Before the season began, Mountain View flag football coach Tim Test faced a daunting task. He had to build a team from scratch from assorted schools across the northern Front Range.
“We had to go to seven different schools to get 21 incredible, amazing young people, who happened to be 21 amazing athletes,” he said. “I’m always saying, ‘From stranger-hood to sisterhood.’ Six months ago, these girls were strangers. Now look at them. Can you believe that?”
Saturday evening at Jeffco Trailblazer Stadium, the Lions’ sisterhood produced Colorado’s first Class 4A flag football champions.
The No. 2 Lions shut out No. 1 The Classical Academy, 26-0, to complete a 17-1 season. Mountain View’s only defeat was a 37-35 loss to 5A semifinalist Valor Christian.
The Lions’ offense, piloted by senior quarterback Mason Premer, was potent, but its ball-hawking defense was dominant, and CA (15-3) was blanked for the first time this season.
“To come out here and win it all, with that score? I wouldn’t have believed it,” Premer said.
The Lions had four interceptions, including a 42-yard pick-six by senior Gwynn Marks for the game’s final score in the fourth quarter.
“Whenever we needed a stop, we got the stop,” said senior Kendal Finley, who had two interceptions. “Everybody did a great job. Gwynn sealed the game with her interception, and Ellie (Harper) had another. It was amazing.
“We knew all along we were going to get TCA in the finals for the championship. They were No. 1, and we were No. 2, so we knew it was going to be a challenge. We thought it was going to be a close game, but we knew this was our time.”
The Lions dominated the game from the outset, taking a 6-0 first-quarter lead when Premer connected with Finley for a 4-yard TD toss. The lead grew to 13-0 at the end of the first quarter when McKayla Mecias capped a long drive with a 9-yard run off a direct snap.
The Titans’ best chance to score was snuffed out near the end of the first half when Mountain View’s Kaitlyn Liddle roared in to sack sophomore quarterback Kelsey Peterson.
Mountain View’s lead grew to 20-0 early in the fourth quarter. Premer hit junior Jesika Hopkins with a long pass down the sidelines, setting up a 4-yard TD pass to senior Violet Hidalgo.
Hopkins made two remarkable, long sideline receptions, drawing praise from Premer.
“She was great. I have the best receivers out there and I’ve said that from the beginning,” he said. “Without them, none of this would have been possible. They make me look so much better than I am, I promise you that. They are insane.”
When asked what it meant to win the first official 4A flag football title in state history, Premer said, “It’s indescribable.”
Finley was able to put her emotions into words.
“I played football when I was a kid in the all-boys season,” she said. “But I didn’t think I’d ever be able to win a state championship with a team, especially an all-girls team. It’s just amazing.”
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
Originally Published:
