EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK TWO by Kerry Sherman

EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK TWO

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

Entering week two of the eight-man schedule, less than a handful of teams have yet to get a game under their respective belts. Three of them join the fray this week, a week that is loaded with top match-ups. All rankings come from the latest MHPR Coaches and Media poll.

FRIDAY

#1 HAXTUN (1-0) AT WICHITA COUNTY, KS (0-0)

Last week… Haxtun had a bye following its 46-0 win over Melrose, NM in Zero Week. Colin Cone had three rushing touchdowns and one passing in that victory. Coleman Firme added two scores on the ground. Austin Knox led the Fightin’ Bulldogs on defense with 14 tackles, and Seth Seger added 12, plus a forced fumble. It’s week one in Kansas, and the hosting Indians are coming off an 8-2 campaign last season. They return QB Cashton Young, who ran for more than 1500 yards and threw for close to 500. He had a hand in 35 offensive touchdowns.

Series history… Haxtun won 22-12 last year, getting 183 yards through the air from Cone. Firme and Zach Statz both scored a rushing TD.

#2 AKRON (1-0) AT #16T ST. MARY’S (1-0)

Last week… Kolten Randel ran for two scores and threw for another, as Akron blanked Calhan 50-0. Jace Curtis caught one and ran for one to aid the offense. Defensively, Jakzon Livesay (16), Mason Porteus (15), and Randel (11) all recorded double digit tackles. Livesay added an interception. St. Mary’s built a 23-0 halftime lead on Gilpin County and went on to a 36-16 victory. Michael Trechter ran for 235 yards and two touchdowns, and threw for 148 with a TD. Jackson Beam caught six passes for 90 yards and that touchdown. Those two racked up 11 tackles apiece.

Series history… Akron leads 3-0, with the Rams having outscored the Pirates 135-14 in the last three years. That includes a 52-6 decision last season. Jax Kusel piled up 125 yards and a TD in the running attack for Akron, while Trechter threw for the only St. Mary’s touchdown.

#3 SANFORD (1-0) VS SWINK (0-1)

Last week… Sanford got off to a 30-0 halftime lead over West Grand and held on for a 44-24 win. Trason Gartrell rushed for 202 yards and two TD, and threw for another. Ben Faucette caught two scoring passes. The Mustang defense pitched in with a scoop-and-score by JD Faucette. Swink dug an early hole for itself and the Lions could never recover, falling to Fowler 48-6.

Series history… Sanford holds a 7-0 lead, including a 52-6 win last year. Gartrell ran for 125 yards and four scores, and also threw a TD for the Mustangs. Kyler Lagergren tallied seven tackles for the Lions.

#4 MCCLAVE (2-0) VS #11 MERINO (1-0)

Last week… It was actually this week for McClave, as its game with Elbert from last Friday was pushed back to Monday. The Cardinals did not have the services of Mason Barr, putting more of the workload on Drew Howe and Ryan Steinbrunn. Howe ran for 147 yards and two TD, while Steinbrunn gained right at 100 yards. They combined for 45 carries. Steinbrunn also added a kick return for a TD and a pair of interceptions. Jacob Frank was held to 47 yards on the ground, but he reached paydirt twice in Merino’s 28-22 victory over Crowley County. He added a TD reception from Zavier Trenkle, who also ran for one.

Series history… Merino has a 6-2 lead, but McClave has won two of the last three. The Cards got a 26-0 win last year, with Barr and Tuff Kelley each catching a TD pass and Howe throwing one. Frank racked up 13 tackles for the Rams.

#7 SIMLA (1-0) AT #14 FOWLER (1-0)

Last week…Simla raced out to a 39-8 halftime lead over Hoehne, only to see the Farmers mount a second half rally. The Bear Cubs held on for the 39-28 victory. Evan Guy threw for four touchdowns, two to Ethan Kissam, and also ran for one. Kissam topped the century mark on the ground with 117 yards. Hayden Pfost led the defense with 14 stops. Brock True powered Fowler past Swink, running for 148 yards and four touchdowns, while Bronson Damgaard added 85 yards and two TD. Hilario Alvarez racked up 12 tackles for the Grizzlies.

Series history… Simla leads 9-5 with wins in each of the last three years. Tatum Kochera picked off a pass in the 38-7 victory last year. True tallied a dozen tackles for Fowler.

#9 BYERS (1-0) VS LYONS (0-1)

Last week… Byers got off to a hot start against Rocky Ford, building a 38-0 halftime lead. The Bulldogs would get the sportsmanship clock rolling about midway through the third quarter of the 44-12 victory. James Maes threw three TD passes, two to Benjamin McPherson, and Gabe Price added 171 yards and two touchdowns in the ground attack. Lyons gave up 400 yards of offense to Walsenburg and dropped a 24-6 decision to the Panthers.

Series history… Lyons leads 6-4, but Byers got a 68-12 win last year. McPherson returned a kick-off 84 yards for a touchdown, as the Bulldogs raced to the victory. Both of the touchdowns scored by Lyons were on kick returns.

#12 WEST GRAND (0-1) VS CALHAN (0-1)

Last week… Blake Terryberry threw for 227 yards and two scores, and he also rushed for a touchdown, but West Grand fell 44-24 to Sanford. Jake Trail caught six passes for 94 yards and one of those touchdowns. Calhan trailed Akron 24-0 in the second before getting on the board with a passing TD. It would be the only touchdown for the Bulldogs, who fell 50-6 on the road.

Series history… West Grand has won the last three and five of six overall. Terryberry had a hand in six offensive touchdowns, four rushing and two passing. He added three sacks on defense for good measure. Riley Cochran led Calhan with 38 rushing yards.

#15 DOVE CREEK (0-1) AT RANGELY (0-0)

Last week… Josh Kibel ran for 157 yards, and Kycen Gritz gained 75, but the Bulldogs came up short against Plateau Valley, 24-12. Trevan Ivie registered two sacks, and Conner Horn-Beanland picked off a pass for the defense. Rangely was on a bye.

Series history… Dove Creek leads 8-5, including a 22-20 decision last year. The Bulldogs got a touchdown in OT and then Kibel scored on the two-point conversion to provide the final margin.

#16T SARGENT (1-0) AT HAYDEN (0-1)

Last week… Sargent had few problems moving past Lake County, winning 60-6. Hayden wasn’t quite as fortunate, dropping a 20-18 game to Norwood. Carson Campbell (16) and Ryder Weber (14) combined for 30 tackles for the Tigers. Matt Heaney and Brody Frentress recovered a fumble apiece.

Series history… Hayden leads 4-0, winning 58-23 last year. The Tigers came up with five takeaways, including three picks. Peyton Johnson nearly took one to the house.

#16T NORWOOD (1-0) VS VAIL CHRISTIAN (0-0)

Last week… The difference between a win and a loss for Norwood last week against Hayden was a two-point conversion by Jackson Dinsmore, putting the Mavericks on top 20-18. Owen Tackett ran for 137 yards and a touchdown, while Brycen Rummel and Cole Bray also scored a rushing TD apiece. Vail Christian did not play last week.

Series history… Vail Christian leads 2-0, after the Saints won 30-28 last year. Rummel threw three TD passes and ran for another score in the loss for Norwood.

SATURDAY

#5 MANCOS (1-0) VS #6 SEDGWICK COUNTY (0-1) AT SOUTH PARK HS

Last week… Trailing Melrose, NM 6-0 entering the fourth quarter, Mancos scored twice in the final frame to eke out a 14-6 victory over the Buffaloes. Jonah Ritter ran for one of the touchdowns, and Michael Resner threw one to James Potts. Sedgwick County had a bye following a heartbreaking 16-12 loss to McClave in Zero Week. Brady Mollendor rushed for 112 yards and two scores for the Cougars. Mollendor also led the team with 15 tackles, one more than Owen Harris.

Series history… Mancos leads 2-0, having picked up a 26-8 victory last year. Ritter led the Bluejays with eight tackles, and Jacob Martin added a fumble recovery. Harris and Mollendor led the Sedgwick County defense with 13 and 11 tackles, respectively.

#8 DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN (1-0) AT HOLLY (0-1)

Last week… Dayspring Christian broke an early 8-all tie with Denver Christian with a pair of second quarter scores and never relinquished the lead, winning 44-14. Hawkins Flanagan ran for 104 yards and five touchdowns, and Jackson Polk added 103 yards on the ground. Polk also racked up a game-high 12 tackles. Holly had a bye following a 36-14 Zero Week loss to Sangre de Cristo.

Series history… The series is tied a two wins apiece. DCA won a wild 40-20 contest last year, outscoring the Wildcats 20-6 in the second half. Elijah Martin stacked up 269 yards on the ground to go with two touchdowns for the Eagles. Coy King led Holly with 13 tackles.

#10 PLATEAU VALLEY (1-0) VS CUSTER COUNTY (0-0)

Last week… Colter Ralston threw two touchdowns and ran for one more, as Plateau Valley downed Dove Creek 24-12. Hunter White caught four balls for 140 yards and a TD, while Kooper Jenkins also had a touchdown reception. London Mitchell picked off two passes, returning one for a score. Custer County was off last week.

Series history… Plateau Valley has won both meetings, including a 42-6 decision last year. Ralston threw for 169 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Mason Simmons led the Bobcats with 103 yards and a passing TD.

#13 SPRINGFIELD (1-0) VS ELBERT (1-1)

Last week… Springfield was on a bye after beating Clayton, NM in Zero Week 50-0. That game was called at halftime due to the New Mexico mercy rule. Gunnar Mackey ran for a TD and also had an interception, while Logan Spires recovered a pair of fumbles. Elbert found itself down three scores at McClave in the third quarter on Monday, but the Bulldogs fought back and tied the game at 38 in the fourth. After the Cardinal regained the lead, Elbert could not punch in the potential tying score before the horn sounded, losing 46-38.

Series history… Elbert owns a 2-1 lead, but Springfield eked out a 14-12 decision last season. The Longhorns got touchdowns from Slayde Cohoon and Coltin Woodhouse in the victory. Cole Nay caught both scoring passes from Ethan Tesman in the loss.