“We’re not playing this season. We are here for one thing and one thing only, winning.”. These were the words of varsity football player Trevor Barrios. Words that went down as prophecy as the Eaglecrest Raptors football team defeated the Highlands Ranch Falcons in an impressive 49-35 win.

    Highlands Ranch opened the first quarter with a touchdown to lead the Raptors 7-0 with 6:44 left in the 1st quarter. A touchdown was quickly returned with Jalen Stewart’s 11 yard touchdown run. Elijah Anderson ended the first quarter with strip sack and fumble recovery taking the Raptors to the Highlands Ranch 22 yard line.

    Raptors took the lead 14-7 over Highlands Ranch early in the 2nd quarter with JP Luketu taking it in from four yards out for a touchdown. Dylan James continued with the same energy as he stayed on the keep from nine yards out for a touchdown as well. JP Luketu continued to punch it in on 4th and Goal for his second touchdown of the night, extending the lead to 28-7 over Highlands Ranch with 5:09 left in the half. Highlands Ranch scored a touchdown right before the half, leaving the score Raptors 28, Highlands Ranch 14.

    Raptors scored on their opening drive of the 2nd half on a Dylan James three yard touchdown run leaving the Raptors 35, Highlands Ranch 14 with 5:08 left in the 3rd. Tyler Dufour showed the power and strength of our defensive players with a sack on 4th down stops the Ranch drive making the Raptors take over on their own 20 yard line late 3rd quarter. Highlands Ranch got in the end zone after a Raptor turnover to cut the lead to 35-21 and end the 3rd quarter.