AKRON –- Still wet from the celebratory ice-water shower, Akron coach Brian Christensen accepted congratulations from one fan after another. Along the way, Christensen shook hands with one of the few people who understood exactly what the Rams football team had just accomplished.

“Now I know what No. 3 feels like,” Christensen told Limon Badgers coach Mike O’Dwyer.

Akron, paced by 254 yards rushing by Dalton Jefferson, claimed its third consecutive Class A state football championship by upending visiting Wray 37-8 on Saturday afternoon on the Rams’ home field. It was the program’s 39th victory in a row, an impressive feat that O’Dwyer knows something about.

Limon, which won the Class A championship in 2003, 2004 and 2005, holds the state record, with 50 consecutive victories from 2003-06.

Akron (13-0) has won the three title games since then, with six championships overall, including in 1985, when Christensen played on the team. The Rams have played in eight of the past 10 Class A championship games.

“We don’t really have any standout players. If everybody is working for the same goal, it makes it a lot easier to win,” Akron linebacker Benj Vigil said.

Akron allowed an average of 3.5 points per game this season. During the 39-game winning streak, the program has outscored the opposition by an average score of 39-3, with 20 shutouts.

The Rams started the game according to plan. After forcing Wray (10-3) to punt on its first possession, Jefferson and the Akron offense charged down the field on a nine-play scoring drive.

Akron’s signature single-wing offense opened holes all game for Jefferson, who scored two touchdowns on 31 total carries, and Logan Davisson, who racked up 97 yards on the ground with scoring runs of 1, 14 and 35 yards.

After forcing another punt, the Rams scored again, but quicker this time. Jefferson found some room to the right side, broke through the first wave of defenders and sprinted 64 yards to the end zone.

“There is no other feeling I’d rather feel,” said Jefferson, the Rocky Mountain News most valuable player. “That’s what Akron football is. We’ll just pound you and pound you until we win.”

Jefferson said he struggled with grades and an ankle injury during his sophomore season and the first half of his junior season. But he capped his senior year with a highlight performance.

“I’ve got my head on now,” Jefferson said. “I played my whole senior year and tore it up.”

With Wray trailing 14-0, a special-teams miscue looked like it might sink it well before halftime. Kelly Siegrist charged ahead to field a short kickoff after Jefferson’s touchdown run. But Siegrist misplayed the ball, which bounced off his chest and face mask and into the arms of Alec Vasquez.

The Rams started on Wray’s 27-yard line but were held to a 29-yard field goal by Byron Guy.

The Eagles responded early on their next drive. Wray quarterback Brady Buck connected with Ben Reinick for a 44-yard gain that set up a 1-yard touchdown dive by Siegrist.

After forcing Akron to punt for the first time, Wray looked to be right back in the game trailing 17-8. At least Wray was in it until Vasquez stepped in again.

The senior safety watched Buck drop back and read the play the entire way, stepping in front of a pass for an interception and long return.

“They got me on that same play earlier,” Vasquez said. “I knew when he slowed down and cut back that the pass was coming. I watched the quarterback and saw the ball coming.”

Akron has fed off turnovers and rolled with momentum all season. It looked like Vasquez’s pick would turn the game for good, but Wray’s defense held and Guy came out for a 45-yard field-goal attempt. His kick fell short, but a flag was thrown for roughing the kicker.

“They came in late and hit me,” Guy said.

One play later, Davisson broke loose for a 14-yard touchdown run with 2:55 remaining in the first half.

The second half was all Akron.

The Rams started the third quarter with a 12-play, 87-yard drive that ate up 61/2 minutes. Wray turned the ball over on downs after Buck’s fourth-down pass fell just beyond the fingertips of Reinick in the corner of the end zone.

Akron followed with another 12-yard scoring drive, this one eating up more than five minutes and 85 yards. The Rams’ third and final drive of the half ended with two kneel-downs by Davisson.

“I thought we moved the ball well at times, but it was tough to keep their offense off the field,” Buck said. “My interception hurt, definitely, but we just couldn’t capitalize.”

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