SIX-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK EIGHT by Kerry Sherman

SIX-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK EIGHT

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

League titles are starting to be locked up, and this weekend could see even more claimed. It’s a key weekend across the classification, as only two remain after it. We take a look at the teams currently occupying a top-16 position of the latest release of the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index.

FRIDAY

#1 IDALIA (7-0) AT #6 OTIS (6-1)

Last week… Gabe Kechter scored two rushing touchdowns and added at third as a receiver, as Idalia locked up a share of the East Central title with a 60-6 win at Genoa-Hugo/Karval. The Wolves got three return touchdowns, pick-sixes by Hayden Drullinger and Broderick Kite, and a kick return by Hunter Drullinger. Otis went toe-to-toe with Stratton, tying the Eagles in the first half of their East Central clash, but the Bulldogs gave up a score in the third and lost 22-16. Mitchell Stivers ran for one score, and Cambric Klinzmann caught one from Austin Hornung. Klinzmann racked up 20 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception to lead the Bulldog defense.

Series history… Otis leads 11-10 in the MaxPreps era, including wins in each of the last three meetings. Kechter ran for 185 yards and two scores for the Wolves last year, but it wasn’t enough, as the Bulldogs won 33-20. Otis can force a three-way tie for the league title if it is able to extend its streak to four in the series. Stratton would also be involved in the tie.

#2 STRATTON (5-2) AT #5 EADS (7-1)

Last week… Von Isenbart threw for 104 yards and one TD in Stratton’s 22-16 win over Otis. That touchdown went to Grady Steerman. Drew Fox topped the century mark on the ground, and both he and Judson Isenbart scored rushing touchdowns. V. Isenbart picked off four passes, giving him 10 on the season. Eads ran into a buzzsaw against Cheyenne Wells, as the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, 60-18. Karsten Buller and Gaige Rittgers had a rushing touchdown apiece for Eads, who also got a receiving TD by Johnathan Vazquez from Adyn Hough.

Series history… Stratton leads 6-3, including a three-game winning streak. The most recent of those came in 2022.

#3 PEETZ (7-0) VS #12 PRAIRIE (4-3)

Last week… Peetz secured at least a share of the North division title with a 28-18 win over Fleming. The Bulldogs built a 28-6 lead entering the fourth, but the Wildcats put a scare into them with two touchdowns in the final frame. Dylan Wagner rushed for 156 yards and a TD, while Conner Schumacher tallied 148 yards and three scores, as the Bulldogs amassed 324 yards on the ground. Logan Vallier led the defense with 19 tackles, and Tanner Wood added 17. Prairie remained in contention for the league title with a 54-8 win over Weldon Valley. Brennan Bringelson ran for three touchdowns to pace the Mustangs, who also got two touchdowns from Tyler Troudt, one rushing and one receiving. Wyatt Walker tallied 13 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries.

Series history… The Mustangs earned a 55-14 victory last year, but Peetz still leads 10-9 in the MaxPreps era. A second straight win by Prairie in the series would create the possibility of a three-way tie for the league crown. Peetz wins it outright with a victory.

#4 CHEYENNE WELLS (5-1) VS #9 GRANADA (5-2)

Last week… Trevin Smith raced for 135 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers in their 60-18 win over Eads. Trey Scheler scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, and also caught a TD pass from Mason Marriott. Marriott also connected with Corey Hill for two scoring passes. Granada used a 25-8 second half to overcome Walsh for a 45-36 victory in the Southeast. Sebastian Pizarro did the heavy lifting on offense, racking up 359 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The sophomore also had a receiving TD, as did classmate Fernando Cadena. That duo combined for three interceptions, two by Cadena.

Series history… Cheyenne Wells has won four of seven meetings between the two in six-man, including the last two. Scheler went for 256 and five touchdowns on the ground in last year’s 75-39 romp by the Tigers. Angelo Martinez caught five passes for 42 yards and a TD for the Bobcats. Pizarro missed the contest due to injury.

#8 CALICHE (5-2) VS LA VETA (2-4)

Last week… The Buffs got a strong defensive effort in a 50-0 win at Flagler. Caliche held the Panthers to 181 total yards in the shutout. Offensively, after a bit of a slow start, the Buffs scored 14 points in each of the final three periods to get the sportsmanship clock victory. La Veta had its bye week following a 70-16 loss to Branson/Kim in week six. Marcelo Lofgren had a rushing touchdown and also a pair of PAT kick conversions for the Redhawks. Darren James led the La Veta defense with a dozen tackles.

Series history… Caliche won last year’s meeting 55-6. It was the first between the two in six-man.

#13 FLAGLER (5-2) AT WILEY (2-5)

Last week… Keegan Isenbart (57) and Cody Homm (54) combined for 111 rushing yards in Flagler’s 50-0 loss to Caliche. Homm shared team honors with 14 tackles matching the tally of JR Kountz, who had one of the team’s three sacks. Jordan Wilson and Brayden Hill each had one. Wiley snapped a four-game losing streak, as Cheraw had to forfeit the match-up last week. Prior to the official ruling of a forfeit, Grant Mauch had thrown for 190 yards and four touchdowns,, and rushed for 235 yards and three more scores.

Series history… In a clash of Panthers, Wiley got a 64-20 victory last year. Mauch threw three TD passes, rushed for one, and caught another to lead Wiley. Hill topped Flagler with two rushing scores and one receiving.

#14 FLEMING (3-4) AT BRIGGSDALE (2-4)

Last week… Fleming trailed Peetz 28-6 as the teams entered the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats made things interesting by scoring a pair of touchdowns in the frame. However, their rally ran out of time and steam, and they dropped the North league contest 28-18. Briggsdale dominated North Park in their annual rivalry game, 58-20. Scot Francis tossed five TD passes, two to Sering Pino, and also ran for two scores to lead the Falcons. Theisen Tolbert added one on the ground and one as a receiver.

Series history… Fleming collected a 66-28 victory last year, and the Wildcats have won 17 of the last 19 overall. Conner Marchant rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats in the win, while Francis caught two touchdowns for the Falcons.

#15 ARICKAREE/WOODLIN (3-5) VS GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (1-5)

Last week… Arickaree/Woodlin made the long trek to Cotopaxi and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 59-7 win over the Pirates. Austin Wright ran for five touchdowns, and Jorge Ramos reached paydirt twice. Wright also returned a punt for a touchdown, and Austin Fields had a pick-six for the Bison. Not much went right for Genoa-Hugo/Karval in its 60-6 loss to Idalia, as the Pirates were limited to 89 yards of offense. Isiah Yoder accounted for their lone touchdown, as the senior scored on the ground.

Series history… Arickaree/Woodlin has won two straight match-ups and four of five overall. Wright ran wild in last year’s 70-14 Bison victory, amassing 337 yards and five touchdowns. Ramos finished with 83 yards and three touchdowns. Ryker Lockhart threw for 157 yards and two TD for the Pirates.

SATURDAY

#7 SIERRA GRANDE (6-1) AT COTOPAXI (0-6)

Last week… Sierra Grande all but locked up the Southwest division title with a 56-18 win at Branson/Kim. The Panthers have wins over the top three challengers, and just have to win one of their final two league games to earn the crown. Jadyn Martinez had himself a day against the Mustangs, throwing for 101 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushing 213 yards and four more scores. Rolando Najera caught two of the scoring passes. Defensively, Martinez tacked on three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Cotopaxi was held to one touchdown for the fourth time this season, as the Pirates lost to Arickaree/Woodlin 59-7 last week.

Series history… The Panthers have won four straight to even the series at six wins apiece. Martinez and Najera had two receiving touchdowns apiece in last year’s 59-14 win by Sierra Grande. Jamison Thurston ran for one of Cotopaxi’s two scores. Kenny Teter caught the other TD for the Pirates.

#10 HANOVER (5-2) AT #11 WALSH (3-4)

Last week… The lone team to officially lock up a league title, Hanover completed its perfect run through the Central by defeating Bethune 56-40. Thomas Griffin ran for 324 yards and five touchdowns for the Hornets, who also got three receiving TD from Tanner Lindsey. Edgar Vera-Wences led the defense with 13 tackles. Hudson Gourley continued to pile up numbers through the air, throwing for 292 yards and four touchdowns in Walsh’s 45-36 loss to Granada. The sophomore had thrown for more than 1800 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. He tossed TD passes to Woodrow Wright, Samuel Wright, Maddox Gourley, and Grady Mundell in the loss.

Series history… Hanover ran to an 82-19 win last season, giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead in the series. Griffin caught three passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns, and also ran for a score to help lead the Hornets in the big victory. Gourley had three scoring tosses in the loss.

#16 BRANSON/KIM (4-2) VS MOUNTAIN VALLEY (2-4)

Last week… Will Doherty ran for 117 yards and a TD, but the Bearcats fell to Sierra Grande by a 56-18 count. The Bearcats turned the ball over six times, four times on interceptions. Blake Olguin had a pick-six for the Branson/Kim defense. Mountain Valley got two passing touchdowns from Tye Salaz and the Wolves eked out a 31-30 victory over Primero. Greysin Scanga and Kyngston Taylor each caught one TD, and Taylor also recorded an interception.

Series history… The teams have split four previous meetings, with Mountain Valley taking the first two and Branson/Kim winning the last two. They did not play last year.