LITTLETON - Time didn't run out on Alex Rios.

Even if the first half would have expired as the senior linebacker was returning an interception 85 yards for a touchdown, Rios probably wouldn't have realized it until after he crossed the goal line.

Rios' interception return in the second quarter Thursday night sparked Arapahoe to a 28-19 opening-game victory against Class 5A Continental League rival Chaparral. It was one of several big plays the Warriors' needed when their offense wasn't at its best.

"I wasn't looking (at the clock), I was just paying attention," Rios said. "I had great blocking from two people coming down the sideline. I just kept running."

After watching a couple of big plays from Chaparral early, the long defensive touchdown gave the Warriors the lead for good at 14-13.

Chaparral got 3 yards from tying it in the fourth quarter, but Rios deflected a pass on a two-point conversion attempt to preserve the lead.

"I just had seen the play before and went for it," Rios said. "I just jumped on it. Our defense picked it up huge (Thursday)."

The play of the Arapahoe defense was supported when Eric Soehngen came through with a 99-yard kickoff return to provide the final margin.

"Rios is always flying around the ball, all over the place," Arapahoe senior quarterback Matt Johnson said.

"With Eric, it was his first time returning a kickoff and he cut it back on their best player. You can't top that. After a disappointing year last year, we knew this was a big game to start things off."

Julian Johnson finished with 210 yards to highlight Chaparral's offense, while Bill Mercer scored twice for Arapahoe.

Chaparral......7	6	0	6	-	19
Arapahoe......7	7	7	7	-	28

First quarter

C - Julian Johnson 78 run (Garrett Daves kick).

A - Bill Mercer 1 run (Cameron Durkin kick).

Second quarter

C - T.J. Gallagher 67 pass from Jerry Slota (kick failed). A - Alex Rios 85 interception return (Durkin kick).

Third quarter

A - Mercer 15 run (Durkin kick).

Fourth quarter

C -Matt Newton 3 pass from Nikolas Pavlich (pass failed). A - Eric Soehngen 99 kickoff return (Durkin kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - C, Julian Johnson 30-210, Jerry Slota 3-0, Nikolas Pavlich 4-1; A, Bill Mercer 27-110, Davis Gunter 5-6, Matt Johnson 1-(minus 9).

Passing - C, Slota 7-9-0-113, Pavlich 6-14-1-48; A, Johnson 12-21-1-127.

Receiving - C, T.J. Gallagher 5-104, Shawn Johnson 1-4, Travis Higman 2-18, J. Johnson 2-9, Matt Newton 1-3, Darian Rosales 1-14, Shane Maloney 1-9; A, Derrick Overton 4-37, Mercer 2-22, Eric Soehngen 2-26, Eric Dikeman 1-14, Mike Griffin 2-17, Ryan Wilcox 1-11.

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