Legacy defeats Riverdale Ridge in first 5A meeting after decade apart

Legacy High School football players celebrated a 42-21 victory over Riverdale Ridge on Friday night, a result that secured both teams a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs. The game marked the first regular season meeting between the two programs since Riverdale Ridge moved into the 5A division this year.

The outcome was less important to two of the sideline figures than the fact that they were standing on opposing fields at all. Legacy head coach Kyle Rider and Riverdale Ridge head coach Wayne Voorhees shared a history that dates back to a fatal bus accident ten years ago. Both men were aboard a Legacy team bus traveling from Denver International Airport in 2016 when the vehicle crashed. The driver died in the incident, and several players and coaches, including Voorhees and Rider, sustained injuries.

Voorhees, who coached at Legacy for nearly two decades before starting the Riverdale Ridge program in 2018, described the physical toll of the crash. He noted that he suffered a concussion and a noticeable injury to his forehead. The experience shifted his perspective on the sport, leading him to value life over wins and losses. He stated that the crash taught him that life is more important than the scoreboard.

Rider, who also survived the crash as a coach, said the event changed how he approaches coaching. He focuses on teaching players to find positives in each day and not to take small moments for granted. He views his role as helping students become well-rounded people, not just athletes. Rider credited Voorhees for taking a chance on him years ago when he joined the staff as a JV coach.

On the field, senior quarterback Andrew Gardner led the Legacy Lightning offense. He rushed for three touchdowns. Senior tight end Joey Jewett added two more scores, and senior running back Chase Combs finished with one touchdown. For the Riverdale Ridge Ravens, senior running backs Dean Presswood and Adam Horta each found the end zone. Senior wide receiver Hudson Rau also scored a touchdown for the visitors.

The game took place during Riverdale Ridge's senior night, allowing the graduating class to play their final home game of the season. Voorhees acknowledged that he knows many of the Legacy coaching staff and players well. He said he wanted to see how the Lightning performed now that the teams were competing in the same division.

Both teams will continue their postseason play next week. Riverdale Ridge is scheduled to play at Northfield at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. Legacy will travel to play at Horizon at 7 p.m. on the same day. These games serve as the first round of the CHSAA state tournament.

Voorhees began his coaching career at Legacy when the school opened in Broomfield in 2000. He served as an assistant before becoming head coach for 15 seasons. Rider joined the program later and eventually took over as head coach. Their friendship has continued since the 2016 crash, but Friday was the first time they faced each other as head coaches in a competitive regular season game.