Congrats to my grandson, entire Cardinal team
By Robert Sweeney
Elizabeth High School is the 3A State Champion. Photo by Saundra Sweeney.
Family members and I were sitting in the new Cherokee Trail Legacy stadium in Aurora this past Saturday afternoon as spectators to the State Championship 3A division football game pitting the Demons of Glenwood Springs versus the Cardinals of Elizabeth High School.
The splendid athletic facility pays tribute to the loyal taxpayers of the Cherry Creek School District and their dedication to excellence. Certainly this stadium is an asset to Aurora students and the entire school district.
I’m more accustomed to the famed Stutler Bowl at Cherry Creek High School and the era of Coach Fred Tesone, Principal Henry Cotton and those days of glory when Cherry Creek High School dominated high school sports like Mullen does today. Down at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium, the division 4A games saw Valor Christian defeat Wheatridge 38-8 and Mullen crush Regis 37-6 for a third consecutive title. Perhaps making Mullen the most winning high school in state football history. The 2A title went to Olathe, the sole Western Slope surviving team, upsetting football powerhouse Brush 14-13.
There wasn’t a Cherry Creek school in this year’s state football championship games, but certainly Glenwood and Elizabeth were grateful for the spacious stadium, acres of parking, and massive grandstands that were packed on both sides of the field for the 3A state final between now Glenwood 12-2 and Elizabeth 14-0. Where is Elizabeth? Beyond Parker and 8 miles due east of Franktown, this old cowpoke town was founded in 1859 in Elbert County and is now surrounded with horse properties and an amazing number of athletes who can really play football. In all those years the school has never won a football crown although this year just won a girls’ state gymnastic title.
Twelve seniors on the starting team, and most of them play both offense and defense. The head coach is Chris Cline, who hails from Rifle, and played football against Glenwood Springs as a high school player a few decades ago.
The match-up was West Slope versus East Slope. Glenwood has a reputation for winning state basketball championships under the coaching of Bob Chavez, a great basketball coach of past decades. They generally dominate northwest Colorado sports and attract great families and athletes to the Roaring Fork Valley area.
The dual was even more interesting because last year Glenwood knocked Elizabeth out of the playoffs in the first game of the playoff competition in a snowstorm in Glenwood Springs. This year’s team was not the team of latter years, but a team of destiny.
The seniors, who are all best of friends, high-fived each other on the field, and were cheered by a great bevy of fans, parents and cheerleaders. Most of the town turned out for the game at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The game
Elizabeth won the toss and had a beautiful drive down the field for a touchdown taking up half of the first quarter. A Glenwood penalty on the extra point kick moved the ball halfway to the goal line and the Cards opted to go for two points and led 8-0. College bound back Matt Biery added more points to his stellar career. He gained 164 yards on the day bringing is yardage close to 1,500 yards for the season. He is a beautiful runner who can just dance through the great blocking provided by the offensive linemen. Glenwood had two backs that each entered the game with more than 1,300 yards for the season. Combining both backs, Glenwood ran 32 times for 128 yards. The combination of Matt Biery, Brad Goldsberry and quarterback Dalton Taylor had 50 runs totaling 317 yards and a final game score of 29-6. It was a perfect season for the team and their town and Elbert County.
We’ve been going to the games all season; Colorado Springs, Erie, Longmont, Elizabeth, various locations leading up the Championship. There were 14 games, and we only missed a couple, not too bad for two grandparents of grandson Sean Dorrance who plays linebacker and tight end on this championship team.
Coach Cline described his defense as “great.” They only allowed high scoring Glenwood six points. Sean played very well and fought on with a sprained ankle late in the game.
Sean’s dad Mike Dorrance played football for Cherry Creek High School during the glory days. Mike’s brother Teddy was a Creek quarterback as well.
His mother Saundra made all but one game; the last three games she’s been home recovering from cancer surgery. We were beside her holding our breath for her and Sean. Both came out winners and we’re very proud of them both.
Saundra’s well on her way to winning her battle with colon cancer and starts chemo soon at University Hospital Cancer Center where she’s been a patient the past month. What a great hospital and staff at the new facility at Fitzsimons, now the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Coach’s wife
At the beginning of the season, the coach’s wife, Angie, committed to cooking dinner at their home every Monday night if the team won the game. That’s 14 dinners for some huge eaters. She’s an excellent cook and Sean raves about her cooking and is especially fond of her fried chicken. He relates that the team devours a barrel of her chicken.
This is a special team with wonderful coaches, a very special grandson, a brave daughter, and two very proud grandparents and a host of Dorrances and Sweeneys who were cheering for the Elizabeth Cardinals, Coach Cline and the entire coaching staff and student body.
This team will be back for their high school reunions.
Go Cardinals.
