Limon Dole(s) over Akron and into final

LIMON - Limon scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Akron, 42-28, Saturday in the semifinals of the Class A state playoffs.

Limon started the last quarter with a 9-play, 73-yard drive with Josh Dole scoring on a 1-yard run.

After Ryan Coonts pinned Akron on its 2-yard line with a punt, Coonts intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards to the Akron 1. Dole, who finished with 125 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, scored from there to put the see-saw game away.

"It was something we almost gave back to them," Limon coach David Grimes said. "But we hung in there. I was nervous because we gave away so many opportunities in the first half."

Limon built a 20-0 lead in the first half on a 51-yard run by Dole, a Tom Hubbard 49-yard interception return and a Hubbard to Eric Siaz 54-yard pass.

But Akron came back in the third quarter, scoring on a 35-yard David Hall to Matt Glosson pass and a Hall to Charlie Harms pass of 23 yards. Harms, who finished with 123 yards on 24 carries, converted a fourth-and-2 at the Akron 34 to keep the second scoring drive alive.

Limon regained some momentum by scoring on a 71-yard pass from Hubbard to Jake Stone, but Akron freshman Aaron Lambertson returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

Akron then recovered a muffed kickoff at the Limon 25 and Hall passed to Justin Reid on the next play for a 25-yard scoring strike, giving Akron a 28-26 lead.

But Dole's two fourth-quarter scoring runs and Coonts' big defensive play turned things around for Limon.

"(Coonts) is an unbelievable athlete," Grimes said. "He broke his leg last year and is just now getting his confidence. I'm sure glad we have him."

Limon will travel to Nucla for the Class A state championship next Saturday.

- Paul G. Wallace may be reached at 636-0250 or gtsports@gazette.com

Class A

LIMON 42

AKRON 28

HIGHLIGHT: Limon's Josh Dole runs for 125 and three TDs.

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