BASALT – Sometimes the hare actually wins the race.

The Classical Academy jumped out to a two-touchdown lead over Basalt in Saturday’s 2A football semifinal in the first four plays of the game.

At that point, intentional or not, cruise control set in and even though the Longhorns found a way to battle back, it was the Titans leaving the Western Slope with a 41-28 lead and a trip to next week’s state championship game.

“In a 48-minute game, if we try to end every drive with a kick, we’ll be in good shape against most teams in the state,” coach Justin Rich said. “It was great to jump out to that lead and we certainly weren’t trying to rest behind that tree. We had a couple of turnovers and a really bad decision on special teams to kind of sputter us out in the first half.”

But before all that, the Titans (12-0) had made exceptional plays on special teams, defense and offense. Zach Mediavilla returned the opening kick 96 yards for a touchdown, Hayden Gustafson hauled in an interception on Basalt’s first offensive play and Jackson Schipfer broke for a 40-yard touchdown run.

All that happened in the first two minutes of the game.

“It’s like a dagger in the heart right away,” Mediavilla said. “Both teams come out pumped and that’s a crowd silencer right away. There were a lot of people here and it gets loud. Then you take [the kick] back and it just gets quiet.”

Basalt got quiet. The TCA side of the field may have gotten even louder as the Longhorns (11-1) drove down to the TCA 1-yard line, only to have the Titans win that battle of the trenches and keep Basalt out of the end zone.

The first score for Basalt came as a result of that special teams miscue referenced by Rich. Khalil Blush tried to field a bouncing punt, but it went through his hands, allowing Dylan Johnston to recover the ball on the TCA 13. On fourth down, quarterback Karson Schneider found William Daniel on a little screen pass that got Basalt on the board.

The Longhorns tied the game on a Schneider pass to Parker Sims, forcing the Titans to try and pick up the scoring pace they had in the opening minutes.

They initially thought they had it on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Brown to Gustafson, giving the junior a big play on offense to match his early interception.

“It’s about being in the right place at the right time,” Gustafson said.

But Basalt answered on their first play of the next drive with a Schneider screen pass to Will Tarallo that went for a 65-yard score.

After losing a close game in last year’s quarterfinals to eventual champion Delta, the Titans had no desire to let history repeat itself. A turnover deep in Basalt territory paved the way for the first of two rushing scores for Braden Godoy.

The Titans added a final touchdown in the closing minutes as Brown found Elijah Wright for a first down to run out the clock. But Wright outran the Basalt defense, allowing the celebration to begin on the TCA sideline.

Though this is technically the second state title game appearance in program history, this is the first fall season state championship game for TCA. They reached the Season C spring state title game during the COVID-19 year where CHSAA allowed teams the option of playing in the fall or the spring.

Regardless, TCA will get back to work on Monday and enjoy the privilege of getting to practice on Thanksgiving.

“We’re still trying to become a team worthy of winning a state championship,” Rich said. “We have a lot of work to do this week.”

Should that work entail another fast start, they’ll try not to let the next tortoise catch up.

Two area teams fall in quarterfinals

Mesa Ridge and Discovery Canyon both lost in their road playoff games Saturday to conclude their seasons.

In 4A, the No. 7-seeded Grizzlies faced No. 2 Montrose on the road and, after taking a 7-0 lead against the Hawks, Mesa Ridge struggled to find its offense.

Montrose earned a 53-21 victory to advance to the semifinals. Mesa Ridge finished the season 8-4.

In 3A, No. 8 Discovery Canyon’s lone score of the game came in the final minute against No. 1 Thompson Valley, which beat the Thunder 30-7.

The Thunder finished the year 9-3 and closed the season with wins in eight of their final nine contests.