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Glenwood hangs tough before Palisade pulls away, 34-18

Matt Meyer
Special to the Post Independent

Palisade 34, Glenwood 18

Glenwood 0 3 7 8 — 18

Palisade 7 6 7 14 — 34

P — Levi Hoaglund 1 Run ( Devan Lucero); GS — Robert Hiles 28 Field Goal; P — Hoaglund 28 pass to Jack Millard (run failed); P — Dalton Hannigan 35 Run (Lucero kick); GS — Derrick Chase 2 Run (Hiles kick); P — Hannigan 23 Run (Lucero kick); P — Austin Terry 1 Run (Lucero kick); GS — Travis Lundin 45 pass to Everett Marr (Lundin run)

GRAND JUNCTION — When an illegal-touching penalty brought back a Palisade Hail Mary touchdown, the Glenwood Springs High School football team finished the first half with a chance, trailing 13-3.

Derrick Chase took advantage.

Chase blocked a punt early in the second half, then ran for a 2-yard score two plays later to keep Glenwood Springs in striking distance. But Levi Hoaglund, leading the Bulldogs’ flexbone offense, threw for a touchdown and ran for another in Palisade’s 34-18 win Thursday night at Stocker Stadium.



Palisade running back Dalton Hannigan ran for 151 yards — including two 20-plus yard touchdown scampers — to put the game out of reach in the second half.

Hannigan was the feature back in a rushing attack that slashed the Demons (0-2, 0-1 Class 3A Western Slope League) for 325 yards and four touchdowns.



Glenwood Springs made an effort to keep Palisade (2-0, 1-0 WSL) guessing, and not favoring the passing game, coach Rocky Whitworth said.

Glenwood had three successful quick slant plays in a row, with Palisade corners lining up with one foot on the sideline.

But after an interception in the first quarter and another right before halftime, Whitworth shifted to the rushing attack. Henry Hill saw most of the carries, and was fed mostly on read-option and spread sweep plays.

“The run was working well for us at times,” Whitworth said. “During our first and second drives we ran the ball very well. We were just trying to stay balanced on offense.”

Hill ran for 47 yards on 17 carries, and Chase chipped in 25 yards on four carries and a touchdown.

Chase’s punt block and subsequent TD sparked a hard-hitting defense for a short time during the second half.

“We always try to be the best at what we do,” Chase said. “We don’t have a perfect offense, but it’s getting there. Our defense, I’d say put up a fight tonight.

“I knew we needed a spark. The guy who was supposed to pick me up blocked down; instead of going inside I beat the punt protector to the outside and put my hands up.”

Whitworth said the combination of big plays and talented Palisade linemen allowed Palisade to run away during the final half.

“We’re just not having, overall, at times, good luck,” Whitworth said. “We’re moving the ball at times, we’re stopping people at times, we’re just a little inconsistent. We’re getting better, but at this point in the season, time is of the essence for us.

“They blocked well on their rushing plays, and (Hoaglund) is just an outstanding athlete, one of the better ones we will face this year.”

Travis Lundin went 12 for 20 with 146 yards. He threw a late, 45-yard touchdown to Evrett Marr with 8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and also tallied two interceptions.

Marr had an interception called off early late in the first quarter because of a contested pass interference call that landed Glenwood Springs a sideline warning. The referees first spotted the ball at the 9-yard line at the spot of the foul. After deliberating, they awarded Palisade five yards on the play, instead of the standard 15-yard penalty. The drive ended with Hoaglund finding Jack Millard for a 28-yard touchdown.

Glenwood will host Class 3A state runner-up and rival Rifle (1-0) at 7 p.m. next Friday.


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