ERIE-The Tigers clinched a spot in the state championship game with a resounding 31-14 whipping of Longmont.

The game did not start well for Erie (11-2), as Longmont (9-4) took the ball after a Julian Custine touchback. Longmont drove the ball all the way down the field to take the lead, capped by a half yard run from Oakley Denhing. Garcia missed the PAT to put Longmont up 6-0 with 7:50 to go in the 1st quarter. Hackney said that after the first drive, their nerves calmed. 

Erie responded by taking the ball into the red zone, which they turned into a 24 yard Custine field goal, his 3rd of the year. Things started swinging upward for Erie from there.  A Jaden Gilmore sack would force a Longmont punt. Erie got the ball back and immediately threw a 31 yard pass to Alex Mathis to put Erie in the red zone. Jacob Mansdorfer capped the drive with an 8 yard touchdown run to put Erie up 10-6. The Tigers would lead for the rest of the game.

Next, Longmont had a touchdown called back by holding. A Jayme Nelms sack helped keep Longmont out the end zone after the hold, as Mansdorfer stopped Drake Engelking on the 1 yard line. Noah Roper ripped off a 41 yard run from the 1 on 3rd & 10 to the 47. Erie finished off the drive with a 3 yard Jacob Mansdorfer run to go up 17-6. An Erie unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Longmont good field position, but a Nate Hackney sack forced Longmont to punt. Erie would then run out the clock to halftime.

It felt like an unusually long halftime, with what seemed like about half of the middle schoolers trying to kick field goals to earn pizza with Mr. Buchler.

To start the 3rd, Erie took the ball and the clock, capping off a 94 yard drive with Roper’s first touchdown of the day coming from 8 yards out with 4:19 in the 3rd. Erie’s defense stepped up. After allowing Longmont to drive down the field, Roper picked off Denhing and returned it to the 24. Erie again took up a ton of clock time, as Roper ran it in from 3 yards out with 5:17 in the 4th. Longmont tried to drive the ball back down the field, but Eddie Pena intercepted a pass to put the game on ice. Elking caught a garbage time touchdown pass to make the game 31-14.

Erie will face Palmer Ridge in Monument for the state championship game next week, as Palmer Ridge defeated Palisade 28-14 today. The time and stadium will be announced later this week.

Roper, per usual, credited his offensive line for his performance, racking up over 250 yards on the ground. Jacob Mansdorfer had his best game of the year, running for about 60 yards and 2 touchdowns.

You can listen to the audio broadcast HERE.