EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK FOUR
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
There was quite a bit of upheaval in the MHPR Coaches/Media rankings this week, but the top-two remained unchanged. Nine of the top-10 will be in action this weekend, and the slate includes two ranked vs ranked match-ups.
FRIDAY
#1 MCCLAVE (3-0) VS HOEHNE (0-2)
McClave used a 24-0 third quarter to blow open its top-five showdown with Stratton last week. The Cardinals would take the win by a 44-12 count over the now seventh-ranked Eagles. Drew Howe ran for two scores, while Cash Phares and Ryan Steinbrunn each hit paydirt once. Kolten Randel connected with Tuff Kelley four times for 115 yards and a TD. Randel led the defense with 13 tackles, and Howe and Steinbrunn added 10 apiece. Howe tacked on a pick-six, and Phares registered two sacks. Hoehne was off last week, taking a bye after a 66-28 loss to Fowler the week prior. Brody Silvey ran for two touchdowns in that loss, and Antonio Cantoria caught two. The Farmers hold a 7-1 mark against McClave, with the lone win by the Cardinals coming in the most recent meeting in 2021.
#2 SIMLA (3-0) AT #10 AKRON (2-1)
Simla won its own top-five clash last week, as the Cubs went on the road to beat Mancos 37-6 at the neutral site of Sargent HS. The Cubs led 22-0 before Mancos got on the board in the fourth quarter. Evan Guy had a strong day throwing the ball, racking up 228 yards and three touchdowns. Ethan Kissam, Keygon Frihauf, and Tatum Kochera each caught one scoring pass. Kissam also ran for 116 yards and two more touchdowns. Kochera led the defense with 14 tackles, while Kissam and Connor Maranville each added nine. Akron and Fowler were knotted at 6-all after one quarter last week, but the Rams were outscored 32-6 in the second, en route to suffering their first defeat of the season, 46-28. Jax Kusel and Jefferson Hunt both finished with more than 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns apiece. Hunt’s 15 tackles topped the defense, that also got nine tackles apiece from Trent Kautz, Dawson Bales, and Trigg Weis. After losing the first game in the series, Akron has won the last five. The latest came in the 2024 postseason.
#3 WEST GRAND (3-0) VS LAKE COUNTY (0-2)
West Grand made another big statement last week, handing previously tenth-ranked Clear Creek a 56-12 defeat. The Mustangs led 24-0 after one, and outscored Clear Creek 32-6 in the second half. Landon Lockhart ran for 291 yards and four touchdowns on just six carries, and also added 76 yards passing. Sanjay Geffers, Walker Howell, and Ruben Hatcher had a rushing TD each, as the Mustangs piled up 421 yards and seven scores on the ground. The Mustangs had five defenders with at least 10 tackles, led by Lockhart with 19, and Lance Eisenman with 15. It’s been three weeks since Lake County last played, and the Panthers lost that game to Front Range Christian 66-0. They lost three fumbles and an interception, and also allowed a punt return for a TD. West Grand has not lost to Lake County in four prior meetings during the MaxPreps era. The Mustangs took a 46-8 win two years ago, and got a 42-0 shutout last season.
#4 SEDGWICK COUNTY (1-1) VS CALHAN (1-2)
Sedgwick County got into the win column last week by taking down Sanford 46-8. The Cougars amassed 350 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, with Owen Harris going for 254 and five. Nathan Gonzales also found the end zone. Harris, Gonzales, and Liam Amendt all had a fumble recovery, and Noah Harens forced one. Calhan heads into its fourth straight game against a Plains foe having earned a 30-28 win over Haxtun in overtime last week. Calhan tied the game late with a TD pass and two-point conversion. Haxtun scored to open the OT, but missed the conversion. Calhan again got the touch-and-two for the win. Brody Burnside threw for 272 yards and two TD, and also ran for 155 and two more scores. Ethan Whitener snagged both receiving touchdowns. Brody Burnside, Brock Burnside, and Jace Johnson had 10 tackles apiece. This is the first meeting between Sedgwick County and Calhan in the MaxPreps era.
#6 HAYDEN (2-0) AT VAIL CHRISTIAN (3-0)
Hayden enters this key Western Slope contest with an extra week of rest, as the Tigers had their bye following a 66-13 drubbing of Grand County (UT) two weeks ago. The Tigers led 16-7 after one, and then outscored the Red Devils 36-0 in the second to get the sportsmanship clock rolling. Hayden scored on six of 14 offensive plays in the game, with Peyton Johnson completing all four of his passes for 133 yards and three TD. Two of those went to Carson Campbell, and the other to Ryder Weber. Johnson also ran for two scores, and Noah Weber added one. Defensively, Johnson had a long scoop-and-score, while N. Weber returned a pick for a score, and also tacked on a punt return TD. Vail Christian had a much tougher go of it last week against Front Range Christian. The Saints led 24-8 at halftime, but then had to hold on for a 38-36 victory. Rayman Romanin threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for just over 100 yards and two more scores. Aidan O’Shaughnessy had a long fumble return, while Jack O’Shaughnessy and Tanner Collier each recorded a sack. Vail Christian has won seven of ten in the series with Hayden, but the Tigers have won the last two, including a 72-28 decision last year.
#8 LAS ANIMAS (3-0) AT HOLLY (1-2)
Las Animas primed itself for this Arkansas Valley league opener by taking care of St. Mary’s 44-12 last week. The Trojans led 44-0 at the half to get the sportsmanship clock rolling. Braydon Ortiz threw a pair of touchdowns, one to Jerome Ethridge and one to Scott Banister, while Josiah Martinez ran for 185 yards and three TD. Ortiz also punched one in on the ground. Cyler Jagers had a team-leading seven tackles, and Martinez snagged an interception. Holly lost a tough one on the road last weekend, falling at Crowley County 34-16. It was the second straight loss for the Wildcats. Las Animas took a 58-6 win last year, snapping Holly’s 10-game winning streak in the series.
#9 FOWLER (2-1) AT ROCKY FORD (2-2)
Hilario Alvarez was big in Fowler’s 46-28 win over Akron last week, as he threw for 121 yards and four touchdowns. Brock True caught two of those scoring passes, and Bryce Froman caught the other two. Bronson Damgaard added 128 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Titus Ballard racked up 16 tackles, and also collected one of the three fumble recoveries by the Grizzlies. Tate Phillips and Wade Clemmensen had the others. Rocky Ford dug an early hole for itself at Lyons last week, as the Meloneers trailed 40-0 at the half. Lyons would go on to claim the win 57-6. Shayne Gonzales threw a six-yard strike to Jake Baca for the lone Rocky Ford touchdown. This will be the first meeting between these two programs in the MaxPreps era.
SATURDAY
#5 MANCOS (2-1) VS ST. MARY’S (0-2) AT DEL NORTE HS
Mancos hung tough with Simla last week, only trailing 14-0 at the half, but the Blue Jays just could not finish drives. Michael Resner threw for just over 100 yards, and also ran for 68 and the lone score in the 37-6 loss. James Potts added 51 rushing yards, and Traycer White caught six passes for 50 yards. Gavin Smith caught four for 56 yards. White topped the defense with 10 tackles. St. Mary’s fell behind Las Animas early last week, trailing 44-0 at the half. The Pirates did find the end zone twice in the second half, but still dropped the contest 44-12. This will be the first game played between Mancos and St. Mary’s since MaxPreps started tracking football in 2004.
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