EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – QUARTERFINALS
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The opening round of the eight-man postseason saw six of the eight hosts pick up wins. The reward for the two teams who pulled upsets is another road game in the quarterfinals, as the higher seeds will host up to the championship game. This round will see two games played on Friday night, with the other two taking place on Saturday afternoon. Games are listed in bracket order.
#1 MCCLAVE (10-0) VS #8 FOWLER (8-2) FRIDAY 5PM
McClave raced out to a 32-0 first quarter lead against #16 Hoehne in the opening round, as the Cardinals had the sportsmanship clock rolling early in the second. They went on to claim a 61-15 win. Drew Howe, Kolten Randel, and Josh Arellano all had two rushing touchdowns, and Tuff Kelley added one on the ground. Randel also threw a TD pass to Cash Phares. Randel shared the team lead in tackles (8) with Tayden Martinez. Oliver Hemphill tallied six, while Kelley and Ryan Horn added five apiece. The defense recorded four takeaways, including a pick and a fumble recovery by Hemphill.
Fowler also had the running clock before halftime, as the Grizzlies led #9 Akron 44-0 at the break. They earned the shutout by a 52-0 count. The defense starred, holding Akron to under 100 yards of offense, and they created four turnovers. Gunner Houston had six tackles (one sack) and a fumble recovery to led the Grizzlies. Garrett Pharr and Brock True both finished with five tackles. Hilario Alvarez picked off a pass, and Layton Sharon and Titus Ballard each tallied a fumble recovery. Offensively, Bronson Damgaard ran for 114 yards and two scores, while Alvarez added 94 yards and two touchdowns, and 92 passing yards. Pharr tacked on a punt return TD.
McClave beat Fowler 66-36 just four weeks ago, with Randel running for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and also throwing a TD to Kelley, who had four receptions for 111 yards. Phares scored three rushing touchdowns. Ryan Steinbrunn intercepted two passes, and returned a kickoff for a TD. Alvarez had 238 yards and four touchdown passes for the Grizzlies, with Bryce Froman grabbing three of them. Damgaard added a rushing TD.
#4 SIMLA (10-0) VS #5 HAYDEN (9-1) SATURDAY 1PM
Simla got a good fight from #13 Las Animas in the opening round, as the Cubs only led 16-0 at the half. They pulled away with 15-0 third, and advanced with the 37-16. It was their first game of the season decided by fewer than 30 points. Evan Guy threw for 382 yards and five touchdowns, three to Keygon Frihauf, and one each to Connor Maranville and Tatum Kochera. Ty Stanko topped the defense with 12 tackles, including two sacks. Frihauf tallied 10 stops (two sacks), and Kochera had eight to go with two picks. Dacin Watts recorded four sacks. The Cubs had 11 sacks as a team.
Hayden ran out to a 32-0 halftime lead over #12 Crowley County, and went on to a 48-14 victory. Peyton Johnson racked up 166 yards and four touchdowns through the air, and also scored twice on the ground. Carson Campbell caught four passes, two for touchdowns, and Jarrett Davis caught four with one TD. Ryder Weber had one touchdown catch. Noah Weber powered the rushing game with 160 yards. Davis led the Tiger defense with a dozen tackles, and R. Weber added 10 tackles and an interception. Brody Frentress tallied nine tackles, including two sacks, and Zander Martinez chipped in an interception.
This is the fifth game between Simla and Hayden dating back to 2012. The Cubs have won the last three, including a win in the 2022 opening round, which was the most recent meeting between the two.
#3 WEST GRAND (10-0) VS #11 FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN (8-2) FRIDAY 6PM
West Grand led #14 Sanford 28-0 through two quarters, and got the sportsmanship clock going in the third. The Mustangs collected a 42-0 shutout, with their defense registering four takeaways. Walker Howell had two interceptions and eight tackles, while Landon Lockhart led with 12 tackles, and also had a pick. Lucas Hernandez recovered a fumble, and Ruben Hatcher tallied nine tackles. West Grand also got 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns from Howell, who added a receiving TD from Lockhart. Lockhart ran for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns, and threw for 125 yards and two scores. Sanjay Geffers caught two passes for 91 yards and a TD.
Front Range Baptist pulled off one of the opening round upsets, as the Falcons scored a fourth quarter touchdown to beat #6 Norwood 32-30. Lawson Edwards led the offense with 287 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and 82 yards on the ground. Judah Hayes caught six passes for 170 yards and two scores, and Jake Carlson added 81 yards and two TD in the running game, and another 85 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Grayson Murray was busy on defense, racking up 21 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Carlson followed with 14 tackles,while Edwards and Joseph Ratts tacked on 13 and 10 tackles, respectively.
This is the fourth meeting between West Grand and Front Range Christian dating back to 2018. West Grand has won all three previous contests, including a 46-0 victory last season.
#2 SEDGWICK COUNTY (8-1) VS #10 STRATTON (7-3) SATURDAY 1PM
Sedgwick County scored twice in both of the first two quarters against #15 Vail Christian, and started the running clock in the third with three more touchdowns. The Cougars rolled to a 48-14 win over the Saints. SedgCo only ran 24 plays in the game, 23 on the ground. Owen Harris toted the rock 17 times for 131 yards and four touchdowns. The Cougars also got three return touchdowns, as Nathan Gonzales and Noah Harens both recorded a pick-six, and Cameron Smith returned a kick for another score. Gonzales tallied 13 tackles, including three sacks, and Harris also had 13 tackles, one being a sack. Liam Amendt added 10 tackles.
Stratton made the most of its more than 1000-mile round trip to Mancos, as the Eagles knocked off the #7 Bluejays 38-36. All of the scoring came in the first half. They led by 12 twice in the second quarter. Nolan Notter paced the offense with 153 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries. Corbin Notter added a rushing TD. Gavin Ruhs led the defense with a dozen tackles, and Ryan May recorded eight stops. Emmett Bohnen and Judson Isenbart had five tackles apiece.
Sedgwick County beat Stratton 50-0 four weeks ago, with Harris running for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Lehgion Glende ran for two scores and also tossed one to Harris. Stratton only had 41 rushing yards, 21 by N. Notter, and 20 from C. Notter, who also threw for 125 yards.
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