SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK ONE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Last year saw Stratton play in its sixth straight state championship game and the Eagles came out on top of Fleming 83-18. They are the favorite to go back to back, but no one will crown them in August. The challenge of defending the championship begins this week, with a steady line of contenders ready to unseat them. 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 STRATTON EAGLES VS #4 CHEYENNE WELLS TIGERS SATURDAY 2PM
Week one is highlighted by a clash of the last two state champions. Cheyenne Wells hit the Eagles right in the mouth in last year’s game, striking for a long TD pass on the opening drive. That’s all the Tigers would get, as Stratton won 53-6. Carson Noe caught that 55-yard TD for the Tigers, and Bryson Hyle led their defense with 10 tackles. Cyler Notter put up 125 yards and two rushing touchdowns, caught a 70-yard TD, while leading everyone with 12 tackles and scoring on a fumble recovery. The Eagles picked off five passes, three by Brody Webb and two by Charlie Tagtmeyer.
#2 OTIS BULLDOGS VS KIT CARSON WILDCATS FRIDAY 7PM
Tayte Smith had a hand in five offensive touchdowns in Otis’ 53-0 win over Kit Carson last year. He completed all three passes for 67 yards and three scores, and ran for 85 yards and two more scores, while Charlie Kendrick led the defense with 11 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. Bryson States accounted for 105 of the 195 yards of offense for Kit Carson, and recorded a game-high 13 tackles.
#3 GENOA-HUGO PIRATES AT #10 EADS EAGLES THURSDAY 7PM
Trey Smith threw for 147 yards and two TD, and Konner Rowden-Stum ran for 158 yards with four TD and also caught a touchdown in Genoa-Hugo’s wild 70-50 victory at home against Eads last year. Smith also tallied a game-high 19 tackles. Porter Spady, who was lost to an injury a few weeks ago, led Eads with 263 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in last year’s loss. Shane Winder went for 103 yards and a touchdown and Stockton Mitchek scored once on a reception.
#5 FLEMING WILDCATS AT NORTH PARK WILDCATS SATURDAY 1PM
Fleming won its fifth straight and 10th in 11 tries in the clash of Wildcats, 45-12 last year. Every touchdown scored by the green and black Wildcats was tallied by a player who graduated in the spring. Wyatt Cochran did have four receptions for 62 yards, and Matix Haney is the top returning defender from that game, with four tackles. North Park’s Makeon Crum ran for 42 yards and a TD, and recorded a game-leading 13 tackles. North Park’s offense was untracked by five interceptions and a lost fumble.
#6 GRANADA BOBCATS VS #7 BRANSON/KIM BEARCATS THURSDAY 7PM
Jonus Guevara and Maddox Coleman combined for 231 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and Coleman added six grabs for 118 yards and three more scores as Granada improved to 3-0 all-time against Branson/Kim with a 68-24 win last year. Guevara also collected a pair of interceptions. Owen Doherty hit on six of seven passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns, two to Cole Hofmeister and one to Kolter Cranson. Brock Doherty’s 13 tackles led everyone in the contest.
#8 WALSH EAGLES AT LA VETA REDHAWKS FRIDAY 7PM
Last year’s match-up between Walsh and La Veta came down to the final seconds, with La Veta earning a crazy 64-62 decision. Jessy Montunnas threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, and also scored a rushing TD for the Redhawks. Two of those passing scores went to Kade Andreatta, who recorded 11 tackles, two behind Brayden Nix for team-honors. Leyton Jones ran for 194 yards and five scores, tossed a TD pass, and caught another for the Eagles in the loss. For good measure, he returned a kick-off for a touchdown, led everyone with 18 tackles, and also recovered a fumble. Axeton Bishop added 17 tackles and a fumble recovery, while Wyatt Beecham had two picks and a fumble recovery.
IDALIA WOLVES AT BRIGGSDALE FRIDAY 7PM
Wind and rain was the big winner in last year’s clash between Idalia and Briggsdale, as the game was played in a quagmire. Briggsdale got 137 yards and two rushing scores from Tanner Fiscus in the 13-7 win by the Falcons. Tarek Glanz scored Idalia’s lone touchdown on the ground before going down for the season with a knee injury. He’s making his first appearance for the Wolves since suffering that injury 364 days ago.
HANOVER HORNETS AT MOUNTAIN VALLEY SATURDAY 1PM
Hanover scored twice in the fourth quarter of last year’s meeting to pull away for a 32-18 victory. Tyler Decker threw for two scores and Austin Sestokas ran for two in the win. David Byers added one more TD on a kick return. Riley Heater ran for one score and tossed another for Mountain Valley. Jacob Martinez led everyone with 17 tackles, including 14 solos.
PRAIRIE MUSTANGS AT CHERAW WOLVERINES SATURDAY 2PM
Cheraw piled up 347 yards and eight touchdowns in the rushing attack, 215 and five by Trenton Rader, as the Wolverines used a strong second half to beat Prairie 55-36 last year. Cheraw’s defense recovered four fumbles, with Joseph Reece, Austen Wingard, and Braden Stoker each pouncing on one. Brennan Bringelson caught three passes for 87 yards and a TD for the Mustangs. Justin Schreiner intercepted a pass and also blocked a kick for Prairie.
Ninth-ranked Deer Trail has a bye after dropping a Zero Week contest to Arickaree, 52-18, last Saturday. Arickaree, who was the first team outside of the top-ten in the preseason rankings, also has a bye this week.
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