SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK SIX by Kerry Sherman

SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK SIX

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

The number of unbeaten teams in six-man is guaranteed to decrease by at least one, with a pair of undefeated teams squaring off in the Southwest this week. There are five in the top-12 of this week’s CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index. We also get several match-ups of teams in the top part of the metric.

FRIDAY

#1 STRATTON (4-1) AT #3 GRANADA (5-0) 7PM

Last week… Stratton jumped on #4 Idalia early, building a 20-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 58-15 victory. Nolan Notter blocked a punt on the first series of the game and recovered it for a TD to get the scoring started. Stockton Fye ran for 161 yards and three scores, and Brody Webb added three short touchdown runs. Granada also used a big fourth quarter in its 59-22 win at Wiley, with the Bobcats leading 29-6 after the first frame. Maddox Coleman threw for 278 yards and six TD, with Terence Hainer and Sebastian Pizarro each catching a pair of touchdowns.

Series history… Over the years, these two have played some very memorable game, especially in the 8-man finals. However, Stratton has won all six meetings between the two in six-man.

#4 IDALIA (4-1, 1-1 EAST CENTRAL) AT #9 ARICKAREE/WOODLIN (3-2, 0-2 EAST CENTRAL) 7PM

Last week… Not much went right for the Wolves in that 58-15 loss to Stratton, but Gabe Kechter did run for 136 yards and two long TDs to account for both of the team’s touchdowns. Haydan Drullinger led the defense with 15 tackles. Arickaree/Woodlin snapped a two-game slide with a big second half effort against Peetz. Down 28-22 at the half, the Bison outscored the Bulldogs 46-0 after the intermission. Austin Wright had 250 total yards of offense, with a hand in four scores. He threw for three and ran for another. The Bison had three defenders with more than 20 tackles. Zarron Skubal led with 25, while Dillon Noletubby and Jorge Ramos added 24 and 21, respectively.

Series history… The teams have each won eight of the last 16 meetings. Idalia got a 12-8 win last year and have won four of the last five overall.

#5 SIERRA GRANDE (4-0, 1-0 SOUTHWEST) VS #6 PRIMERO (5-0, 2-0 SOUTHWEST) 6:30PM

Last week… The Panthers were off last week following a big win over Antonito. Aron Ojeda completed all six of his attempts for 59 yards and two scores in the 58-0 win. Bryant Tijerina ran for 160 yards and three TD, and Jadyn Martinez scored on a reception and a punt return. Primero had a tougher time than expected at Kiowa, with the Bulldogs needing to outscore the hosts 24-12 in the second half to claim a 36-24 victory. Brett Kendall amassed 125 yards and three tuddies on the ground, while the defense got five sacks from Kailain Sanford and a long pick-six from Jairo Vicente-Dominguez.

Series history… Sierra Grande has won all seven match-ups, including a wild 67-64 decision last year.

#7 HANOVER (4-1, 3-0 CENTRAL) VS KIOWA (2-3, 1-0 CENTRAL) 7PM

Last week… The Hornets pitched a 56-0 shutout at Deer Trail in league play, with Tyler Decker tossing three touchdowns, all to Tanner Lindsey. Junior Diaz and David Byers added two rushing touchdowns apiece. Austin Brogger scored a rushing TD and added another on a reception from James Brewer in Kiowa’s 36-24 loss to Primero. Antonio Virgil snagged a TD reception and also contributed a pick on defense.

Series history… Hanover is 3-0, but last year’s meeting was only a 20-18 victory for the Hornets.

#8 OTIS (5-0) AT BRIGGSDALE (2-2) 7PM

Last week… Otis built a huge early lead and rolled to a 71-14 win over North Park. Austin Hornung had four touchdowns and 128 yards in his six completions, and Charlie Kendrick caught two TD passes. Cambric Klinzmann scored three return touchdowns, one on an interception and two on punts. Briggsdale had the week off after its heartbreaking 51-45 loss at Peetz in week four. Scot Francis threw for three touchdowns in that defeat, while Kaeden Gebauer and Dallas Glass both ran for more than 100 yards and had two touchdowns apiece on the ground.

Series history… Otis leads the recent history 6-5, with wins in each of the last two years.

#10 FLEMING (4-1) AT HI-PLAINS (0-5) 7PM

Last week… Grant Kuntz powered Fleming to a 45-44 double OT win at Prairie, rushing for 229 yards and four touchdowns in the wild affair. He had a fifth TD on a reception. Peter Brekel led the Wildcats with 11 tackles, and Dane Cunningham recorded an interception. Hi-Plains had its best offensive output of the season in a 54-28 loss at Genoa-Hugo. Gabe Harvie threw a TD pass to Axle Lahm, and the Patriots got rushing scores from Aiden Cordell and Jayden Hile.

Series history… The teams have not played since 2016, but Hi-Plains had a slight 6-5 edge in the previous 11 contests.

#11 BRANSON/KIM (4-1, 2-0 SOUTHWEST) VS LA VETA (1-3, 1-1 SOUTHWEST) 12PM

Last week… The Bearcats had a big day on the road, routing Antonito 80-7. Cooper Winter completed three passes, all for touchdowns, and Kolter Cranson ran for 95 yards and two scores on just three carries. He added a receiving TD and two more on punt returns. Will Doherty led the defensive effort with five sacks. La Veta broke into the win column by defeating Cotopaxi 44-28. Kendall Ingram threw for three touchdowns, two to Kaydyn Kent. Sunny Kent rushed for 185 yards and a TD and caught another.

Series history… Branson/Kim leads 5-1, with wins in each of the last five contests.

SATURDAY

#2 CHEYENNE WELLS (4-0, 3-0 SOUTHEAST) VS KIT CARSON (3-2, 1-1 SOUTHEAST) 2PM

Last week… Cheyenne Wells was on its bye after rolling Cheraw 66-0. Trey Scheler scored four times, three on the ground and once on a catch from Zach Dickey. Ethan Garay added a rushing TD and another on a kick return. Kit Carson suffered a tough 31-30 loss at Cheraw, despite three rushing touchdowns from Fernando Ferrales-Fierro. Brennan Framel racked up 13 tackles and a pick, while the Wildcats got another interception from Mason Marriott.

Series history… Cheyenne Wells has won four straight to take a 6-5 lead.

#12 CALICHE (4-1, 3-0 NORTH) AT PRAIRIE (2-3, 2-1 NORTH) 7PM

Last week… The Buffs turned it over three times on the road, but still beat Weldon Valley 47-6 in league play. Caliche’s won two straight since suffering its lone loss to Stratton. Justin Schreiner ran for over 200 yards with a touchdown and Brennan Bringelson went for more than 100 with three scores in Prairie’s 45-44 2OT loss to Fleming. Schreiner and Beau Carlson both had a TD pass.

Series history… First meeting between the teams.