Driblets of water beaded down Hudson Parrington’s goggles and blue wetsuit decorated with a cartoon shark on its front. The 7-year-old had just slid down a small waterslide and began sharing his take on the…
Javani Gonzalez (So.): 7 games played; 56 total
Bryce Rowley (Sr.): 7 games played; 51 total
Embrey Marantino (Sr.): 8 games played; 46 total
Peyton Prettyman (Jr.): 7 games played; 30 total
Season total: In 9 games, 441 total
Sacks:
Josh Straw (Sr.): 7 games played; 2 total
Javani Gonzales (So.): 7 games played; 2 total
Efren Bastillos (Fr.): 6 games played 2 total
Josh Avila (Jr.): 4 games played; 1 total
Season total: In 9 games, 15 total sacks
The Rifle Bears celebrate after defeating the Glenwood Springs Demons to secure their spot in the 3A spring state championship game at CSU Pueblo. Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Defensive statistics:
Embrey Marantino: (Sr.): 8 games played; 1 interception; 2 passes defended
Broc Caldwell (Jr.): 5 games played; 1 interception
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Rifle Senior Embrey Marantino had just finished the game with 201 yards and two touchdowns. Riding the bus back to Rifle, it took just two words for him to sum up how it felt to win the 3A state title:
Cloud Nine.
“Like, if you would’ve asked me two or three months ago if we would’ve even been in the playoffs, I would’ve said heck no,” Marantino added. “I didn’t even think we were going to make it to the playoffs, much less win the state final. But a lot of us have been playing since we were six and seven… we’ve been playing for a long time, and it’s just a very special brotherhood we share. We’re trying to prove how strong it is and just how amazing we’ve done and how much we can stick together, and that’s what really won it for us.”