek recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Trojan 42. But the referees ruled that an Eagle player had touched the ball before it went 10 yards, giving Longmont the ball to ice the game with a pair of kneel-downs.

“It`s exhilarating,” LHS coach Doug Johnson said. “We believe in our team and we`re very blessed to be playing.”