Cherry Creek shuts out Valor Christian for Class 5A state title

<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22530" first="Myles" last="Purchase"]</strong> was big on both sides of the ball and earned MVP honors for the Cherry Creek Bruins in the Class 5A state championship game in Pueblo. The senior had two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and also recorded an interception from his defensive back spot in the second half to help Cherry Creek defeat Valor Christian 21-0 and repeat as state champions in Colorado’s highest classification. Purchase took direct snaps throughout the game and managed to break free for a couple of big scoring runs in the package. The first was a big 44-yard run. https://twitter.com/LindseySquints/status/1335391672914628609 His second run saw him break a tackle in the backfield, change direction and go off-tackle to the left for a 12-yard score that extended the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter. https://twitter.com/ColoHSFootball/status/1335394757204353024 Colorado commits <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22547" first="Julian" last="Hammond III"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22528" first="Chase" last="Penry"]</strong> connected on some passes in the game and hit a big completion for 34 yards and a score that gave Cherry Creek a 21-0 lead going into the half. It would be the final points of the night as both defenses shined in the second half, but it was Cherry Creek who was more consistent for the entire game that ultimately gave them the win. Valor Christian got some momentum in the third quarter with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22667" first="Gavin" last="Sawchuk"]</strong> breaking a run for 57 yards that had them knocking on the red zone and gave the offense some life. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22594" first="Malik" last="Majekodunmi"]</strong> stepped up on fourth down and was able to shoot the gap and deliver a hit on Valor Christian quarterback <strong>Sean McNair</strong> that resulted in a fumble and gave the ball to Cherry Creek. Responding for Valor Christian was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22542" first="Zaire" last="Jackson"]</strong> with an interception to halt an ensuing drive. Purchase, who threw the interception, returned the favor with his sixth interception of the season. More fourth-down stops and a blocked field goal kept both teams off the scoreboard and gave Cherry Creek its 11th state title in program history, per CHSAANow.com. Highlights from the championship game can be seen on CHSAA’s YouTube page <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEm0_TmRF0Q">here</a>.