World news – USA – Tacha drives Limon over Strasbourg and takes the third 1A football title in a row

PUEBLO – Even an ankle wouldn’t stop Kory Tacah on Limon’s first trip of the day. The Senior Running Back and 2019 Class 1A Player of the Year dropped out for a 77 yard score and ended up running a bit cautiously.

It doesn’t matter. It got the Badgers on their feet early and they never looked back. They won with 28: 0 against Strasburg for the third year in a row the 1A soccer championship and reached the 20th. Time a state record.

All three championship wins were over the Indians and Tacha has shone in each of those games.

He kept up his annual tradition by breaking for that first score and running 109 yards in the first half alone, even with pain shooting through his ankle.

« I haven’t run this far in over a month, » said Tacha. « It took some work and (my ankle) held up, so it was good. « 

The Badgers (7-0 overall) controlled the ball with a heavy dose of their standard floor play. Jeremiah Leeper and Trey Hines were also factors that helped the champions race 254 yards in the first two quarters. Hines broke for a 28-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game.

The Limon defense was just as impressive. They kept the Indians goalless (8: 1) and only allowed 80 meters to attack in the first half.

« I thought we did a great job with our program, » said Limon trainer Mike O’Dwyer. « We did a great job getting our defensive backs in place, but for that to work you have to stop the run. Our front seven guys were great. « 

Leeper added a four-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-0. And he was helped on the defensive. Every time Strasburg came within goal range, the defense made great games to put an end to all goal hopes.

In addition to Hines’ spectacular day at the center, he made two interceptions with the aim of maintaining the cordon.

« The minute we scored at the start of the first quarter we played it like a 0-0 game, » said Hines. « There is no slacking off. You always have to think that you have to play as hard as you can and bring it all out. « 

Tacha finished the day 149 rushing yards and a touchdown to earn the best player award.

Indian quarterback Collin Russell did his best to do something for his offense, but when he was stopped in a crucial fourth and first place late in the third quarter it showed how adamant the Limon defense had been all day.

« I wish we could have put more pressure on this quarterback, » said O’Dwyer. « The kid is a great athlete so you have to give it to him. « 

This is the fourth time in program history that Limon has won three championships in a row. The Badgers last accomplished this feat between 2003 and 2005. While three titles have become a semi-regular occurrence, it will be a long time before 20 overall championships are compared to any other program.

And in 2020 when nothing was certain, O’Dwyer will always stick to a 20th title. State remember.

« I never put this together; 20 in 2020, » said O’Dwyer. « I don’t know how to write the script. I didn’t know how to write the script for the last year when it was our 100th year. Year was and we lost to two teams, Holyoke and Strasburg, and had to beat them in the playoffs. And now this year it’s just been a crazy year. « 

Like a seasoned championship veteran, O’Dwyer did his best to avoid the traditional water bucket bath before enjoying his boys. He’s had a lot of them in his 19 years as a coach. He learned that everyone has the joy of winning a championship, but no matter how many times it happens, you still have the opportunity to feel very special.

Born in Colorado, Dan Mohrmann has been a writer for CU’s The Campus Press in the Colorado media scene since childhood. He was an employee at Mile High Sports and has freelance stops at several other branches along the way.

American Football, Colorado, championship, Wisconsin Badgers Football, Limon, Strasbourg