SPORTS

Hairgrove, Rocky Mountain run past Fossil Ridge

Kevin Lytle
kevinlytle@coloradoan.com

CadeHairgrove is like a starving dog, desperate for a meal.

When he gets close to a treat he can smell it, the temptation creating an unstoppable drive.

Teams that give Hairgrove a sniff of the goal line regret it, because he almost always finds a way to break the plane for a touchdown.

The Rocky Mountain High School running back ate a lot Friday at French Field, scoring three times as the Lobos beat Fossil Ridge 19-6.

"It's a mental thing for me. If I'm near the end zone I'm not letting myself stop, I'm going to get there," Hairgrove said.

The Rocky Mountain (3-1, 1-1 Front Range League) senior now has 10 rushing touchdowns in four games.

It started early. In the first quarter Hairgrove raced through a huge hole for a 33 yard score, giving him 100 yards by the end of the first frame.

He added a 1-yard score in the second quarter and a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He finished with 165 rush yards and backfield mate AutryBaskin had 111, averaging more than 6 yards per carry.

The offensive line of ChristopherBaker, AndrewBennett, LoganRichards, DerricWalts and EricMartinez-Sanchez was dominant.

"We've got an awesome O-line," said Hairgrove as the Lobos racked up more than 300 yards on the ground. "They were opening holes and we just have to see our cuts."

Fossil Ridge was down 13-0 at half and 19-0 after three quarters. The SaberCats (2-2, 1-1 FRL) showed some fight.

Backup quarterback TannerHoke led a touchdown drive capped by sophomore DanteRandolph's run from 10 yards out. Hoke was in after starter GriffinRoberts suffered an arm injury.

But the game as a whole saw Fossil Ridge's offense sputter as the Lobos dominated the clock, allowing the SaberCats just one first-quarter possession.

"We're that team that needs to stay in a rhythm on offense and we never got it," Fossil Ridge coach BrianTinker said. "They just wear you out. We knew what we had to do, we just couldn't match the physicality tonight."

Rocky Mountain's win keeps it in the FRL race after losing the conference opener a week ago. The Lobos play at Horizon at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Fossil Ridge continues its trend of rotating wins and losses. The SaberCats face Poudre at 7 p.m. Friday.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.

Rocky Mountain 19, Fossil Ridge 6

Rocky Mountain

6

7

6

0

19

Fossil Ridge

0

0

0

6

6

First quarter

RM — Cade Hairgrove 33 run (kick missed), 00:51.

Second quarter

RM — Hairgrove 1 run (Tyler Hyland kick), 3:30.

Third quarter

RM — Hairgrove 2 run (pass failed), 5:20.

Fourth quarter

FR — Dante Randolph 10 run (kick missed), 11:39.