SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK ONE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
After last weekend was dominated by scrimmages, the six-man season officially kicks off this Thursday with four games on the slate. Action continues through Saturday, as Stratton begins its pursuit of a third consecutive title, and everyone else pursues the Eagles. We’ll take a look at the top Week One match-ups, with all rankings coming from the MileHigh Prep Report Media/Coaches Poll.
THURSDAY
#3 IDALIA WOLVES VS PRAIRIE MUSTANGS 7PM
Who we’re watching… Idalia brings back Gabe Kechter, who led the Wolves with 1243 yards and 16 TD, while also finishing third on the team with 83 tackles, all despite missing time with a serious hand injury. Tate Towns led the Wolves with 92 tackles, and Garret Drullinger was next with 88. Prairie returns last year’s leading runner in Brennan Bringelson (707 yards, 13 TD), along with QB Beau Carlson (411 yards, 1 TD), and his top target, Lane Shock (20/251/1). Shock (96) and Bringelson (81) led the Mustangs in tackles last year.
Series history… Idalia leads 3-2 since 2006. Wolves won a wild 47-42 decision in the last meeting (2021).
Side note… Prairie head coach Tyson Ramseier starred at Idalia in his prep days and is making his first trip home as an opponent.
#4 OTIS BULLDOGS AT DEER TRAIL EAGLES 7PM
Who we’re watching… The Bulldogs have 1270-yard passer Austin Hornung back, along with his 21 TD to 2 INT ratio. Mitchell Stivers (799 yards, 12 TD) and Tayte Smith (664 yards, 10 TD) help create one of the top returning backfields in the classification. Charlie Kendrick leads the defense after recording 103 tackles last season. Deer Trail has QB Raul Manriquez (718 passing, 11 TD) back, and he will have his top receiver back in Jayden Mingee (23/464/9). Mo Hussein finished second on the team with 446 rushing yards and eight TD.
Series history… Otis leads 4-1 since 2010, with a current three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs won the 2021 meeting 76-14.
#5 EADS EAGLES VS #6 ARICKAREE/WOODLIN BISON 7PM
Who we’re watching… Spencer Uhland is a load for the Eagles in the middle of both lines, and his return benefits QB Case Nelson (685 passing, 11 TD) and the running back duo of Stockton Mitchek (783 rushing, 19 TD) and Shaine Winder (686 rushing, 8 TD). The Bison feature a disruptive pair of defensive ends in Zarron Skubal (90 tackles, 12.5 sacks) and Austin Wright (79 tackles, 9.0 sacks). Jorge Ramos led the Bison in receiving as a freshman with an 11/174/4 line.
Series history… tied at 2-2 since 2006. First meeting since 2015 state title game.
Side note… these two met in consecutive championship games, with Arickaree/Woodlin winning 44-26 in 2014 and Eads returning the favor in 2015, 34-12.
#9 WALSH EAGLES AT #10 PRIMERO BULLDOGS 6PM
Who we’re watching… Conner McDonald was second on the Eagles with 90 tackles last year and he’ll get help this year from Ethan Barwick, who was fifth with 68 last season. Cody Malone threw for 761 yards and 14 scores, but lost his top three receivers. Jairo Vicente Dominguez is one of the top returning tacklers in the state after leading Primero with 120 last season. The Bulldogs did not have a senior on the roster last year, so the offense, led by Brett Kendall (1552 rushing, 30 TD, 882 passing, 13 TD) should be in good hands.
Series history… Walsh leads 6-0 since 2010. The Eagles won last year’s game 58-26. Only one of the meetings was decided by fewer than 30 points. Two of the meetings were in 8-man.
PEETZ BULLDOGS VS POTTER-DIX (NE) COYOTES 6PM
Who we’re watching… Peetz lost its leading passer, runner, and receiver, but Conner Schumacher (355 rushing, 4 TD, 14/280/5) returns after a solid freshman campaign. Logan Vallier and Dylan Wagner join Schumacher as the top returnees on defense, with the trio accounting for just over 100 tackles. Potter-Dix has been one of the most consistent teams in the NSAA Class D6 ranks over the last four years, only losing one game in each season. All of the losses have come in the playoffs. Juniors Dylan Tabor (627 passing, 10 TD) and Layton Mossberg (332 rushing, 3 TD) lead a potent Coyote offense.
Series history…First meeting between the two programs in the MaxPreps era (2004-current).
FRIDAY
#1 STRATTON EAGLES AT #2 CHEYENNE WELLS 7PM
Who we’re watching… Stratton was hit hard by graduation, but the two-time defending state champions bring back three runners who all finished with at least 500 yards last year. Stockton Fye (570 rushing, 13 TD), Brody Webb (540 rushing, 15 TD), and Drew Fox (508 rushing, 5 TD) will keep the Eagles well-grounded. Webb led Stratton with 102 tackles as a junior. Corey Hill is about as massive of a lineman as you’ll see in 6-man and his return should have a huge impact in the running game for the Tigers. Trey Scheler ran for 1200 yards and 22 TD, and also led Cheyenne Wells with 190 tackles. Chason Turner will also help man the lines on both sides.
Series history… Stratton leads 13-6 since 2006, including games as Stratton/Liberty and when both programs were playing in 8-man. Stratton has won three straight, including a 65-16 decision in last year’s opener, and 69-14 in the title game. The Tigers won the 2021 championship match-up by a 62-21 count.
#7 GRANADA BOBCATS VS COTOPAXI PIRATES 1PM
Who we’re watching… Maddox Coleman has been a star since breaking on the stage as a freshman. He’s shown incredible versatility throughout his career and he’ll play just about every position for the Bobcats as a senior. Terrance Hainer and Elijah Rodriguez will help solidify a defense that lost seven of its top ten tacklers. Cotopaxi did not field a team last year, but Dylan Bond racked up 31 tackles while playing for Salida, and Joel Tezak made eight stops, while also getting some reps at receiver for the Spartans.
Series history… Granada leads 1-0, winning the 2021 match-up 52-14. Coleman caught four passes for 131 yards and two scores in the win.
SIERRA GRANDE PANTHERS AT CHERAW WOLVERINES 7PM
Who we’re watching… Sierra Grande has a talented dual-threat QB in Aron Ojeda, who threw for close to 1400 yards with 25 TD and only one pick, while also running for 585 yards. Jadyn Martinez racked up 91 tackles, and could easily go over 100 this season. Cheraw’s defense gets its top two tacklers back from last year in the persons of Braden Stoker (74) and Tim Provost (62). They will also feature prominently on offense for the Wolverines.
Series history… Tied 1-1, with Cheraw winning in 2016 and Sierra Grande picking up the dub the next year.
BRIGGSDALE FALCONS AT GENOA-HUGO PIRATES 7PM
Who we’re watching… Both teams lost a lot of top talent to graduation, but neither cupboard is bare. Scot Francis is back to run the offense for the Falcons at QB and he’ll have the running back tandem of Dallas Glass and Kaeden Gebauer to hand the ball of to. Those two combined for over 1200 yards and 20 TD last season. Genoa-Hugo doesn’t bring back much experience on offense, but defensively, the trio of Brady Simmons, Mikel Bennett, and Shane Reid gives the Pirates three of last season’s top six tacklers back in the fold.
Series history… Briggsdale leads 1-0. Only previous meeting in the MaxPreps era came in 2015, a 36-32 win for the Falcons.
SATURDAY
#8 BRANSON/KIM BEARCATS VS KIOWA INDIANS 1PM
Who we’re watching… Teams had better get ready for a steady diet of Kolter Cranson, after he ran for close to 1900 yards and an eye-popping 34 touchdowns. Will Doherty came up seven tackles shy of triple digits last year, and the defense should also see increased production from Kolten Davis. John White topped Kiowa’s defense with 92 tackles as a freshman, and Austin Brogger added 80. James Brewer threw for more than 700 yards and seven touchdowns.
Series history… This is the first meeting between the two programs.
HANOVER HORNETS VS FLAGLER PANTHERS 1PM
Who we’re watching… Behind QB Tyler Decker and his 1000+ yards last year, the Hornets are one of the favorites in the Central. He has Thomas Griffin, David Byers, and Junior Diaz, three of his top targets a year ago, all coming back. Flagler did not field its own team last year, but Brayden Hill and Cody Homm both got valuable playing time with Arickaree. Hill worked on the lines before suffering a knee injury, and Homm played on the back end of the defense for the Bison.
Series history… Hanover leads 1-0, with a 56-6 win over the Panthers in 2021. Byers ran for 68 yards and two TD in the win.
Wiley plays its first game in the classification on Friday when the Panthers visit Miami-Yoder, while Caliche gets its first 6-man experience on Saturday. The Buffs will host North Park in a North division clash.
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