A Fort Collins High School football season to remember came to an end against the reigning state runner-up. No. 4 Legend scored on its first three drives, putting the Lambkins on their heels early and often en route to a 42-28 win in the Colorado Class 5A second round.
The Titans will march into the 5A quarterfinals for the third straight year and fifth time in six seasons. The Lambkins made the Titans earn it, though, scoring three times in four possessions after Legend opened up a 27-7 lead and even briefly took a 28-27 edge. But the home team promptly scored twice in a row, sandwiched around an interception of Fort Collins quarterback Justin Cranford.
Despite missing starting quarterback DJ Bordeaux due to a disciplinary issue, Legend’s bevy of talented skill players and backup QB Brooks Goossen did the heavy lifting instead. Goossen tossed four touchdowns (two to Kellen Marchand), and new CSU recruiting target Ryken Banks added a pair of TD runs as the offense kept humming.
Next up for Legend is No. 5 Valor Christian after the Eagles put up 70 points on No. 12 Erie.
For No. 13 Fort Collins, it was a successful season by any standard. The Lambkins finished 9-3 (4-1 league) and only lost to three of 5A’s top dozen teams, including two 2024 semifinalists in Legend and No. 8 Fairview.
Jack McKeon finished a legendary season, scoring his 30th total touchdown on a short TD reception in the second quarter. The senior running back left an indelible legacy this fall. McKeon finished with over 2,100 yards this season to lead all Class 5A rushers by a wide margin.
His first-round playoff performance won’t be forgotten in Fort Collins, as he rushed for a presumed program-record 370 yards and four TDs to carry the Lambkins in a 42-25 win over ThunderRidge. That was just the second playoff win for the Lambkins in the past 11 seasons, both under head coach and former alumnus Matt Yemm.
An anticipated senior class lived up to the hype, proving Fort Collins could compete at a high level in a rugged Class 5A. Seniors like third-year QB Justin Cranford, Mason Bandhauer (Iowa State commit), Kaden Souders, Barrett Dworak, Porter Park, and Griffin Campain capped their careers with consecutive playoff appearances.
They also leave the team in good hands. Young contributors like Jaden Smith, Preston Mozer, Donovan Dumas, Holden Irby, and next-up QB Jace Garcia showed the future should be bright for the Lambkins.
Mozer, younger brother of recent Fossil star and San Diego State player Marcus, proved he’ll be a force in coming seasons on the big stage. The sophomore went well over 100 yards and hauled in two touchdowns vs. Legend, including the go-ahead score.
This Fort Collins team shared plenty of similarities to the Lambkins’ 2021 squad, right down to a 9-3 record, plenty of next-level playmakers, and a second-round exit. But this year’s version pushed one of the state’s top teams right until the end—a proof of concept for a Fort Collins program that still has plenty of rising talent to stay in 5A contention for several years to come.
*Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.*
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/fort-collins-pushes-reigning-runner-050643606.html