Creek Valley Gets First Win Over South Platte

Creek Valley's Storm Football team continued its undefeated season Friday night, traveling to Big Springs and defeating the South Platte Blue Knights for the first time since the merger of the Lodgepole and Chappell schools. The Storm started fast, taking the opening kick-off and quickly driving down the field, scoring on senior Patrick Hansen's first touchdown run of the night to take a 6-to-0 lead.

South Platte struck right back though, tying the score 6-to-6. The Storm then went on a six play drive, capped by junior Oakley Hodge's spectacular one-handed 23 yard touchdown grab to extend the Creek Valley lead to 14-to-6. Creek Valley's defense took over, with junior Justin Ningen and Hodges creating pressure in the backfield. On fourth down, the Creek Valley pressure forced a bad pass that was picked off and run back for a touchdown by junior Tucker Graeff, but a penalty on an illegal block took the score off the board. The Storm did get great field position, but a Hansen fumble stopped Creek Valley and South Platte again began to drive. After moving the ball, the Blue Knights stalled and turned the ball over on downs. But again the Storm had trouble holding onto the ball, with Ningen getting sacked and fumbling. South Platte senior Josiah Spencer had the ball pop right into his hands at the 15 yard line and he ran it in for the score to cut the Creek Valley lead to 14-to-12. The Blue Knights then held the Storm, and on a drive of their own scored on a 60 yard touchdown pass to take a 19-to-14 lead.

Creek Valley's next drive featured two big runs and a one yard touchdown dive by Ningen, and the Storm regrouped and would not trail again in the contest. After battling turnovers and penalties, Creek Valley started to play cleaner football, and the defense started to dominate the game. Hodge's deep kickoffs out of the end zone prevented the Blue Knights any opportunity for good field position, and Ningen and Hodge's unrelenting pass rush pressured another turnover when sophomore Drew Fraass intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Storm a 30-to-19 lead with four minutes left in the half. After South Platte was able to drive on their next possession, the Storm again forced a turnover on downs and another touchdown catch by Hodges extended the Storm lead to 36-to-19. South Platte's next possession ended with Hansen and Hodges hitting the Blue Knight's Josiah Spencer in the backfield, causing another fumble recovered by Hodges. Hodges then caught his third touchdown pass on a play action pass by Hansen, and the Storm went into the intermission with an insurmountable 44-to-19 lead. South Platte was able to score a few times in the second half, but the Storm offense kept moving the ball and scoring to end the game in a 64-to-39 victory for Creek Valley.

Creek Valley Head Coach Joe Kupper was pleased with his team's effort, and how they were able to overcome adversity in the first half. Kupper said, " In the first quarter, it seemed like things seemed to bounce in South Platte's favor, and we had to overcome some adversity. The strip of Justin Ningen that popped right into Josiah Spencer's hands for a touchdown. Penalties, like the illegal crack block on Drew Frass on Tucker Graeff's first pick 6 that got called back. The guys dealt with that, and stayed the course through the first half, which helped give us a lead."

In the second half, we had a lot of calf cramps. Tucker missed a few series in there, and Patrick and Justin were cramping as well. We were missing several of our skill position substitutes due to injury and eligibility issue, but the guys hung tough and dealt with it. Eli Schmid was a big help in that capacity.

Overall, we are very happy with the win, but we have to play better as we finish the season and move into playoffs. We have set lofty goals this season, and a win over Minatare this coming Friday will only meet one of those goals. We have to keep working hard and stay hungry."