Doherty runs roughshod

Pikes Peak No. 1 Doherty tailback Darius Turner ran for 398 yards and four scores to lead the Spartans to a 38-21 homecoming victory over No. 3 Palmer on Friday night at Garry Berry Stadium.

The Spartans (3-2, 3-2 5A South Metro) took control in the second half of a game they never trailed.

After a halftime fireworks show, Turner provided more spark in the remaining 24 minutes, scoring on runs of 63, 25 and 62 yards and breaking another run for 62 yards, setting up a touchdown by Jeff Monteleone to put the game out of reach at 38-14 with 2:15 remaining. The Spartans marched 97 yards for Monteleone’s TD.

“These are our rivals, it’s homecoming so this is pretty big win for us,” Turner said.

Spartans coach Matt Wibbels credited the offensive line for setting up Turner’s dominating performance.

“The O-line did a great job opening up holes,” Wibbels said. “And Darius is Darius.”

After Doherty went ahead 17-7 early in the third quarter, Palmer standout tailback Jon Burnley had answered with a score of his own with 5:51 left to make it 17-14.

Burnley ran for 202 yards in addition to his 125 yards on two kickoff returns.

Palmer sophomore Andre Brown, starting in place of Reggie Jackson, who has left the team, completed 8 of 17 for 197 yards, two scores and an interception in his first game as starting quarterback.

Palmer coach Rod Baker was happy with the way his team played despite the outcome.

“The score wasn’t how the game was,” Baker said. “Jon Burnley played well. Andre played well. They played a little bit better than we did. Nothing big stands out.”

Palmer had a chance to pull within 10 points with 3:49 remaining when Burnley broke a 93-yard run up the middle from the Palmer 4-yard line, only to have the Spartans Ryan White catch him from behind.

White punched the ball out of his hands, recovering the fumble himself at the Doherty 3-yard line. It was one of three lost fumbles for the Terrors.

White was looking for the ball the whole way.

“I just kind of blacked out knowing that I’ve got to get a job done,” White said. “It was just sitting right there and I was like ‘Get it.’ I owe that one to coach.”

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