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FORT COLLINS — Blake Barnett finished his high school career as a one-legged Superman and, more importantly, as a state champion. Finally. “This was a true fairytale, and I don’t think I could have asked for a better ending,” the flamboyant and ultra-confident senior quarterback said after No. 2 Erie beat top-ranked Palmer Ridge, 20-6, Saturday to win the Class 4A title at Canvas Stadium. With his sprained left ankle heavily taped, Barnett, ever the showstopper and usually faster than a speeding bullet, hopped 35 yards downfield on his right leg to wrap running back Braylon Toliver in an end zone bearhug after Toliver rambled for a game-clinching 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Moments after the clock struck zero, Barnett hopped to the sidelines, hoisted himself onto a bench and conducted the jubilant Erie crowd in a postgame symphony.

FORT COLLINS — Columbine dethroned the dynasty. The Rebels ended Cherry Creek’s streak of four straight Class 5A championships with an exclamation point on Saturday at Canvas Stadium, 28-14, to earn the program’s sixth title and first since 2011. Josh Snyder carried Columbine with three touchdowns, while the Rebels defense turned in a stout performance to give them an edge in the third championship meeting between Andy Lowry and Cherry Creek coach Dave Logan.

The Broncos will have three quarterbacks available for the first time this season when they play at Houston on Sunday. Denver on Saturday elevated practice squad quarterback Ben DiNucci to the game-day roster, marking the first time Sean Payton’s team has gone into a game this year with a QB potentially in the picture beyond Russell Wilson and backup Jarrett Stidham. There’s been no indication from the Broncos that either Wilson or Stidham is at any risk of missing the game.

FORT COLLINS — With Erie clinging to a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter against top-ranked Palmer Ridge, the injuries were piling up in the Tigers’ backfield. Senior quarterback Blake Barnett was hopping around on one leg — his one-man magic act sapped by a sprained left ankle. And starting running back Gavin Lusk was being tended to on the sideline after suffering an injury of his own. If the second-ranked Tigers were going to grind out Saturday’s Class 4A state football championship, the ball was going to Braylon Toliver, and everyone inside Canvas Stadium knew it. “I felt like it was on me,” Toliver said.

The Erie Tigers defeated the Palmer Ridge Bears 20-6 in the 4A Colorado high school football state championship game at Canvas Stadium in Ft. Collins on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Related Articles Preps | Blake Barnett powers Erie Tigers to Class 4A state title over Palmer Ridge Preps | Columbine dethrones Cherry Creek, denying Bruins’ five-peat bid, for Rebels’ sixth Class 5A crown Preps | In need of hero, Erie’s Braylon Toliver found a lane and delivered: “That doesn’t surprise any of us” Preps | CHSAA state football playoffs: Previewing Saturday’s championship games Preps | At Holy Family, football team finds inspiration in mother’s battle with leukemia: “I couldn’t do it without all of them”

Colorado’s offensive line makeover for 2024 is well underway. And, the Buffaloes have another hole to fill on the coaching staff. On Saturday, sophomore center Van Wells announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Monday. Related Articles College Sports | Oregon State, Washington State, Mountain West agree to 6-game football scheduling arrangement in ’24 College Sports | CU athletic director Rick George excited about Buffs’ future under Deion Sanders College Sports | Sports Illustrated names CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders Sportsperson of the Year College Sports |