WESTMINSTER — During Friday night’s 52-22 win over Erie, Legacy senior quarterback Andrew Gardner became the Lightning’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns, with 51, and the school’s first quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 career yards.
What he didn’t pick up with his arm on what turned out to be a festive homecoming night at North Stadium, he made up for with his feet — throwing for four touchdowns and running for two more.
When he needed a big play — like, really needed it — he turned to his trusty 6-foot-4 tight end, Joey Jewett.
“He’s the best safety valve in the state,” Legacy head coach Kyle Rider said of Jewett, who co-starred in the Lightning’s offensive drubbing of the Tigers, finishing with six receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. “Andrew knows, we know, if we have a play that needs to be made, we can throw it up to Big 85.”
Big 85 is the newest tight end to join Colorado’s Mismatch Society.
The Air Force commit is too fast for linebackers and too big for defensive backs.
Simply put, he’s a problem.
On three different occasions before halftime against the Tigers, the Lightning left its offense on the field on fourth down. Gardner ran for a 36-yard touchdown on fourth-and-6 on the opening drive. Jewett caught a 3-yard score on fourth-and-goal on the next drive, then hauled in a 6-yard pass on fourth-and-4 on the following drive.
Legacy (4-2, 2-1 5A Front Range League) led 38-0 at halftime.
“It’s great to have him out there,” Gardner said. “He’s a big target. He catches everything I throw to him, so it’s just great.”
Gardner himself is on the short list of 5A player of the year candidates. Though he’s been a solid starter for the Lightning the past three seasons, many — including some Division I schools — are now seeing the kind of prospect he can be as he trusts his legs more.
“It really clicked in for him in the Rocky Mountain game two weeks ago, when he started to be that dual-threat quarterback we all know he can be,” Rider said of Gardner, who’s thrown for 1,244 yards and 18 touchdowns and run for 330 yards and five scores through six games this fall.
“When he uses his legs,” Rider said, “it makes it hard on a defense to cover a guy that fast and who is already one of the top throwers in the state.”
Legacy’s Jackson Kindsfather, center, celebrates a sack against Erie on Friday night. (Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
WESTMINSTER: Legacy’s Calum McNeil runs the ball against Erie at North Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
WESTMINSTER: Legacy quarterback Andrew Gardner throws the ball against Erie at North Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
WESTMINSTER: Legacy tight end Joey Jewett celebrates a TD against Erie at North Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
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Legacy’s Jackson Kindsfather, center, celebrates a sack against Erie on Friday night. (Brent W. New/BoCoPreps.com)
The Tigers (0-6, 0-3) scored three times after halftime, but it was far too little, too late. Erie lost its sixth straight game after being held in check for most of the night, getting sacked five times — Jack Kindsfather had 3½ sacks for the Lightning — and turning the ball over five times.
Legacy is home against Fossil Ridge in Week 7, while Erie is at Columbine.