The Lobos defeated Fort Morgan last week to advance to the quarterfinals in Division 3A football! The 11-0 Lobos were seeded lower than the 9-2 Palmer Ridge Bears, a team they have never played in the post-season before, so they travel to Lewis Palmer to play tomorrow, Nov 23rd starting at 1pm.
Go Lobos!
Photo from their win over Evergreen in the Mountain Bowl by Dawn Somerville Zalfa
3A Quarterfinals Preview
November 20, 2019 Kevin Shaffer
#4 Palmer Ridge (9-2) vs #5 Conifer (11-0)
This may be a chip on the shoulder game for the Lobos as they may fell they have something to prove. The Lobos finished the season at 10-0 but were still placed behind three teams with at least one loss in the bracket. They were also seeded behind Palmer Ridge who entered the post-season at 8-2. The lower seed also hurts the Lobos as it forces them on the road in round two as they face the two-time defending state champions.
History: This is the first playoff meeting between the two schools. Conifer’s win over Fort Morgan was their first in the playoffs since 2012. A win this week earns the Lobos just their second semifinal appearance in school history. The first came in 2012 where they lost to Silver Creek (24-7).
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Sadly, the Lobos fell to the Bears on Saturday. Still, it was an historic and memorable season, and it was an incredible finish for Coach Fitz. Great job to all!
MONUMENT - There haven’t been many teams who learned how to stop Palmer Ridge’s juggernaut Raef Ruel when needed.
And Conifer was no exception.
Ruel, a senior, ran for five touchdowns as the No. 5 Lobos had no answers for the Bears’ ground game in a 56-35 Palmer Ridge victory, punching the team’s ticket to the Class 3A semifinals.
Palmer Ridge, the No. 4 seed, will face No. 8 Green Mountain on Saturday on the road. The Rams upset No. 1 Mead 30-21 in the quarterfinals.
Conifer didn’t go down easy, however, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, but with experience on its side Palmer Ridge remained calm.
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Palmer Ridge ends Conifer's perfect season in 3A quarterfinals
MONUMENT — Noah Wagner leapt over a Palmer Ridge defender with the utmost finesse, wowing fans and his fellow athletes alike.
Although that effort, much like Conifer football’s comeback attempt, proved impressive against a serious 3A state title contender in the fourth-seeded Palmer Ridge Bears at Don Breese Stadium, the No. 5 Lobos fell short, 56-35.
“They’re a very good team, platooning everyone you know, and not every guy has to start both ways (on offense and defense).” senior safety Stephen Douglas said. “It felt good that we did good and scored and had a little bit of a comeback. Just falling short, it hurts a lot. We just wanted to get the win for Coach Fitz, and we couldn’t do it.”
By game’s end, 13 of Conifer’s finest had played their last in the Lobo green. Additionally, Larry Fitzmaurice — the only head football coach that Conifer has ever known — had coached his last game. It was truly the end of an era.
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