By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
Winning can be ugly. Brophy knows that all too well.
It happened in the first week of the season, when the Broncos allowed Williams Field to score 28 points to tie the game late. It took late-game heroics from quarterback Rylan Umphrey and wideout Devin Fitzgerald, as the two connected in the end zone late in the fourth to help the Broncos escape with a win to start the year.
It started to happen once again Friday night against Colorado perennial top-10 team Regis Jesuit, as the Broncos managed to muster only one first-half touchdown. But a 70-yard run by Umphrey in the third quarter lit a spark and Brophy cruised to a 44-0 win over Regis Jesuit.
“At that point it was 7-0,” Jewell said of the run by Umphrey. “That was absolutely a spark. We’ve had a lot of close games over the years. That’s kind of been our M.O. over the years, we’ve had a lot of close games. Feels good to end like this.”
Brophy appeared to be the better team right from the jump Friday night.
Umphrey orchestrated a long, methodical drive that immediately wore down the Raider defense. As Brophy neared the goal line, several Regis Jesuit defenders had their hands on their hips. Those who were subbed out immediately headed for the ice buckets, a sign that the 112-degree temperatures were getting to the team from Aurora — which had a high temperature of 82 degrees Friday.
The 30-degree difference didn’t play too much of a factor, however. At least not in the first half.
Brophy capped off its first drive with a touchdown run from Harrison Chambers. The Broncos appeared on the verge of scoring again, but Nassim Isaac was stripped at the 1-yard line and the ball rolled through the end zone for a touchback.
“Two years in a row we had something crazy like that, a touchdown that ends up in a safety,” Jewell said. “Shooting ourselves in the foot.”
That wasn’t the only mistake from Brophy that left points off the board. Super sophomore Ryder Noche, the starting corner and punt returner for Brophy, housed a punt that would’ve had increased his team’s first-half lead. But a holding call brought it back. Brophy failed to convert on fourth down a few plays later.
With Brophy’s offense sputtering, Regis Jesuit tried to go to the ground to burn clock and wear out the Broncos defense. However, that’s a tough task. Bastian Vanden Bosch was nearly unstoppable, pressuring Regis Jesuit freshman quarterback Luke Rubley on nearly every attempt.
If it wasn’t Vanden Bosch, it was one of the other Brophy defensive linemen. Matthew Hernandez was on fire off the edge. Noah Hubbard, too. The play up front allowed the Brophy secondary, led by Notre Dame commit Cree Thomas, to lock down Regis Jesuit wideouts.
The Raiders were held to just 49 yards through the air. They found more success on the ground, rushing for 87 yards as a team. But Brophy had their number, especially in the second half.
“That wasn’t us (last week),” Vanden Bosch said. “But we bounced back from that week, fixed our mistakes and got better. I think we’re ready for anything. We’re not intimidated by anybody.”
Not wanting to have a repeat of last week, Brophy’s defense dialed in even more in the final two quarters. Regis Jesuit punted on every drive and had few first downs in the final two quarters of play.
The one scoring opportunity they did have — a 36-yard field goal attempt — was blocked. The next play for Brophy’s offense after the special teams stop was the long run by Umphrey. He then found Daylen Sharper for a 10-yard touchdown to extend Brophy’s lead.
The rout was on.
“Once we’re firing on all cylinders, it’s really hard to stop us,” said Umphrey, who finished 16-of-20 for 158 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 86 yards.
“We just had to shake everything off. Sometimes everything isn’t going to go our way. We saw that in the first half. We got it back in that second half and did what we had to get it done.”
On Brophy’s next drive, Umphrey found Fitzgerald wide open for a 42-yard score. He stretched the ball across the goal line and toward his father, Larry, who was in the north end zone cheering him on the entire way.
A safety on a bad snap during a Regis Jesuit punt gave Brophy an even bigger cushion. It continued to grow as the second half went on.
Case Vanden Bosch, Bastian’s twin brother, came in at quarterback in the fourth. He proceeded to rush for three touchdowns, putting the game well out of reach.
Jewell said having two capable quarterbacks is a unique problem to have. Umphrey said the two are supportive of each other. The relationship between them and their ability to lead the Brophy offense makes the Broncos a lethal threat this season — along with several Division I offensive linemen leading the way.
“We used Case in crucial situations and we’ll continue to use him,” Jewell said. “We have full confidence in Case and Rylan.”
The big win by Brophy puts the Broncos further and further into the Open Division conversation. Vanden Bosch believes his team is ready for the challenge.
Jewell does, too. But they won’t have to wait too long. The Broncos go on the road to face 2023 runner-up Centennial next week. They also have a future date with Basha, which appears to be firing on all cylinders yet again.
Still, Jewell believes his team will be ready.
“We think we’re an Open team,” Jewell said. “Centennial is the runner-up. That’s the type of squad you have to prove it against.”
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