September 21st 2024.
Broomfield and Legacy high schools had been waiting for this moment for five years - a chance to face each other on the football field once again. And on a Friday night at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium, their highly anticipated matchup did not disappoint.
The top-ranked Eagles, known for their strong offense, struggled against the improved Legacy team. Instead, it was their defense that pulled through for a narrow 14-13 victory. This is the second year under head coach Robert O'Brien and the team looks just as lethal as they did in their previous state championship run.
Coach O'Brien attributes their success to the team's focus on the present moment. Last year, after winning the state title, there was a lot of pressure to repeat that success. But this year, the team is focusing on taking it one game at a time and going 1-0 in everything they do. And so far, it's working. The Eagles have dominated their first three opponents, outscoring them 141-7.
However, Legacy, coming off a tough loss to Fairview, showed significant improvement on both offense and defense. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Gardner and the rest of the team seemed to have found their rhythm, with the offense and defense working together seamlessly.
For Broomfield's Colin Torres, it was a night to remember. The senior running back racked up 162 yards and scored both of the Eagles' touchdowns, giving the Lightning defense a difficult time. But Legacy's Gardner also put up a strong performance, throwing for 145 yards and scoring a touchdown of his own.
After the game, Torres expressed his elation at the hard-fought victory. He and his teammates had been working towards this moment all year, waking up at 6:30 in the morning for practices and dedicating themselves to their goal of defeating their cross-town rivals.
But it wasn't an easy win for the Eagles. Legacy put up a tough fight, with Reiser returning a kickoff for a touchdown and the defense holding Broomfield to just 14 points. In the end, it was a game-saving sack from Elliot Less that sealed the victory for the Eagles.
As they look ahead to the rest of the season, Broomfield will face Erie next Friday while Legacy will search for their second win against Horizon. And for both teams, this game will serve as a reminder of the fierce rivalry between the two schools and the importance of this matchup for the community.
Legacy head coach Jay Madden expressed his desire to continue this tradition, stating that they will play Broomfield every year as long as he is coaching at Legacy. And after such an intense and exciting game, it's safe to say that this rivalry will continue to bring out the best in both teams.
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