Why Blake Purchase, and his soccer “spider-sense,” have Cherry Creek dreaming of 4th straight 5A state title

The intuition, Dave Logan adored.

It was when Blake Purchase’s spider-sense despatched him freelancing to Heaven-knows-where that the Cherry Creek soccer coach would cease the sport tape, mid-frame, and shake his head.

Late final season, it occurred once more. As smoke began pouring out of his ears on the sideline, Logan recalled not too long ago, the voice of the Broncos questioned if he was going to should learn his star pass-rusher the riot act.

“I watch him and at the snap of the ball, he drops (into coverage). And I’m like, ‘Here we go again,’” Logan recalled. “Well, he picks off the cross and runs all of it the way in which again to the 5-yard line.

“So they come off the field and I’m thinking, ‘OK, I’m going to be able to get in his (face).”

Which, because the Creek coach remembers it, led to this trade:

“Hey, man, (heck) of a play,” Logan advised him. “Did you hear the call?”

Purchase nodded. He had.

“And I know I’m supposed to come (on the rush), coach,” the Creek defender replied. “But coach, (the QB) audibled. And it was the exact same audible that they’d run in the first half where they thought I was coming and they threw a hitch.”

“And that’s exactly what they ran again,” Logan recalled. “They threw it right at him.”

Purchase’s spider-sense? It had not solely saved his bacon — it helped to clinch one of many Class 5A state champions’ greatest victories of 2021.

“He’s just got an unusual football sense to him,” Logan mentioned of Purchase, who’ll lead the cost as a senior for Creek’s fourth straight title beginning with the Bruins’ season-opening go to to Ralston Creek on Friday.

“Blake will see how a tackle is set and he’ll say, ‘You know, I think I can beat him inside.’ For this level, he’s just a really intuitive, smart football player.”

One whose head — and body — have lastly caught up along with his instinct. The 6-3, 240-pound edge rusher lifts the curtain for his last prep season because the No. 1 prospect within the state, according to 247Sports, a 4-star expertise with Power 5 upside.

“(What I’m looking) really (in a college) is where the edge rusher is a big thing in their defensive scheme,” defined Purchase, whose 18 provides as of mid-August included the likes of CU, CSU, Iowa State, Oregon, USC, Washington, California, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Washington State and Nebraska.

“Also, the culture of the program. I’m trying to go somewhere that even if they’re not winning right now, they really want to win — and you can tell at practice, the way the players act and the way the players talk.”

While of us anticipated a dedication final spring or summer time after visits to Iowa State — the place older brother Myles is a sophomore defensive again — in addition to to Oregon, Washington and Cal, Purchase stunned observers when he’d declared that he deliberate on conserving his collegiate choices open into the autumn.

“My biggest fear in the whole recruiting process, and it still could absolutely happen, is de-committing,” Purchase defined to The Denver Post.

“And I felt the earlier I committed, the greater likelihood you’re flipping to a different college (later). That’s my biggest fear, is just de-committing. That’s why, when (I) give my school my word, I want to stay true to that.”

The Creek senior advised The Post he’s engaged on an autumn go to to Notre Dame, one other finalist, and expects to decide earlier than early signing day interval begins on Dec. 22.

In the meantime, although? It’s again to the grind. Back to placing a protection — and a program’s excessive bar — on his again, if that’s what it takes for the Bruins to notch a fourth consecutive crown.

“I’ve never been a vocal guy,” mentioned Purchase, who racked up 12 sacks and 18 tackles for losses as a junior final fall. “But before the season, Coach Logan told me, ‘Lead in your way … whatever you can do. Guys are going to look up to you.’”

More importantly, they’re going to hear.

“(We’ve) seen him mature into that (role), for sure, over the last 18 months or so,” Purchase’s father Brian advised The Post. “And you may see it and it’s bettering each time I come to observe and see him.