Cherry Creek Rolls Past Cherokee Trail, 37-21: Colorado High School Football

It’s been a roller-coaster of emotions the past two weeks for Colorado high school football powerhouse Cherry Creek.

The Bruins went from the exhilaration and relief of winning back-to-back ballgames by the skin of their teeth to shock and disbelief of having their season-opening win forfeited.

But on Thursday night, the Bruins weren't put in an emotional wringer. Instead, they made sure there wasn't another down-to-the-wire finish. Cherry Creek led 31-0 in the second quarter and went on to a 37-21 win against Cherokee Trail at Aurora's Legacy Stadium.

Cherry Creek vs. Cherokee Trail Live Stream: How to Watch Colorado High School Football

After needing overtime to win two weeks ago and a fourth-quarter rally last week, the Bruins appeared to have won 31 straight games. But earlier this week, they had to forfeit their season-opening win against Chatfield due to the use of an ineligible player, so instead of 31 straight games, Cherry Creek entered Thursday’s game with three consecutive wins.

But the Bruins (4-1, 1-0 Centennial League) easily made it four straight wins as they scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead. They kept building their lead, going up 31-0 in the final minutes of the first half.

Cherry Creek then got two third-quarter field goals to go up by 30, 37-7.

It was the second straight loss for Cherokee Trail (3-2, 0-1), after falling 29-27 to Eaglecrest in a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds a week ago.

Despite the forfeit, Cherry Creek remains No. 1 in this week's High School On SI Colorado Top 25 rankings, while Cherokee Trail is on the other end of the spectrum, coming in at No. 25.

Follow High School On SI correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Aurora.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

CHERRY CREEK 37, CHEROKEE TRAIL 21 4TH QTR.

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FOURTH QUARTER

- Cherry Creek gets another first down, and now the Bruins are in victory formation with a minute to go.

- Cherry Creek converts on a third-and-short and gets a new set of downs with less than three minutes to go.

- Cherokee Trail gets back-to-back touchdowns, and the Cougars are now within 16 points. (Cherry Creek, 37-21 | 4:29, 4th)

THIRD QUARTER

- FIELD GOAL CHERRY CREEK. And a hat trick for Jolon Quintana, as he connects from 37 yards out for his third field goal of the night. (Cherry Creek, 37-7 | :05, 3rd)

- FIELD GOAL CHERRY CREEK. Jolon Quintana connects from 36 yards out for his second field goal of the night. (Cherry Creek, 34-7 | 4:17, 3rd)

- Second-half action is now under way.

HALFTIME

- All Cherry Creek in the first half, as the Bruins lead by 24 points.

SECOND QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN CHEROKEE TRAIL. Cougars finally get on the board right before halftime on a 7-yard slant pass over the middle. (Cherry Creek, 31-7 | :11, 2nd)

- FIELD GOAL CHERRY CREEK. Bruins add to their lead, as Jolon Quintana boots one from 45 yards out. (Cherry Creek, 31-0 | 4:30, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN CHERRY CREEK. Bruins on the board again, as Alijah Landrum-Hamilton catches a 25-yard pass, and it's been all Cherry Creek all night. (Cherry Creek, 28-0 | 5:51, 2nd)

FIRST QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN CHERRY CREEK. Bruins on the move again, and they get another score as Raymond Sarno goes around left end from 5 yards out. It's a 21-point lead now. (Cherry Creek, 21-0 | :25, 1st)

- TOUCHDOWN CHERRY CREEK. Two drives, two scores for the Bruins, as Elijah Cromwell takes a handoff and darts up the middle from 14 yards out. PAT is good. (Cherry Creek, 14-0 | 6:36, 1st)

- Cherokee Trail can't do much of anything on its opening drive, and the Cougars will punt it back to Cherry Creek, which gets excellent field position inside Cougar territory.

- TOUCHDOWN CHERRY CREEK. A very efficient opening drive for the Bruins, who take the kickoff and march it straight down the field. Braylen Lumbus finishes things off with a 1-yard sprint into the end zone. Jolon Quintana, whose field goal in the final seconds beat Valor Christian last week, tacks on the PAT. (Cherry Creek, 7-0 | 8:42, 1st)

- Cherry Creek faces a fourth-and-short just midfield, but Elijah Cromwell takes a handoff and scoots around the left side for the easy first down. Bruins approaching the red zone.

- Cherry Creek fields the opening kickoff, and we are under way. And it's a good one, as the Bruins take it out to near midfield.

PREGAME

- Live from Legacy Stadium in Aurora, Cherry Creek returns to the field following its miracle comeback win last week and its forfeit earlier this week as the Bruins get set to take on Cherokee Trail.

ABOUT CHERRY CREEK

Two weeks ago, the Bruins were on the ropes at the Stutler Bowl against Legend, but pulled off a 34-28 overtime win on a touchdown pass to Yorel Autry.

Then last week, Cherry Creek entered the fourth quarter of its showdown against Valor Christian trailing 12-0 before coming back. With the help of a recovered onside kick, the Bruins pulled off a 16-15 win on a field goal in the closing seconds.

ABOUT CHEROKEE TRAIL

Last week, Cherry Creek won on a late field goal. A night earlier, Cherokee Trail lost on a late field goal.

Against Eaglecrest, the Cougars dropped a 29-27 decision on a field goal with 10 seconds remaining. Cherokee Trail had the ball and the lead late, but were pinned deep in its own territory and were forced to punt, and the Raptors got excellent field position to eventually set up the game-winning points.

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