SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – QUARTERFINALS by Kerry Sherman

SIX-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – QUARTERFINALS

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

All of the higher seeds won their opening round games, with some cruising to their victories, and others having some white knuckle moments. Six of the eight remaining teams were in the quarterfinals last year. One of the contests this week will be a regular season rematch between Caliche and Stratton. All four games will kickoff at 1pm on Saturday.

#1 CHEYENNE WELLS (10-0) VS #8 ARICKAREE/WOODLIN (7-3)

Last week… Trey Scheler ran for 231 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries in a 76-23 win by top-ranked Cheyenne Wells over #16 Primero. Ethan Garay added 67 yards and two TD. Scheler also led the defense with nine tackles, and Bryson Hyle added seven. Daryon Campbell added a scoop-and-score to a receiving TD. Arickaree/Woodlin trailed #9 Fleming 46-20 at halftime on Sunday, but the Bison thundered back to claim a wild 81-66 victory. Austin Wright threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns, to go with 145 and two scores on the ground. Dillon Noletubby caught five passes for 156 yards and three TD. The Bison had five defenders in double digit tackles, led by Wright with 24 and Jorge Ramos with 20. Zarron Skubal returned two fumbles for scores, and Daniel Goff added a pick-six on his first career interception.

Series history… Arickaree/Woodlin leads 1-0, with that meeting occurring in 2015.

#4 IDALIA (9-2) VS #5 GRANADA (8-2)

Last week… The heavy snow forced Idalia to visit #13 Prairie last Saturday for their opening round contest. The change of venue did little to stop the Wolves, who ran out to a 44-12 halftime lead on their way to a 67-18 victory. Gabe Kechter led the pack with 220 yards and five touchdowns on nine carries. Garret Drullinger and Kolby Morris each added a rushing TD. Kechter piled up 10 tackles, while Tate Towns and Carson Helling both tallied nine. G. Drullinger racked up three sacks and a fumble recovery for a score. Broderick Kite also scored on a fumble recovery, and also had an interception on his stat sheet. Granada’s game with #12 Branson/Kim had to be moved to Monday, and the Bobcats got off to a bit of a slow start, only leading 19-8 at the half. They would come on strong in the final 20 minutes to claim a 44-15 win. Maddox Coleman threw for 208 yards and four scores, three of them to Elijah Rodriguez, who finished with seven catches for 134 yards. Fernando Cadena ran for 116 and a touch, while also catching a TD. Angelo Martinez had two sacks in his 10 tackles, while Terence Hainer tallied a pick, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Series history… Granada leads 2-1 with two straight wins. The Bobcats took a 62-14 victory in 2021.

#3 OTIS (10-1) VS #6 SIERRA GRANDE (9-0)

Last week… The Bulldogs jumped all over #14 Cheraw, turning a 26-0 first quarter into a 56-0 lead at the half. Otis went on to claim a 62-6 win. Tayshaun Thomas (92 yards, two TD) and Tayte Smith (88 yards, three TD) combined for 180 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and Mitchell Stivers added 71 yards with one score. Austin Hornung tossed a pair of touchdowns, both to Charlie Kendrick. Kendrick and Smith had two sacks apiece. Sierra Grande may have had the toughest go in the opening round, with the Panthers trailing #11 Eads for long stretches before finally pulling out a 50-42 victory to remain unbeaten. The Panthers allowed 274 yards on the ground and were on the wrong end of a pick-six and a kick return TD.

Series history…Otis leads 1-0 with a 55-13 win in the 2022 opening round. Smith ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and Hornung threw for two scores in that victory.

#2 STRATTON (10-1) VS #7 CALICHE (10-1)

Last week… Stratton had few problems with #15 Kit Carson, racing to a 71-34 victory, with the reserves seeing lots of action in the second half. Stockton Fye amassed 196 yards and five touchdowns on eight carries, while Von Isenbart completed all three of his pass attempts for 126 yards and three scores. Brody Webb caught one to go with a rushing score. Nolan Notter and Gavin Ruhs each had a TD reception. Isenbart recorded his ninth interception of the season, giving him the lead in the classification. Judson Isenbart added a 77-yard kick return TD. Tied at 8-all after one, Caliche took control of its opening round contest with #10 Hanover by outscoring the Hornets 42-20 over the two middle periods. The Buffs went on to a 65-50 win. Caliche had to overcome four turnovers, including a pair of scoop-and-scores by the Hornets. A pair of interceptions helped the Buffs get over the hump.

Series history… Stratton leads 4-0, with three meetings coming in 8-man. The Eagles grabbed a 52-14 win in week three. Fye ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while Notter had a pair of sacks in a team-high tackles. Zander Yost was held to 82 yards and one score on the ground, and Tayten Gerk added a rushing TD.