Pueblo East defeats Severance on last-second field goal in football playoffs
Pueblo East and Severance battled it out on a cold night on the gridiron. Only one would come out on top.
On November 13, the Pueblo East Eagles faced off against the Severance Silver Knights in the second round of the CHSAA Class 3A football playoffs. The game took place at Dutch Clark Stadium under cold weather conditions. The matchup was primarily a defensive showdown, with both teams exchanging turnovers and punts throughout the night.
Severance took the lead in the first quarter when Max Yahn scored a touchdown. The Eagles responded in the second quarter with a passing touchdown from Dion Alsworth to Brayden Diaz, tying the game at 7-7. The score remained unchanged through halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams continued to exchange drives and turnovers, resulting in a standoff defense. Neither side managed to move the ball significantly down the field, keeping the score the same.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles mounted a drive and entered the red zone with less than three minutes on the clock. Eagles kicker Dylan Cooper then kicked a 35-yard field goal from 4th and 15, giving Pueblo East a 10-7 lead. However, Severance was unable to convert on 4th and long, resulting in the Eagles securing a 10-7 victory.
Pueblo East head coach Tony Valdez expressed his excitement about the game, calling it his first playoff win as head coach and the program's first playoff win in nine years. Valdez praised the team's resilience and unity, attributing their victory to their strong bond. The coach emphasized the importance of love for the game and each other, stating that as long as they continue to support one another, they will keep winning games.
Pueblo East will now head to Palisade High School on Friday, November 20, to face the tough Palisades team. Meanwhile, other local events saw Pueblo West defeat Lutheran 38-35 to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of Montrose and Air Academy. Pueblo County lost to Conifer 28-27, and Pueblo South faced the No. 1-seeded Palmer Ridge, ending their season with a loss. Rye High School will also compete in the quarterfinals against Limon on Saturday, November 14.
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