Luc Andrada and Ty Evans are good at football.
These two senior quarterbacks have led their respective teams — Pueblo East and Palmer Ridge high schools — from under center (or, more often, in the shotgun) for the past three years.
Let’s take a quick look at everything they have in common and reach the logical conclusion that they are, in fact, good at football:

  • Championship Caliber: Both Andrada and Evans have helped their teams reach the pinnacle of Colorado high school Class 3A football. Andrada guided the East Eagles to a third consecutive state championship as a sophomore in 2016, while Evans vaulted the Bears to the school’s first football title last season in 2017.
  • Three-Year Wonders: Getting the keys to a high school football offense before getting the keys to a car is no easy task. Both of these gunslingers did just that, winning the starting QB job at their respective schools during their sophomore campaigns.
  • Big Game Hunters: These two quarterbacks are no strangers to big games and big numbers. During their illustrious prep runs, Evans and Andrada have posted many-a-highlight and many-a-stat. Just take a look at these numbers — and keep in mind that we are only two games into the 2018 campaign:
      • Evans: 7,310 passing yards, 79 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns
      • Andrada: 4,023 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 21 rushing touchdowns
  • Other Accolades: Ty Evans is committed to the University of Colorado and was the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017. Andrada has fielded a number of college offers for both football and track and was the Class 4A state champion in the 100-meter dash in 2017.

And the final thing Andrada and Evans have in common? They will share the same field for the first time this Friday night.
 
#3 Pueblo East at #2 Palmer Ridge
That’s right folks. This could be a potential playoff preview. Heck, this could be a potential state title game preview.
Two vaunted quarterbacks lead their squads — which are full of praise-worthy athletes at other positions as well — in one of the most anticipated contests of the season thus far.
Both teams are riding high after big victories — Palmer Ridge got back to its winning ways with a 70-35 thumping of Canon City and Pueblo East won its second straight over a ranked opponent by soaring past 4A No. 9 Longmont 42-26.
Who has the edge this week? Whoever can stop the big-time quarterback and his big-time weapons, including Palmer Ridge’s Anthony Roberson and Pueblo East’s Marvin London.
 
Frederick at #1 Erie
Speaking of good at football, how about this Noah Roper fella? (We talk a lot about some of these top players in the classification every week, but it’s hard not to when they continue to churn out these types of performances.)
Roper (and his offensive line, shoutout to the big fellas up front) powered to a 35-14 win over defending Class 4A champ Pueblo South in Week 2.
Roper had a very ho-hum game, rushing for a mere 191 yards and 4 touchdowns — down 50 yards from his average 241-yard performance in Week 1.
Will Roper be able to bounce back this week? Only his legs will tell.
Frederick, a former league foe of the Tigers now in the North-Metro League, jumped out to a 1-0 start after a 37-6 win over Kennedy back in Week 1.
The Warriors are strong on the ground as well, as 12 rushers combined to pick up 439 yards and five TDs in the opening victory.
 
#6 Discovery Canyon at Pueblo South 
DisCo is climbing up the charts once again, folks — only it’s the Thunder, not the bass and the horns, that’s bringing the noise.
Discovery Canyon trounced Roosevelt 31-8 a week ago and now sets its sights on Pueblo South, which started the season ranked No. 4 but has yet to find its identity in the young season.
Offensively, the Thunder and big-bodied QB Zack Anderson feature a potent run-heavy attack, while the Colts have a pair of dangerous weapons on the outside in Cedric Tillman and Jackson Dickerson.
 
#8 Montrose (4A) at #8 Durango
Durango had a slight hiccup last week, falling to No. 4 Palisade (1-0, up against Green Mountain this week) 20-3 on the road.
But although they say the devil is in the details, there’s no time for the Demons to dwell on the things that went wrong in Week 2.
Durango returns home to face unbeaten Montrose of Class 4A in a game that promises to be a good, old-fashioned smackdown.