Palmer Ridge football prepares to add to playoff success, will test road win streak against Montrose in 4A semifinals
Palmer Ridge rarely loses games, and contests away from Don Breese Stadium are no exception.
The Bears’ football team flaunts a 12-0 record ahead of their 1 p.m. Saturday 4A semifinal showdown with No. 2 Montrose, which is also 12-0.
Palmer Ridge, the No. 3 seed, boasts a 5-0 road record and has outscored its opponents 225-21 away from home. Since Nov. 7, 2019, when Discovery Canyon defeated Palmer Ridge 56-49, the Bears have amassed 28 consecutive road wins.
The Bears own a two-game winning streak over the Red Hawks. They defeated Montrose 35-28 in their August 2022 meeting and also beat Montrose 28-27 in the 2023 season opener.
“It’s about the end goal,” senior linebacker Brody Elliott said after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s about winning a championship, and that’s what we’re all working for … We’re chasing something that we’ve been working for since last January.”
After Wednesday’s practice, senior offensive and defensive lineman Owen Twesme said the thought of a state championship helps players and coaches remain motivated and sharp, especially on the mundane aspects of the game.
“It’s the tiny things that people don’t normally think about,” Twesme said. “Staying low when you’re blocking, keeping your hands tight. Little things like that are easy to forget about or easy to mess up, but we focus on those and it helps us be successful.”
BEARS’ NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Palmer Ridge has achieved many successes in recent years.
State championship game appearances: Five
State championships: Three, won three consecutive 3A titles from 2017-19
Last championship game appearance: 2023, lost 20-6 to Erie in 4A title contest
Semifinal appearances: Seven
Seasons with record over .500: 14 (Program began in the 2008-09 season)
Seasons with 10 or more wins*: Eight (currently at eight in a row)
Last losing season: 2012 (2-8)
Note: Palmer Ridge is 102-11 in the past nine seasons and has not lost more than two games in a year since 2016, when the Bears finished 8-3.
*This excludes the 2020 COVID-shortened season when Palmer Ridge finished 6-1 and advanced to the 4A championship where the Bears lost 42-6 to Loveland.