The annual early season clash between Sterling and Eaton always impacts the playoff picture in Class 2A and with just eight teams in the bracket this year, the importance steps up another level this year. The two clubs are battling with league member and perennial power Platte Valley for the tough to get playoff invite. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOLLIE FRITZLER.
Friday’s game begins a critical two game stretch for Sterling as the defending state champions also play Platte Valley next week. Wins over the next two weeks should secure a playoff berth for the defending state champions. They enter this week ranked #3 after beating Brush 27-7.
Eaton checks in at number five as they picked up a 49-6 win over Weld Central. Their big date with Platte Valley is set for November 14th. will The Reds fell to Sterling 7-0 last year but picked up a 37-25 win during the 2018 season. The rivals split two games in 2017 with Sterling grabbing the regular season showdown and Eaton exacting revenue in the playoffs.
The Tigers overcame a slow start in beating Brush with 18 unanswered points to close the second half. Defense keyed the win as they picked up touchdowns following fumble recoveries by Peyton Rose and Brady Albrandt. QB Radek McCracken had an excellent debut; throwing for two scores and running for a third.
Eaton used a balanced attack in last week’s win as Ethan Florez ran for 115 yards and two scores and Scott Grable added 128 yards and two scores in the passing game. Grable scored a third touchdown in the run game. On defense, Morgan Tribbett recorded eight tackles including three behind the line of scrimmage and Tanner True added seven stops.
Two very important games are set for the Southwest conference as #4 Lamar hosts Bayfield and #7 Pagosa Springs entertains Alamosa. Both home teams were winners last week as Lamar outscored Elizabeth 41-20 and Pagosa Springs blanked Middle Park 44-0. The road teams came up short as Bayfield fell to Delta 32-16 and Alamosa to Woodland Park 21-13 in week one. Both the Wolverines and Moose would like wins to avoid an 0-2 start but such an outcome won’t completely end their playoff chances. Each has a demanding schedule through the season that will boost their RPI but they will need some wins along the way to gain consideration.
Lamar overcame 11 penalties and four turnovers in turning back Elizabeth last week. Veteran QB Zane Rankin ran and passed for a TD and also returned a punt for a score. Damian Ramos also scored on a 85 yard TD run.
Bayfield created four turnovers in the first half and led Delta 16-8 at halftime but couldn’t hold that lead. They were outscored 24-0 in the second half. Isaac Ross threw for 111 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
The Pagosa Springs-Alamosa contest is a contrast of offensive strategies. The Pirates ran for 397 yards and five TD’s in their win over Middle Park while the Moose attempted 44 passes in their loss to Woodland Park.
Dylan Tresser, with 243 yards and three TD’s, got most of the carries for Pagosa Springs last week so he’ll be the focus of the Alamosa defense. Grant Aucoin added 62 yards and Tommy Barker 51. The defense was also stout; holding Middle Park to just 62 yards on 27 rushing attempts. Mitch Lewis and Wil Aucoin each had six tackles including two for loss. Three different players also recovered a fumble.
Kasey Jones completed 20 passes with one score for Alamosa. Kade Jones (7) and Kane Absmeier (6) combined for 13 of those receptions. The defense picked up 11 tackles from Absmeier and eight from Damian Orozco. Orozco also had three sacks but may not get many chances to add to that number against the Pagosa running game this week.
In the top 10, #1 Delta was looking for a game this week as their scheduled opponent for week two (Middle Park) cannot play. It now appears that Delta will face #10 University as the Bulldogs scheduled contest with Berthoud was also cancelled due to COVID. We’re waiting on official word if the Delta-University game will be played on Friday or Saturday.
The Panthers got 260 yards passing from Nolan Bynum and 172 on the ground from Timothy Horn in the come-from-behind win at Bayfield last Saturday. Colton Johnson also recorded 18 tackles with Hunter and James Goff collecting 14 apiece.
University knocked off Fort Lupton 48-16 in their 2020 opener. The Bulldogs defense held the Devils to just 141 total yards of offense.
#2 Resurrection Christian blew past D’Evelyn 44-0 last week and could get another lopsided win over Arvada this week. The Cougars had just 34 offensive plays last week but still totaled 298 yards. Eddie Lemos caught four passes on the day and scored on all four. Two of the catches were on offense and the other two were interceptions which he returned for scores.
#6 Platte Valley goes to Weld Central and is favored to get a second straight win. The Broncos downed Valley 34-6 last week. They must avoid looking past a Rebels team that gave up 49 points to Eaton to next week’s big battle with Sterling. Platte Valley’s defense gave up 358 yards last week but intercepted two passes.
#8 La Junta had a game with Manitou Springs cancelled due to COVID but the Tigers may get a boost in scheduling by picking up a game with 3A Pueblo County this week. Manitou Springs might have been a drag on RPI but the Hornets could finish with a winning record and push for a 3A playoff spot. County was scheduled to face Pueblo South this week.
La Junta gained a nice win at Englewood last week using a defensive stand inside their own ten yard line in the fourth quarter to secure a 22-19 win. The Tigers used kickoff returns for two of their three touchdowns.
#9 Woodland Park looks to build on their win at Alamosa by hosting Elizabeth this week. The Panthers also need to avoid looking down the road as they meet defending state runner-up Delta next week. That game could decide who ends up with the best record in their conference.
Mason Pyles threw for 109 yards and connected with Tyler Baldus and Bryson Cox on scoring passes. Braden Roskam scored the third TD and added 86 yards rushing. He also picked up 13 tackles; second on the team to Darren Grenger (15). Elizabeth, as mentioned, lost to Lamar last week and their defense will be challenged again this week.
