EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK SIX by Kerry Sherman

EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK SIX

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

While the Northwest has already been playing league games, the rest of the classification gets in on the fun this week. With the regular season officially in its second half, we’ll shift to using the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index for the rankings in our previews. This week, we are using the Thursday morning release of the metric.

THURSDAY

#13 SPRINGFIELD (3-1) AT ROCKY FORD (1-3) 7PM

Last week…Springfield’s defense came up with three takeaways to help the Longhorns move past Hoehne, 32-20. They have won three straight since an opening loss to Clayton (NM). Isaiah Gallegos connected with Manuel Payan for a TD, and Oscar Ramirez added a rushing score for the Meloneers, but it wasn’t enough as Rocky Ford fell 48-12 to #17 Merino.

Series history…First meeting in MaxPreps era (2004-current). Arkansas Valley opener for both teams.

#12 VAIL CHRISTIAN (3-1, 1-1 NORTHWEST) AT SOROCO (0-4, 0-1 NORTHWEST) 7PM

Last week… Vail Christian overcame four turnovers to take down Rangely 52-30. The Saints used a stingy run defense that held the Panthers to just 45 yards on the ground. Soroco was on a bye following a 48-6 loss to Rangely in week three. The Rams gave up more than 240 yards on the ground in that loss.

Series history… Vail Christian has won six straight and seven of the last 10.

FRIDAY

#2 DOVE CREEK (4-0) AT #7 MANCOS (3-1, 1-0 MOUNTAIN) 7PM

Last week… Dove Creek rolled up a 52-8 win over Monticello (UT), with the Bulldogs having the running clock by halftime with a 46-0 lead through two quarters. Josh Kibel ran for 168 yards and five TD and also added another score through the air. The defense got interceptions from Kibel and Liam Hassell, and Sheldon Gardner blocked a punt. Mancos had few troubles with Dolores, as the Bluejays led 32-0 after one in the 48-0 league win. Kaiden Wyatt ran for 112 and two TD, and also caught a touchdown from Brandon Vannest. Jacob Martin racked up three sacks, and the defense tallied five takeaways, including a pick-six from Tilden Begay.

Series history… The teams have split the last six meetings 3-3, but Dove Creek owns a 12-7 edge since 2004. The Bluejays won last year’s meeting 58-14.

#3 MCCLAVE (4-0) AT SWINK (0-4) 7PM

Last week… McClave was on its second straight bye following its triple OT win over Simla. Ethan Bronniman ran for six tuddies in the 58-52 victory, and Mason Barr added 197 and a TD on the ground. Will Pacino had a pair of sacks in his game-high 19 tackles. Swink saw Crowley County race to a 30-0 halftime lead on its way to a 44-8 win over the Lions. Twenty-two of those came in the second quarter.

Series history… McClave has won seven straight and 12 of the last 15. Last year, the Cards took a 58-14 victory.

#4 WEST GRAND (5-0, 2-0 NORTHWEST) AT #14 RANGELY (3-2, 1-1 NORTHWEST) 7PM

Last week… The Mustangs needed a touchdown pass from Blake Terryberry to Jackson Steinle in the final minute of regulation to force overtime against Plateau Valley. The duo connected again in the OT session on a two-point conversion following Terryberry’s TD run. West Grand escaped with a 38-36 win after the Cowboy’s were unable to match with a conversion after their touchdown in the extra period. Tristan Scott had five receptions, 172 yards, and three touchdowns for Rangely in its 52-30 loss to Vail Christian. Jordan Irwin recorded 20 tackles for the Panthers’ defense, and Izaiah Moody added 17 stops and two picks.

Series history… West Grand has won the last two, including a 36-6 decision last year, and the Mustangs are 12-4 since 2004.

#6 HAXTUN (4-1) AT MERINO (3-2) 7PM

Last week… The Fightin’ Bulldogs picked up their third straight mercy clock victory, downing Front Range Christian 58-6, with Ryland Wolff and Zach Statz both topping the century mark on the ground. They had two TD apiece. Grant Statz had four sacks in his 10 tackles. Merino got its second straight win after a two-game skid. The Rams have outscored their opponents 102-24 in that streak. They handled Rocky Ford 48-12.

Series history… Merino won last year’s contest 22-16, as the Rams rolled up close to 350 yards on the ground. Haxtun had won the two previous meetings, but Merino owns an 18-5 edge in the MaxPreps era.

#8 ST. MARY’S (3-1) AT #18 ELBERT (2-2) 7PM

Last week… St. Mary’s snuck past Clear Creek 34-28, earning a second straight win. Michael Trechter threw for 328 yards and four TD, while also scoring once on the ground. Jackson Beam (5/102/2) and Lance Matthews (6/145/1) both went over the century mark receiving. Elbert had its bye, with the Bulldogs entering the off week after a 56-0 victory over Front Range Christian. Ethan Tesman threw for two scores and also ran for 236 yards with two more TD. Matt Dooley added 200 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as the Bulldogs amassed 440 yards on the ground. Caleb Cornell was on the receiving end of both TD passes.

Series history… This is just the third meeting between the two, with Elbert having won both prior match-ups. The Bulldogs got a 68-14 win last year.

#10 BYERS (4-0) VS SOUTH PARK (2-2) 7PM

Last week… The Bulldogs enjoyed their bye, having outscored their first four opponents 228-44 before the break. Before taking last week off, Byers collected a 60-6 victory over Belleview Christian behind 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Kaleb Willoughby and 112 yards plus a TD from Gabe Price. Chase Long had two of his three passes go for scores. The Burros evened their mark with a 34-28 win over those same Bruins, as Gavin Street ran for three scores and Niko Eaton added two on the ground. Street also had a pair of interceptions to help the defense hold on for the win.

Series history… Byers has won all four meetings in the MaxPreps era, including three straight shutouts. This is the first match-up since 2021.

#11 PLATEAU VALLEY (3-2, 1-1 NORTHWEST) VS HAYDEN (2-2, 1-0 NORTHWEST) 7PM

Last week… Plateau Valley came within an eyelash of upsetting West Grand before falling 38-36 in OT. Colter Ralston threw for 214 yards and TD, while also rushing for another score. Virgil Kuper came up just short of 100 yards rushing, and had a touchdown run to go with one passing. Hunter White had a receiving score and a pick-six. The Tigers rolled to a big 60-6 win over Lake County, with Peyton Johnson rushing for 184 yards and two TD. Carson Campbell also had two rushing scores. Hayden scored all seven of its touchdowns on the ground.

Series history… Three straight wins by Hayden have given the Tigers a 6-5 edge. They eked out a 16-14 win last year.

#15 NORWOOD (2-2) AT SANFORD (2-2) 4PM

Last week… It was an off week for the Mavericks after they snapped a two-game slide with a 32-14 win over Monticello (UT). Owen Tackett ran for one score and caught another, while Keegan Tackett sparked the defense with two picks. Cole Bray was one of three Norwood defenders with double figure tackles, racking up 13. Sanford was also on its bye after the Mustangs took down Fowler 42-28. Trason Gartrell ran for 191 yards and two scores, and added 105 plus two more scores passing. JD Faucette went for 109 and a TD on the ground.

Series history… The teams have split the last ten meetings 5-5, with Sanford owning four consecutive victories after the Mavs had won five in a row.

#16 LAS ANIMAS (3-1) AT HOLLY (2-2) 7PM

Last week… The Trojans had last week off after a tough 28-18 loss at Dayspring Christian the previous week. Their offense was held to 163 yards in that loss, but the defense performed will. Orion Martinez piled up a dozen tackles, and Logan Servaes returned a fumble 98 yards for a score. That group recorded four takeaways, with Bryce Dupree also scoring on a fumble recovery. Holly got back into the win column by outscoring Sangre de Cristo 62-48. The third quarter saw the teams combine for 51 points. Devin Eaton finished the game hitting eight of 11 passes for 126 yards and two TD, while also running for just over 100 yards and two more touchdowns. Jessie Pizarro tallied 123 yards and three tuddies on the ground.

Series history… These two have played nine times since 2014, with the Wildcats winning all nine. They got a 40-6 victory last season.

SATURDAY

#5 DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN (4-1) VS SEDGWICK COUNTY (2-3) 1PM

Last week… Dayspring Christian dropped a non-league contest against #1 Akron 36-8. They will meet later in the year for the league contest. Elijah Martin racked up 147 yards and a TD in the rushing attack, and also had a game-high 19 tackles. Hawkins Flanagan added 15 stops, and Jackson Polk recorded 13. Sedgwick County slugged it out with Simla, falling 30-20. Owen Harris scored twice on the ground, and Brady Mollendor accounted for the other Cougar score, also in the running game. Tate Renquist recovered a fumble that Harris created.

Series history… DCA owns a slight 11-10 lead since 2007. Sedgwick County won 36-20 last year, and has been victorious in eight of the last 10.

#9 SIMLA (3-1) VS CALHAN (2-2) 1PM

Last week… TJ Eurich made his return after missing some action early in the season and ran for 76 yards with three touchdowns in Simla’s 30-20 win over Sedgwick County. He also made his presence felt on defense, registering 11 tackles. Caston Cox had a fumble recovery on defense, and Tatum Kochera caused the fumble. Calhan was off last week, following a 36-8 win over Swink. It was the second straight victory for the Bulldogs. Their defense held Swink to just 10 passing yards and also recorded an interception.

Series history… Simla has won four of the five meetings since Calhan began playing eight-man in 2018. Last year, the Cubs earned a 47-0 shutout.