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Bears show plenty in shortened contest

Post Independent Writer
Post Independent Photo/Kelley Cox Rifle Bears' quarterback Kyle Sanderson hands off to Rocky Rauman during the season opener against the Harrison High School Panthers Friday evening. The game was called due to lightning in the third quarter.
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By Phil SandovalPost Independent StaffRIFLE – A weather-shortened game Friday night lasted long enough for the Rifle defense to establish itself.

The Bears held visiting Harrison to 48 yards of total offense, forced two turnovers and converted one into a touchdown in a 21-0 win before the nonconference prep football contest was called by mutual consent with 4 minutes, 38 seconds left in the third quarter.Two lightning storms surrounding Bears Stadium forced the game’s early end after a wait of 56 minutes. Time and distance back to Colorado Springs for Harrison were factors in calling the game.”If we would have re-started the game, by the time both teams would have gotten back on the field and warmed-up it would have been 10 o’clock,” said Rifle head coach Darrel Gorham. “The coach from Harrison decided to call it because they didn’t make any (lodging) arrangements,” Gorham added. “And it’s not very good to come back (Saturday) because the kids would have been sore, and we didn’t want to cause any injuries.”The game was announced as completed at 9:38 p.m.

The early exit was good news for Harrison, whose deepest penetration of the night – a third-quarter march to the Bears’ 15 – was quashed by John Alderman’s fumble recovery.And unfortunate for Rifle’s rushing offense, which had found itself after sputtering in the first half.Before the turnover, Bear running backs Rocky Rauman and Casie Dunlap had four first-down runs between them in a 10-play, 72-yard drive capped by Rauman’s 2-yard plunge for the final score.Rauman also scored the Bears’ first touchdown – a run of 6 yards – in the first quarter.



Rifle quarterback Kyle Sanderson used a series of short passes to lead the Bears’ to their other score.His third-down pass to tight end Zach LaCount for a 10-yard gain to midfield kept a promising drive going. Three plays later Jordan Robinson scored on a 27-yard catch-and-run screen pass to the left flat.Sanderson turned out to be Rifle’s biggest offensive weapon. The senior was 7-for-14 with 70 yards passing, including the TD pass to Robinson. LaCount had four receptions for 36 yards. Rauman led all Bears runners with 80 yards in 11 carries.Rifle opens its 3A Western Slope Conference schedule Friday at Eagle Valley.Rifle opens its 3A Western Slope Conference schedule Friday at Eagle Valley.


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