The #4-seeded Arapahoe Warriors took care of business in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday evening as they beat #13-seeded Hemingford, 52-22 at home. At times, it wasn't the prettiest game for Arapahoe, but they found a way to build a nice lead and secure the win.
On the first possession of the game, it looked like the Warriors were going to go three and out as they didn't muster up much offense. But, Will Cacy who was punting, elected to tuck it and run on fourth and six. He took it 61 yards to the house and Arapahoe led 6-0 with 10:19 to go in the first quarter.
Arapahoe forced a fumble on the next possession and took over the rock with 8:26 remaining in the first period. They didn't waste the opportunity as they were on the Hemingford 25-yard line. They marched down the short field with the help of a couple of defensive penalties, but Rafe Hill scored from three yards out and all of the sudden Arapahoe led 12-0 with 5:54 to go in the quarter.
The Bobcats were able to find some success on their next possession. Cody Galles scored on a three-yard run after it took just four plays to get in the endzone. The two-point conversion was good and Arapahoe led 12-8.
Arapahoe took over then late in the first quarter. They ended up fumbling on the possession and Hemingford hat it on their own 27. Galles was able to score on a 59-yard touchdown run after a holding penalty. It was 14-12 after the touchdown with 2:03 left in the opening quarter.
We went to the second quarter with that score.
The second period didn't feature as much change as we saw in the first. Arapahoe didn't score until late in the period. Quarterback Trenton Roskop found Grayson Koller on a 44-yard pass to put the Warriors up 18-14 with 2:36 to go before halftime.
Hemingford gave it back quickly and Arapahoe had good field position near mid-field with limited time remaining.
That didn't matter as the Warriors took just three plays to score and it was Roskop again finding Hayden Sich this time on a 30-yard touchdown pass. Arapahoe went up 30-14 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Arapahoe came out with a few haymakers. Hemingford had the ball to start the half and on the first play from scrimmage, the Bobcats fumbled and lost it to the Warrior defense. Arapahoe took possession on the Hemingford 22-yard line.
Arapahoe made that turnover hurt for the Bobcats as Will Cacy ran it in from 19 yards away and the Warriors led 30-14.
The Warriors got another stop in the third quarter and the Bobcats were forced to punt. On the punt, Koller returned it 34 yards to the Hemingford 22-yard line again. So, the Warriors had great starting field position. after a loss of two on their first play from scrimmage, Roskop found Koller on a 24-yard pass that resulted in a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and Arapahoe led 38-14 with 5:47 remaining in the third.
The Warriors weren't done in the quarter. They followed up that score with a 14-yard touchdown run from Roskop and Arapahoe led 44-14 going to the fourth.
As we went to the fourth quarter, the Warriors had this game all but wrapped up. To ensure the victory though, Will Cacy scored another touchdown this time from seven yards away and Arapahoe led 52-14.
Hemingford didn't go away without a fight as Jacob Bryner ran it in from seven yards away with 2:41 to go in the game.
It was kind of an up-and-down game for the Warriors and Head Coach Dustin Kronhoffman says the energy level just wasn't there to start but they got it corrected.
For Arapahoe, Trenton Roskop had a nice game passing with 119 yards and three touchdowns. Will Cacy was effective on the ground with 107 yards and three touchdowns. For receiving, Grayson Koller led the Warriors with two catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Cacy had nine tackles.
For Hemingofrd, Cody Galles had 92 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Jacob Bryner added 71 yards and a score too.
The Warriors will now wait and see who they will play next week after the re-seedings.