SIX-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK TEN
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
It’s the final weekend of regular season play in six-man, and the schedule does not disappoint. There are eight games on the docket involving teams currently holding down playoff spots, including a pair of top-5 match-ups. The field will be set and released on Sunday, with each of the five division champions safely in the top-16 of this week’s CHSAA rankings.
THURSDAY
#15 GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (4-5) defeats #9 HANOVER 19 TO 6.
FRIDAY
#1 IDALIA (9-0) VS #3 PRAIRIE (8-1)
Despite being without the services of standout running back Gabe Kechter for half of the season, Idalia has not missed a beat. The Wolves have secured the East Central crown, and enter this huge clash having beaten #6 Fleming 72-14 last week. They had 60 on the board by halftime. Bode Monahan had another big outing, running for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and adding scores on a fumble return and a kick return. Kolby Morris threw a TD pass to Broderick Kite, and also returned a punt for a score. Hunter Drullinger led the defense with eight tackles and an interception. Prairie bounced back from a loss to #2 Peetz two weeks ago to handle Bethune 53-16 last week. The Mustangs are the runners-up in the North, and they got 151 yards and four touchdowns on the ground from Derek Dollerschell in that win. Wyatt Walker had a rushing touchdown, as well as a team-leading 11 tackles. Liam Bringelson blocked a kick, and Jacoby Nelson recovered a fumble. Idalia’s won four straight meetings with Prairie, and six of the last eight.
#2 PEETZ (8-1) VS #4 CHEYENNE WELLS (7-1)
Peetz has been on a roll since losing to Idalia in week two, as the Bulldogs have reeled off seven straight wins. The champs of the North head into this match-up of league titlists having downed #7 Otis 59-26 last week. Bryson Leach hit on seven of nine passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns, and Dylan Wagner tossed a pair of scoring strikes to go with one on the ground. Tanner Wood, Jaxon White, and Conner Schumacher each had two receiving touchdowns. Schumacher also scored a running TD, and racked up a team-best 12 tackles. Cheyenne Wells also hits this game on a hot streak, having won six straight since a week one loss to Fleming. The Tigers won the South East title last week by outlasting #5 Granada 57-56. Trevin Smith ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns, completed a TD pass, and also caught a scoring pass. Marcus Bogenhagen tossed three TD passes. For good measure, Smith recorded a team-leading 13 tackles, just ahead of Kelby Leonard (12), Levi Mayhan (10), and Daryon Campbell (10). This is just the third meeting between Peetz and Cheyenne Wells, with the Tigers winning in 2022, and the Bulldogs getting the win the next year.
#5 GRANADA (5-2) VS #12 BRANSON/KIM (6-2)
This is a clash of second place finishers in their respective leagues, with Granada in the South East, and Branson/Kim in the South West. Last week’s loss for Granada was its first of the year to an in-state opponent, and as one might expect from a 57-56 shootout, the Bobcats put up some impressive numbers. Alejandro Perez threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns, three to Angelo Martinez (10/239), and one to Fernando Cadena (4/70). Cadena also had one on the ground. Sebastian Pizarro picked up 194 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Four Bobcats recorded double digit tackles, led by Perez with 13. Cadena (11), Pizarro (11), and Martinez (10) were the others. Branson/Kim got its second win of the season over #18 Mountain Valley, this time collecting a 46-13 decision over the Wolves. Cooper Winter led the Bearcats with 227 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and 95 yards and two more scores on the ground. Acoya Bartlett ran for one and caught one. Chase Winter had two fumble recoveries. Granada and Branson/Kim have met seven previous times, with the Bobcats winning all seven.
#8 WILEY (6-3) AT NORTH PARK (0-8)
Wiley got its first win of the season against a top-12 opponent, as the Panthers scored in the closing seconds and converted the kick for a 20-13 win over #11 Walsh. That secured third place in the South East for Wiley. Grant Mauch had two TD passes in the contest, one apiece to Corbyn Williams and Carver Cross, and Chael Cordova added one touchdown on the ground. Alyxx Egley paced the Panther defense with 11 tackles, and Devonte Pizarro added 10 and a pick. North Park had to deal with vehicle issues to even make it to its game against Deer Trail last Saturday, but the Wildcats turned in one of their best performances of the season in a 48-47 loss. They jumped out to a 21-6 first quarter lead, and despite losing the lead, had a chance to win it late. After scoring to get within one, their conversion attempt failed. Graham Cornelison threw for three touchdowns and ran for one, while Jaxon Wolvington had one rushing and one receiving. Duke Schmidt and Junior Cereceres recorded nine tackles apiece. This will be the first meeting between Wiley and North Park in the MaxPreps era.
#11 WALSH (5-4) AT #18 MOUNTAIN VALLEY (4-4)
Walsh will look to rebound after that heartbreaking 20-13 loss to Wiley last week, and the Eagles will have to do it on the road. The good news is that they have not lost consecutive games yet this season. The bad news is that they’ll have to do it against a Mountain Valley squad that’s coming off back to back losses, last week 46-13 to Branson/Kim. The Wolves also know that if they have any shot at making the postseason, it starts with getting a win in this contest. They would still need some help, but that’s the only part they have any control over. Tanner Shellabarger had 117 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s loss, and Brayen Trejo tallied 11 tackles and an interception. Walsh is looking to win its fourth straight against Mountain Valley.
#17 WELDON VALLEY (3-6) AT ANTONITO (0-8)
If one of the final two or three teams ahead of it happen to trip up, Weldon Valley could potentially collect a postseason spot. The Warriors have had a pretty tough schedule, with games against six of the current top-10, including a win over Hanover. They got a forfeit victory over Primero last week, putting two straight wins on the ledger. The goal for Antonito has nothing to do with making the playoffs, its about not finishing the season without a win. The Trojans were handed an 87-0 loss by La Veta last week, and they’ve been outscored 591-113. Ball security will be a key, as they lost eight fumbles last week, two of which were returned for scores. These two teams will be playing for the first time in the MaxPreps era.
SATURDAY
#10 CALICHE (4-5) AT #14 BETHUNE (4-5)
Caliche was hampered early in the season by key injuries, and the Buffs were just 1-5 through six games. The schedule did them no favors, as all of the losses were to teams currently in the top-seven of the CHSAA rankings. But, the Buffs have come on strong, winning their last three, including a 59-25 victory over #16 Briggsdale last week. That hot streak has them looking to finish the regular season at .500 and preparing for the postseason. Bethune has been hot and cold this season, and enters this contest having lost its last two. The Bobcats only had 138 yards of offense in last week’s 53-16 loss at Prairie. Angel Millan had a TD run, and Josh Salinas caught a scoring pass from Kyle Stevens. Bethune is looking for its first trip to the postseason bracket since 2011. The Buffs and Bobcats have not played before.
#13 FLAGLER (5-4) VS #16 BRIGGSDALE (3-5)
Flagler is on the verge of securing its second straight postseason berth, and the Panthers most likely already have. They were off last week after beating Kiowa 62-7 two weeks ago. Keegan Isenbart went off in that victory, running for 351 yards and five touchdowns. Jordan Wilson caught a pair of scoring passes from Gabe Harvie, and Ian Ayres had six tackles, including a sack. Axel Lahm recorded an interception. Briggsdale’s strength of schedule helped get the Falcons back into the mix, but they’re going to need to end a two-game slide to remain in the playoff bracket. Their 59-25 loss to Caliche last week came on the heels of a loss to Fleming a week earlier. The last time these two played was in 2019, when Flagler was part of the athletic co-op with Hi-Plains. They were scheduled to play in 2022, but Flagler had to forfeit that contest.
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