EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK ONE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With the bulk of the teams across the state getting their first official contests in this weekend, the new season will see if a revamped Dove Creek squad can defend the title the Bulldogs won last year, or if someone else will stand tall in about three months time. As was the case last year, our weekly previews will focus on the games featuring ranked teams, and any other really big match-ups. This year, we will use our own MileHigh Prep Report Media Poll, with voters from across the state, until the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index gathers enough data to give a good indication of where teams stand in the official postseason metric.
#1 SIMLA CUBS AT HOEHNE FARMERS FRIDAY 7PM
Simla won last year’s contest 50-6, with Caston Cox completing 15 of 18 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns. Brent Bowker caught four passes for 129 yards and two scores, while TJ Eurich snagged six for 91 yards and one TD. That win broke a three-game losing streak in the series by Simla, who still trail 3-2 in the match-ups since 2014.
#3 DOVE CREEK BULLDOGS AT PLATEAU VALLEY COWBOYS SATURDAY 1PM
Dove Creek has won four straight in the series and 14 of the last 16 overall. Last year, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 32-0 first quarter lead and the 56-0 halftime score stood up as the final. Taber Dejane caught two passes for 107 yards and two TD. Parker Richardson had a total of 104 yards of offense, 68 coming through the air for Plateau Valley.
#4 AKRON RAMS VS BYERS BULLDOGS SATURDAY 6PM
All three of Ryan McCaffrey’s completions in last year’s meeting went for touchdown, covering 162 yards. That went with his 103 yards on the ground, a total surpassed by Anderson Filla (112), and the Rams went on to take the win by a 50-20 count. Chase Long threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns for Byers, most of it to AJ Engle who finished with 13 receptions, 216 yards, and two TD. Akron’s defense picked off a pair of Long’s passes. The Rams have won three of the four previous meetings between the two programs during their time in eight-man.
#5 MANCOS BLUEJAYS AT MELROSE (NM) FRIDAY 4PM
Kail Wayman had 104 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and added another score on a reception, as Mancos beat Melrose (NM) for the first time in the last three meetings. Broc Imel led the defense with 12 tackles in the 46-8 victory. Melrose won its opener 52-0 last week, with a defense that picked off three passes and held its opponent to 133 total yards.
#6 LYONS LIONS VS WALSENBURG PANTHERS FRIDAY 7PM
Miles Dumbauld tossed a pair of touchdowns and ran one of his two defensive picks back for another, while Malik Sigg-Brown had two rushing touchdowns and recovered a pair of fumbles as Lyons blanked Walsenburg 42-0 last year. While the offense had its struggles, Walsenburg’s defense recorded three takeaways, including an interception by Paul Garcia. This will be the second meeting between the programs in the MaxPreps era, dating back to 2004.
#7 HOLLY WILDCATS VS DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN EAGLES FRIDAY 6PM
It’s odd that in the second year of a cycle, the non-league match-ups aren’t the return game from the previous season. However, that’s the case as Holly and Dayspring Christian are meeting for the first time since 2019. This contest features a veteran Wildcat team, led by the dynamic Andre Salgado,who piled up 2929 yards of offense last year, and a very young Dayspring Christian squad that has 12 players who are either freshmen or sophomores. Both teams made the postseason last year.
#9 MERINO RAMS VS FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN FALCONS SATURDAY 6PM
Merino opened last season with a week one contest against Pikes Peak Christian, while Front Range Christian took on PPC the following week. With the Eagles dropping to six-man this season, the common opponents are getting together for the first time in the MaxPreps era. Merino nearly had three backs over 1000 yards on the ground last year, but only QB Coen Schmidt returns. Jack Edwards Caedan Whatmore led the Falcons’ defense last year will be busy trying to shut down that running attack.
#10 CROWLEY COUNTY CHARGERS AT MCCLAVE CARDINALS SATURDAY 7PM
Week one gives us another contest featuring a pair of teams that made the postseason last year, and both teams are expected to be in the mix for a berth this year. Crowley County made it three wins in as many years with a 44-24 victory in last year’s opener, but the only Charger who scored in that contest to return this year in Keegan Halloran. The Cards have Ray Mungaray, who caught a pair of touchdowns in the loss.
FOWLER GRIZZLIES AT SWINK LIONS FRIDAY 7PM
No pair of week one opponents have as much familiarity as these two former league rivals. Fowler and Swink have played 17 times since the 2004 season. Swink earned just its fourth win in that stretch with a 44-34 decision last year, and the Lions return Hunter Bauserman, who threw for 124 yards and ran for 129 in that victory. Gage Gottbehuet is back for the Grizzlies after throwing for 147 yards in the loss. Dominic Armijo and Harrison Proctor also return. They combined for 25 tackles.
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