Fountain-Fort Carson can't run through Grandview in 5A playoffs

FOUNTAIN • Fountain-Fort Carson has been known for playing smash-mouth football all season long, but on Friday it could not run past a tough-as-nails Grandview squad.

The No. 9 Wolves (8-3) dominated the lines of scrimmage on both sides in a punishing 48-14 victory over No. 8 Fountain-Fort Carson (9-2) in the second round of the 5A state playoffs at Guy Barickman Stadium.

“It’s by far one of our most physical and best games that we have played all season,” Grandview coach John Schultz said. “Everything was clicking for us.”

Quarterback Reece Weber, who overcame leukemia as a child, led the way by accounting for 239 of the Wolves’ 382 offensive yards and three touchdowns.

Weber’s most symbolic play came in the third quarter when the senior burst up the middle for a 9-yard gain while getting his helmet popped off. Immediately Weber jumped up and confidently walked through the sea of blue Trojan defenders with a determined glare.

“I just try to be as strong as I can be and be the best leader I can for my team. Whatever I can do on the field to show my teammates I am not going to let them down,” Weber said. “Ever since I was little it was just the mentality that I have always had. Fighting through cancer really motivated me.”

The quarterback first got Grandview on the board with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Christian Backes with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter. Weber then rushed up the middle for a 4-yard score six minutes later.

Weber made it 21-0 when he scored on a 15-yard scramble with 4:07 left in the half after a vicious strip sack of Fountain-Fort Carson quarterback Cameron Hacker.

The Grandview hit on Hacker forced the junior to miss the rest of the first half with a back injury before he returned after halftime.

Fountain-Fort Carson coach Mitch Johnson called the return “gutsy.” However the Trojans could not overcome Grandview’s dominance at the line.

“Up front was a real challenge for us tonight and they just have a lot of skill,” Johnson said. “They are a good football team. They have a lot of weapons.”

Hacker’s return seemed to spark Fountain-Fort Carson briefly after Tevin Donnell intercepted a Weber pass at the beginning of the second half. Three plays later Anthony Davis brought the Trojans within 21-7 on an 8-yard run with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive Weber marched Grandview 80 yards on 13 plays and Isaiah Jackson quieted any Trojan comeback with an 8-yard touchdown run.

Fountain-Fort Carson’s season ended when Davis took the final play of the game, and his career, 67 yards for his second touchdown.

“When you get to this point of the year there is only going to be one team happy,” Johnson said. “But we can’t forget all the things we did accomplish this season.”