Rams ramble, turn out Lights

Rams ramble, turn out Lights
AKRON 54, DENVER LUTHERAN 7: Defending 1A champs score early and often
By Jon E. Yunt
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/16/2007 01:53:07 AM MDT


Akron's Joe McKay (27) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Lutheran's Travis Besel during the first quarter of the Rams' rout Saturday afternoon. McKay ran for three touchdowns in the 54-7 victory. (Post / Kathryn Scott Osler)The Akron Rams are a well-oiled machine.

The defending Class 1A champions opened North Central League play Saturday by dominating Denver Lutheran early en route to a 54-7 victory at Brinkman Field.

Akron (3-0), the last Colorado school to still run the single-wing offense, moved the ball effortlessly against the Lights' defense that never adjusted.

Ten ball carriers ran for 313 yards behind the offensive line of Kade Leavell, Trent Campbell, Bruce Hall, Mick Strand and Matt Jefferson.

"It's just a lot of people selling out for each other," said junior Joe McKay, who had 51 yards on four carries and three touchdowns. "A lot of people think we are undersized, but we all have speed, and we like to think we can run."

Logan Davisson opened the scoring in a 34-point first-quarter barrage with a 71-yard jaunt over the left side of the line. McKay chalked up the next two scores from 24 and 15 yards, the latter coming after the first of four first-half interceptions thrown by Denver Lutheran.

"The defense just doesn't get enough credit," said Akron coach Brian Christensen, who has his former coach and single-wing guru Carl Rice as his defensive coordinator. "Everyone knows, if a team can't score, they can't win. It's cliché, but defenses win championships."

Akron limited the Lights to just 4 yards from scrimmage. Denver Lutheran (1-2) gained 18 yards on its final two plays from scrimmage to get into positive yardage.

The Lights, relegated to the running clock in the second half, finally got on the board when senior Travis Shelton stripped the ball from Akron's Byron Guy and went 95 yards for the score.

"We talked all week long about what to do, we had film of them and how we wanted to defend them....It's a lot different when you get on the field," first-year Lights coach Joel Brase said. "They run that offense extremely well, and you get one guy out of position and it's a 20, 30-yard gain."

Akron will host No. 9 Wray on Friday night for homecoming.

Akron 34 13 0 7 - 54

Denver Lutheran 0 0 7 0 - 7

A - Davisson 71 run (kick failed). A - Mc-

Kay 24 run (McKay run). A - McKay 15 run (McKay kick). A - Anderson 16 run (McKay kick). A - Ja. Reid 1 run (kick blocked). A - McKay 3 run (McKay kick). A - Bellomy 19 run (kick blocked). DL - Shelton 95 fumble recovery (Carroll kick). A - Vigil 28 interception return (McKay kick).

Staff writer Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.