SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK FIVE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
This week’s schedule doesn’t have the same impact at the top of the slate as last week’s did, but there are still several big contests on tap. We include the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index rankings this week. They will be in the (*), with the MileHigh Prep Report Media Poll ranking listed first. The Selection and Seeding Index numbers come from the Thursday morning release.
#1/(1) STRATTON EAGLES (4-0) VS (UNRANKED) HI-PLAINS PATRIOTS (0-3)
Stratton flexed its muscle in the clash with Genoa-Hugo last Friday, jumping out to a 50-7 halftime lead and earning a 17th straight win with the sportsmanship clock, 56-13. Cyler Notter ran for 182 yards and four scores, while catching two more TD passes from Charlie Tagtmeyer. Brody Webb added three rushing touchdowns and just over 100 yards. The defense recorded four takeaways. Hi-Plains has been off since dropping a 75-7 contest to Otis two weeks ago. The Patriots have been dealing with injuries and low participation numbers and have already forfeited the contest.
#2/(3) OTIS BULLDOGS (4-0) AT (15) LA VETA REDHAWKS (2-2) FRIDAY 7PM
Like Stratton, Otis was in a match-up with another team ranked in the top-six last week when the Bulldogs hosted Idalia. The Bulldogs led 50-14 at half and 64-14 entering the fourth. Idalia added a touchdown and one-point conversion in the last frame. Austin Hornung tossed three TD passes to Tayte Smith, and Erick Thorn ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns. The Otis defense recorded three takeaways, including a scoop and score by Sawyer Packer. La Veta got off to a bit of a slow start at Primero last Thursday and trailed 50-24 at the half. The Redhawks put together a late rally, but came up short, 80-64. Brayden Nix piled up 304 yards and five scores on the ground and Jessey Montunnas added two TD passing and two rushing. Otis collected a 63-48 win last year.
#3/(2) GRANADA BOBCATS (3-1) AT (10) CHEYENNE WELLS (1-3) SATURDAY 2PM
Maddox Coleman ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns, and added a team-high 10 tackles on defense in Granada’s 42-34 win over Walsh last week. Coleman recorded a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble, as part of a six takeaway effort by the Bobcats. Terrance Hainer had a pick, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Cheyenne Wells got into the win column with a dominant outing against Cheraw, taking the victory 64-18. Perry Chadwick tossed three TD passes and added another on a kick return, while Trey Scheler and Corey Hill each had a fumble return for scores. Chason Turner, who had a pair of sacks, also forced two fumbles. In the time that both have been six-man programs, each team has won team meetings. The Bobcats took a 31-20 win at home last year.
#4/(6) GENOA-HUGO PIRATES (2-1) AT #8/(7) ARICKAREE BISON (3-1) SATURDAY 7PM
Not much went right for Genoa-Hugo in its 56-13 loss against Stratton. However, Konner Rowden-Stum was a bit of a bright spot. The senior ran for 74 yards, had 87 receiving yards, and 167 on kick returns. He scored both touchdowns for the Pirates. Trey Smith racked up 18 tackles and an interception. Nic Hermes rushed for 144 yards and two TD in Arickaree’s 56-6 win at Briggsdale, and Dillon Noletubby added two rushing and one receiving. Noletubby also recorded a scoop and score, an interception, and a blocked punt. Austin Wright led everyone with 18 tackles and two sacks. The Pirates won a wild 58-54 shootout last season.
#5/(5) WALSH EAGLES (3-1) AT (17) KIT CARSON WILDCATS (1-3) FRIDAY 7PM
Despite six turnovers, Walsh still had a shot at tying Granada late in the 42-34 loss last week. Lane Runkle caught one TD pass, ran for another, and added a pick-six. Leyton Jones was over the century mark on the ground with one touchdown, and he also had a pick-six in the losing effort. Kit Carson got in an early hole against Eads and saw the Eagles pull away for a 61-8 victory. The Wildcats gave up close to 500 yards of offense in the loss. Walsh won last year’s match-up 62-29.
#6/(4) IDALIA WOLVES (3-1) VS (21) SANGRE DE CRISTO THUNDERBIRDS (2-2) SATURDAY 1:30PM AT MANZANOLA HS
Freshman Gabe Kechter rushed for 115 yards and two scores in Idalia’s loss at Otis last week. Garret Drullinger helped the defense with a fumble recovery and a blocked kick, while Kagen Hoyda (fumble recovery) and Tate Towns (forced fumble) also had hands in creating turnovers. Sangre had its two-game winning streak snapped in a big way. Trailing 12-0 late in the first quarter against Branson/Kim, the Thunderbirds had to wait out a lightning delay of close to 90 minutes. When play resumed, the visiting Bearcats rolled to a 54-0 victory. Sangre gave up more than 300 rushing yards, and also committed four turnovers. Idalia and Sangre de Cristo have not played in recent history.
#7/(8) PEETZ BULLDOGS (3-0) AT (19) NORTH PARK WILDCATS (1-2) SATURDAY 2PM
One of three remaining unbeatens in the classification, Peetz is coming off its bye week. The Bulldogs are looking to grab a second win in North play when they visit North Park, who evened its league record with a 55-6 win at Weldon Valley last week. Mak Crum ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns, while Gavin Pittington added 78 yards and three more scores in the running game. The Wildcats have won four straight against the Bulldogs, including a 55-14 decision last year.
#9/(9) BRANSON/KIM BEARCATS (3-1) BYE WEEK
The Bearcats head into their bye week after taking the 54-0 victory at Sangre de Cristo last weekend. Kolter Cranson ran for 204 yards and five touchdowns in the win. Kolten Davis collected an interception and a fumble recovery for a TD. Branson/Kim will host Primero next Saturday.
#10/(11) PRIMERO BULLDOGS (3-1) VS ANTONITO TROJANS THURSDAY
Primero’s contest with Antonito on Thursday night was listed as a JV game. The Bulldogs won it 76-25. Their game next Saturday at Branson/Kim will be for sole possession of first place in the Southwest.
OUTSIDE OF THE TOP-TEN
Sierra Grande (#11/13) eked out a 32-24 win over Hanover last week, with the Panthers using a 20-8 fourth quarter to secure the victory. Aron Ojeda threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the come from behind win. Tyler Kester starred on defense with 16 tackles, a sack, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and an interception. The Panthers host (20) Mountain Valley on Saturday with the winner staying within one game of the Southwest lead. The Wolves had their bye last week and bring a two-game skid into the contest. Sierra Grande has won three straight in the series, the last two in shutouts.
Eads (#13/12) got just over 200 yards and four touchdowns from Stockton Mitchek in the running game, and four TD passes from Case Nelson, two to Keenan Smith, in last week’s 61-8 win over Kit Carson. Mitchek finished with five total touchdowns in the victory. The Eagles travel to (22) Cheraw on Friday, looking to maintain at least a share of the lead in the East. Cheraw couldn’t get the offense rolling in its loss to Cheyenne Wells last week, with the Wolverines only managing 161 total yards from scrimmage. Austen Wingard had two total touchdowns, including a 55-yard fumble return. The Wolverines have won the last two meetings with Eads, taking last year’s contest 52-34.
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