2A FOOTBALL – WEEK 9 PREVIEW

With four teams in the top 12 of RPI this week, the Western Slope conference is in position to make up 25 percent of the Class 2A football bracket.  A key game there this week between Basalt and Rifle is also likely the most important game across the division.  The Longhorns are #2 in RPI with Rifle checking in at #12.
Basalt also sits alone atop the conference (3-0) with Rifle tied with Aspen (2-1) in second place.  Aspen though has the tiebreaker thanks to their 20-19 win over the Bears a week ago.  Because of that loss, Rifle must win this week to stay in the league championship picture.  Basalt also has Aspen on the schedule next week so they cannot clinch with a win unless the Skiers are also upset at home by Coal Ridge.
The Rifle loss was very frustrating.  The Bears ran for 406 yards including a whopping 338 from senior Tanner Vines but a missed field goal in the final seconds prevented them from the getting the victory.  Defensively, the Bears were good as well but suffered breakdowns on two fourth-down situations that led to Aspen touchdowns.

With last week’s effort, Vines is within reach of his second straight 2,000-yard season.  He’s at 1,525 yards with 12 touchdowns and over his career, Vines has totaled 3,717 yards.  That number is basically a two-year run as he carried the ball just 21 times as sophomore.
This Friday, Vines and the Bears offense faces a Basalt defensive group that is among the best in the state.  Through seven games, the Longhorns have forced more turnovers (27) than points allowed (19).  They’ve posted shutouts in four of their last five games
Tai Kim (41), Henry Twitchell (35) and Jake Reuss (32) lead the team in tackles.  Jake Reardon has seven fumble recoveries and Trevor Reuss three as the Longhorns have picked up 20 loose balls on the season.
Reardon is the leader offensively; leading the team with 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.  Trevor Reuss is next on that list with 244 yards and eight scores and he’s thrown for 611 yards and five additional scores.  The top receiver is Jackson Rapaport with 19 catches for 296 yards and two scores.
Aspen looks to build on the momentum from last week’s loss and they will be favored at home against Coal Ridge.  Unless they lose this week, their showdown with Basalt next week will play a major role in the championship race regardless of how the Longhorns end up against Rifle.
The Skiers are 10^th in RPI and in solid position for a second straight playoff berth.  Delta sits in fourth place in the standings but are a solid 8^th in RPI.  The Panthers go to Moffat County this week.
Machebeuf needs a win over Englewood to keep pace with Kent Denver inside the Colorado.  Both the Buffs and Sun Devils enter the week at 3-0 and tied for the conference lead.  Englewood is alone in third at 2-1.  A loss to Machebeuf this week eliminates the Pirates from title consideration and puts them out of reach for a post-season bid.

The Pirates have turned to the passing game with Mason Robertson the past two weeks in splitting games with Kent Denver and Alameda.  Robertson has 1,315 yards for the season but over half that total (697) has come over the last two games.  He threw for 359 yards and two TD’s against Kent Denver and then went for 338 yards and three scores vs Alameda.  He had not attempted more than 15 passes in any of the first five games but has 21 and 22 in this last two.
Machebeuf plays Kent Denver in the final week so the Buffs control their own league championship future.  Darius Richards, with 892 yards rushing and 11 TD’s, is their key offensively.  The Buffs have four wins and Richards has been above 110 yards in each one but has been held below 65 in losses to Eaton and Elizabeth.
QB Ryan Schmitt has 559 yards with four touchdowns passing with all four going to Jack Farmer.
Kent Denver goes to Alameda on Thursday and the Sun Devils are the only league team that’s a lock to make the playoffs.  They’re 9^th in RPI while Machebeuf (#25) and Englewood (#27) both need to win the league crown to get in.
La Junta (Tri Peaks) and Resurrection Christian (Patriot East) are the only 2A clubs that can clinch championships with wins this week regardless of what happens around them.  The Tigers go to Classical Academy and the Cougars are home to Academy.  Both are favored to celebrate a league title late on Friday.
If La Junta beats TCA, then there are several possibilities for second place.  Elizabeth would control that race as they get the spot by beating Woodland Park this week and Lamar next week.  A three-way tie also possible if Lamar knocks off the Cardinals in the final week.  The Cardinals got in position with a fourth quarter touchdown in last week’s 7-3 win over TCA.  The Titans struggled offensively in the loss as their longest play was 12 yards.  Zach Gray had 109 yards rushing but the team finished with 108.  The Titans defense was very good in limiting Elizabeth to just 135 yards of total offense.
Senior QB Jon Nuschy totaled 352 yards of offense in leading La Junta past Lamar 34-21 in the annual Whistle game.  The senior, who went 4-0 against the Savages in his high school career, ran for 152 yards and a TD and threw for 200 and two scores.  Riley Romero caught four passes for 125 yards and both touchdowns.  Ryan Malden added 53 yards rushing and 62 receiving.
The Tigers are 5^th in RPI and will get into the playoff bracket.  Elizabeth is 14^th and squarely on the bubble.  Classical Academy (22^nd) is likely out of the running unless they win the league championship.  They must win out and capture the tiebreaker or win two games and have Elizabeth drop one of their last two.
Resurrection Christian rolled Eaton 26-7 last week and the Cougars continue their season long stretch of not allowing more than eight points in any game.  Eaton could not run the football as they finished the game with 15 yards on 18 attempts.  They had more success through with 127 yards but the Cougars also picked off three passes.
The Cougars moved into the top spot of RPI this week.  Eaton is 7^th and Berthoud 13^th.  The Reds and Spartans match up in week ten to likely decide second and third.  The Reds go to Prospect Ridge on Saturday and the Spartans host University the night before.  University is 26^th in RPI.
Coming off a big win over Sterling last week, Platte Valley sits alone atop the Patriot East standings.  The Broncos have received a forfeit from Valley this week but cannot clinch unless Weld Central also spoils the homecoming for Brush on Saturday.  The Beetdiggers are favored there and look for another big day from Nick Wellen.  The senior has 1,003 yards with 13 TD’s on the ground.  He was held to just 39 yards in a loss to Sterling but has totaled 393 yards and five scores in the wins before and after.
The league may only get one bid.  Platte Valley is 4^th in RPI with Sterling the next league team on the list at #18.  Brush (#32) and Weld Central (#33) are well back in the pack.  Sterling entertains Fort Lupton and needs to win out and get some help from some of their opponents to climb into the top 16.  They have losses to Eaton, Resurrection Christian and Platte Valley so future wins by those clubs could boost the Tigers playoff chances.
The key game inside the Flatirons pits D’Evelyn against Bennett.  The Jags are 3-0 in league play and tied with Faith Christian in first place.  Bennett, which lost to Faith Christian last week, is one game back in third place and must win to stay in contention.  If D’Evelyn wins this week, the Jags and Faith Christian battle for the championship next week.  Faith Christian is home to Middle Park this Friday.
D’Evelyn has not allowed a point in league play, outscoring three opponents 112-0.  They’ve won five straight overall.  The defense is paced by Brady Sullivan (63 tackles) and Noah Miles (56) who have combined for 14 tackles for loss.  Jake Braun has also chipped in 6.5 sacks.
Evan Willis leads D’Evelyn with 1,396 yards passing and nine TD’s but he’s attempted only 30 passes in three league games.  He’s completed 18 for 447 and four scores.  Much of the attack in conference play has gone through Enzo Franzese.  He’s rushed for 486 yards and six scores there and has 775 yards on the season.
Bennett came up short to Faith Christian 44-8 last week but also scored a nice win at Middle Park two weeks ago.  They ran for 420 yards in the win including 245 from Mac Copeland and 139 from Mason Wakeham.  Both players are over 600 yards for the year.
All four teams at the top of the standings are on the playoff bubble.  Faith Christian is 15^th in RPI with D’Evelyn 16^th, Bennett 19^th and Middle Park 20^th.  The league could end up anywhere from just the league champion getting in to possibly three teams finding a spot in the bracket.
The Intermountain league is trying to get four teams into the playoffs.  Bayfield (3^rd) and Salida (6^th) are locks with Pagosa Spring (11^th) in good shape and Montezuma Cortez (17^th) in position.  This week, Bayfield visits Pagosa Springs and Salida heads over to Montezuma Cortez.  If Bayfield and Salida get wins, they collide in week 10 to determine the top two spots.
Pagosa Springs is only 3-4 on the season but their strong schedule has them in playoff position.  They last beat Bayfield in 2008 (23-21) and have dropped the last nine in the series.
The Wolverines have dominated league opponents in beating Alamosa (30-6) and Montezuma Cortez (39-3).  David Hawkins has rushed for 230 yards in those wins and Hayden Farmer tossed two touchdown passes against Cortez.
The defense has also been solid in limiting Cortez to 87 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers with a blocked punt against Alamosa.  They’ve also posted nine sacks in the two victories.