SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – WEEK NINE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
With only two weekends of play left in the 6-man regular season, there are still some huge games on tap. The penultimate weekend got underway on Thursday night with a champion in the Southwest officially being crowned. We again use the most recent release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index for the rankings in our preview.

THURSDAY
Sierra Grande (#3) secured the Southwest division title with a 56-14 win at La Veta. The Panthers
concluded their regular season at 8-0 overall and 5-0 inside the division. They will have an extra week to heal up before the postseason begins in two weeks.
FRIDAY

2 STRATTON (7-1, 5-0 EAST CENTRAL) VS #15 PRAIRIE (4-4, 4-2 NORTH) 7PM

Last week… Stratton was leading Hi-Plains 14-0 in the first quarter when the Patriots elected to take a
forfeit. The Eagles had run two plays, with Von Isenbart throwing a TD to Brody Webb, and Webb also scoring on a touchdown run. The defense got a pick from Judson Isenbart and a fumble recovery by Gage Levin. Prairie got its second straight win, beating Peetz 55-14 in North division play. Lane Shock ran for 256 yards and Justin Schreiner added 247 on the ground, with both scoring four times. Tyler Troudt added a TD catch from Beau Carlson.
Series history… Stratton has won all five previous meetings, with the last coming in the 2022 playoffs.

5 IDALIA (6-2, 3-2 EAST CENTRAL) AT #7 FLEMING (7-1, 5-0 NORTH) 7PM

Last week… In a game delayed a couple times because of lighting and heavy rain, Idalia was handed a 33-20 loss by Otis. Gabe Kechter ran for 185 yards and two scores, while Broderick Kite connected with Tate Towns for the other touchdown for the Wolves. Fleming rolled to its seventh straight win, beating Briggsdale 66-28. Grant Kuntz continues to pile up the rushing stats, adding 340 yards and six touchdowns to his season tally. Conner Marchant nearly hit the century mark, tacking on 95 yards and two TD. Pierson Japp hauled in a touchdown pass from Treyson Kirkwood.

Series history… Going back to 2005, these two programs have split 14 meetings, with each winning
seven. Idalia won 56-24 last year, and the Wolves have taken three of the last four.

8 CALICHE (7-1, 4-0 NORTH) AT BRIGGSDALE (3-4, 2-3 NORTH) 7PM

Last week… Caliche went on the road for a non-league affair at La Veta and the Buffs made the most of the long trek, earning a 55-6 victory. The defense forced three turnovers, including a pair of fumbles.
Briggsdale had troubles stopping the power running attack of Fleming, allowing 449 yards and eight touchdowns. Offensively, the Falcons lost a pair of fumbles.
Series history… This is the first meeting between the two.

14 CHERAW (4-4, 2-3 SOUTHEAST) VS WALSH (1-7, 0-5 SOUTHEAST) 7PM

Last week… William Ledbetter ran for 203 yards and five touchdowns for Cheraw in its 72-20 win over Deer Trail. Tim Provost carried the ball four times, scoring on each rush, covering a total of 91 yards. Jacob Herman led the Wolverines with 10 tackles. Walsh got three touchdown passes from Hudson Gourley, but the Eagles were drilled by Hanover, 82-19. Samuel Wright, Henry Wright, and Grady Mundell were all on the receiving end of one TD pass.
Series history… Walsh owns a 6-4 lead, with the Eagles snapping a three-game losing streak last year.
SATURDAY

1 CHEYENNE WELLS (7-0, 6-0 SOUTHEAST) VS #11 HANOVER (7-1, 5-0 CENTRAL) 1PM

Last week… Trailing Granada 19-7 in the first quarter, Cheyenne Wells uncorked a 54-7 scoring run in just over 20 minutes of game action. The Tigers locked up the Southeast crown with a 75-39 win. Trey Scheler rushed for 256 yards and five touchdowns on nine carries, and Ethan Garay added 106 and two scores on seven attempts. Zack Dickey picked off two passes. All four of Tyler Decker’s completions went for touchdowns in Hanover’s 82-19 win over Walsh. Three were hauled in by Thomas Griffin, and Tanner Lindsey had the other one. Junior Diaz added two rushing touchdowns to a pair of pick-sixes.
Series history… Cheyenne Wells has won two of the previous three contests, including the last meeting in 2020.

4 OTIS (7-1, 4-1 EAST CENTRAL) VS PEETZ (3-5, 3-3 NORTH) 1PM

Last week… Tayte Smith had 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Otis in its 33-20 win at Idalia.
Charlie Kendrick led the defensive effort with 13 tackles, and Cambric Klinzmann added his fourth
interception of the season. Peetz gave up more than 500 yards on the ground to Prairie in a 55-14 loss.
Dylan Wagner stood out in all three phases, running for 113 yards, racking up 17 tackles, and returning a
kick for a TD. Logan Vallier added a rushing score to go with 10 tackles.
Series history… These two sets of Bulldogs have met nine times since 2006, with Peetz holding a slight
5-4 edge. Otis got a wild 62-48 win last year.

10 PRIMERO (5-1, 2-1 SOUTHWEST) VS #13 BRANSON/KIM (5-2, 3-1 SOUTHWEST) 7PM

Last week… Primero was on its second straight bye week after suffering a 54-44 loss to Sierra Grande
earlier this month. Brett Kendall threw for 308 yards and four TD, and also ran for 120 yards and two more scores in that loss. Gabe Sintas caught three touchdown passes. It was also a bye week for the Bearcats, who lost their previous contest to Sierra Grande 52-45. Kolter Cranson piled up 268 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in the defeat. Will Doherty ran for a score and was 4-4 on PAT kicks.
Series history… Branson/Kim has won all five previous match-ups, including a 50-24 decision last year.

16 KIT CARSON (3-4, 1-3 SOUTHEAST) VS WILEY (2-6, 1-4 SOUTHEAST) 4PM

Last week… After being forced by the weather to postpone their scheduled game with Eads last Friday, the Wildcats were defeated by the Eagles 49-32 on Monday. Mason Marriott threw for 135 yards and fourtouchdowns, with Brennan Framel and Josiah Irwin each catching two. Marriott also snagged an interception on defense. Wiley got its second win of the season, blowing past Flagler 64-20 last Saturday. Its defense collected a pair of interceptions in the contest.
Series history… This is the first meeting between the two programs in six-man