H.S. FOOTBALL: Gamble pays off for Pine Creek

Pine Creek lined up to punt with nearly 9 minutes left and the Eagles nursing a three-point lead.

It was fourth-and-1 at Pine Creek's 48-yard line.

Instead of punting, Eagles coach Todd Miller called timeout.

"I wanted to go for it but I wasn't sure," Miller said. "I looked in the kids' eyes and saw they wanted to go for it. They talked me into it."

Junior quarterback Josh Chance gained 21 yards on an option keeper around the right side. Seven plays later, Chance scored from 6 yards out and Pine Creek claimed a 17-7 win over Heritage in the 4A quarterfinals Friday at District 20 Stadium.

No. 1 seed Pine Creek (12-0) advanced to its first semifinal - and the first for a Colorado Springs team since Rampart in 2001 - against the winner of today's second-round, 1 p.m. game between No. 4 Montrose (10-1) and No. 5 Greeley West (10-1).

Heritage's only previous loss was by a point to rival Wheat Ridge, the unbeaten No. 2 seed. Wheat Ridge topped visiting Fountain-Fort Carson 28-13 on Friday.

"Props to Heritage," Pine Creek senior lineman Ryan Lockwood said. "They're tough hombres, man. This was an all-out brawl."

In a showdown of top quarterbacks, Chance had the edge with 155 yards rushing and his 14th touchdown. Heritage junior Mitch Griebel ran for 112 yards and passed for 90, but was intercepted in the second half by Taylor Lopez and Kris Kentera, who returned his 45 yards to midfield with 3:34 left to end a Heritage drive.

Griebel put No. 8 Heritage (10-2) ahead on the game's first possession. He dashed 78 yards on the first play, setting up his 1-yard touchdown run.

Heritage tailback Jordan Delbaugh - a lightning-quick senior with 25 touchdowns and 1,153 yards in 11 games - managed just 10 yards on seven carries.

Pine Creek responded on its second possession with a 62-yard drive in eight plays.

Chance had a 23-yard run and Garman added a 19-yarder before Zach Karr got the two-yard score.

"Our defense played great," Chance said. "Our offensive line won this game for us. We had a sure four, five yards every play."

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