MileHigh Prep Report

SIX-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK FIVE

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

It’s the midpoint of the regular season, and it’s full of league match-ups. The weekend will feature eight of the top-10 in the MHPR Coaches/Media poll, including two ranked vs ranked match-ups. The action begins on Thursday. Top-ranked Idalia and #10 Mountain Valley are on bye weeks.

THURSDAY

#5 OTIS (4-0) VS BETHUNE (3-2)

Otis rolled to a 60-6 win over Deer Trail last week, with the Bulldogs getting 151 yards and four rushing touchdowns and a pick-six from Cambric Klinzmann. Raegan Torres tossed a TD pass to Milo Kendrick, returned two punts for scores, and also picked off a pass. Aiden Horinek led the defense with six tackles and a fumble recovery. Bethune scored 31 points in the first seven minutes against Kiowa last Saturday and cruised to the 65-18 victory. Angel Millan rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns, while Ismael Perla added 134 yards and one TD. Josh Salinas connected with Kyle Stevens on a pair of touchdowns, and Aidan Orona threw one to Adrian Ramirez. On the defensive side of the ball, Stevens had a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six, and Perla recovered a fumble for a TD. Otis has won all previous six meetings in the series during the MaxPreps era, but the teams have not played since 2015. This is their first as members of the East Central.

FRIDAY

#2 FLEMING (5-0) AT #6 PRAIRIE (4-0)

Fleming heads into this huge North division clash fresh off the heels of a 60-0 win over Weldon Valley in league play last week. Dylon Monroe tallied 100 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries, while Jaron Monroe and Conner Marchant combined for just shy of 150 yards, with each scoring once. Treyson Kirkwood’s lone pass attempt went for a 12-yard TD to Evan Williamson. The defense got in on the action for the Wildcats with six turnovers, including a scoop-and-score by Sean Champ, and a pick-six by D. Monroe. Brando Ghilardi was a perfect seven-for-seven on PAT kicks, and also added a 28-yard field goal. Prairie also got a big win in league play, as the Mustangs overcame a 16-14 first quarter deficit to beat Caliche 65-16. Wyatt Walker piled up 214 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and Derek Dollerschell added 112 yards and three scores of his own. Tatum Bailey also caught a TD pass from Liam Bringelson. Walker’s big night continued on defense, where he record 10 tackles, including three sacks. Owen Kilmer tacked on a pick-six. Fleming owns a 17-3 edge in the series since 2004, including eight straight. Four of the last five were by eight points or less, including three by one point. That includes each of the last two.

#3 CHEYENNE WELLS (3-1) AT WELDON VALLEY (1-3)

Cheyenne Wells had few troubles with Manzanola on the road last week, with the Tigers collecting a 61-0 victory. Trevin Smith powered the rushing attack with 140 yards and three touchdowns, and Anthony Santiesteban tacked on two more scores. Marcus Bogenhagen threw two TD passes, one each to Daryon Campbell and Kooper Brossman. Caden Muth racked up nine tackles (two sacks), and the defense recovered three fumbles and scored a safety by Levi Mayhan. Weldon Valley has been shutout in two of its three losses, and only scored six points in the other. All three were in North division play. The Warriors have dropped two in a row. This non-league contest between Cheyenne Wells and Weldon Valley is the first in the MaxPreps era.

#4 PEETZ (3-1) AT CALICHE (1-4)

Peetz had its way with Briggsdale on the road last week, picking up a North division win by a 51-0 tally. The defense took a starring role for the Bulldogs, as that unit held Briggsdale to just 46 yards of offense. Dylan Wagner finished with just short of 100 yards on the ground, with three touchdowns, and three different Bulldogs threw a TD pass. Two were hauled in by Tanner Wood, and Jaxon White caught the other one. Wood added an interception, a fumble recovery, and also scored on a kick return. Caliche held a 16-14 lead over Prairie last week, but was outscored the rest of the way 51-0. That loss dropped the Buffs to 1-2 in league play. The series between Peetz and Caliche is tied at a win apiece. Caliche got a 46-36 victory two years ago, and Peetz took a 41-21 win last year.

#7 GRANADA (3-1) VS #8 WILEY (3-1)

Granada and Wiley enter this important South East division contest coming off very different outcomes last week. Granada led Cheraw 60-8 at halftime, and went on to take a 66-8 victory. Sebastian Pizarro raced for 129 yards and four touchdowns, and Fernando Cadena tacked on a rushing score. Angelo Martinez added a TD pass to Cristiano Aguilar. Cadena also scored on a fumble recovery, a punt return, and a kick return. He added an interception as well. Alejandro Perez led the defense with seven tackles and a safety. Wiley tangled with #1 Idalia last week and came away with a 72-24 loss. The Panthers gave up 356 yards on only 28 plays, and special teams allowed a kick return for a TD. Dating back to their eight-man days, Granada has won 15 of the last 16 against Wiley, including both in six-man.

#9 FLAGLER (3-2) AT DEER TRAIL (0-5)

Flagler stepped out of East Central play to host North Park out of the North division. The Panthers picked up their second straight win, beating the Wildcats 50-0. They got 168 yards and three touchdowns from Ian Ayres in the rushing game, and Gabe Harvie tossed a touchdown to both Dawson Brent and Axel Lahm. Ayres and Nathan Brunk tallied 10 tackles apiece to pace the defense, and Ayres added a fumble recovery, as did Lahm. Harvie recorded two pick-sixes. Deer Trail’s rough season continued last week with its 60-6 loss to Otis. The Eagles have been outscored 130-12 over the last two weeks. Chris Manriquez-Bustamante hooked up with Julian Recendez for the lone Deer Trail touchdown against Otis. Hunter Meredith had a team-leading five tackles, and Recendez recovered a fumble. The series between Flagler and Deer Trail is knotted at 2-2. The Eagles got a win in the most recent outing, back in 2022.