It appears that only one of the two featured attractions in Class 3A this week will be played.  The anticipated clash between #5 Fort Morgan and #7 Frederick won’t be played as the Warriors are dealing with some quarantine issues.  That leaves the matchup between #3 Mead and #6 Discovery Canyon as the lone top 10 battle on the week three schedule.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANDRE ROBERSON

It should be a good contest as both teams have great tradition over the past decade and each coach is familiar with playing important games at any time of the regular season and playoffs.  For Discovery Canyon, this is the second of four straight games against ranked opponents as they edged Pueblo South 21-13 last week and will face Pine Creek and Fort Morgan after the showdown with Mead.  The Mavericks have played just once this season as the scheduled visit to Eagle Valley last Friday was postponed because of COVID.  They haven’t played since rolling Pueblo Centennial 45-0 in week one.

There was balance offensively for the Mavericks in that win.  Evan Morris ran for 109 yards and scored a TD and added a second score in the pass game.  QB Gavin Garrettson finished with two touchdowns overall with the remaining two going to Corby Tecu.  Tecu totaled 93 yards of offense overall.

Top ranked Roosevelt earned a statement win last week; rolling Holy Family 49-7.  Big plays were found on both sides of the ball as the Riders collected four turnovers defensively and QB Brock Saya tossed four TDs on the offensive end.  He finished with 187 yards passing with two of the scores pointed to Tucker Peterson. Saya added 56 on the ground; finishing second to Xavier Ramirez (92 yards) in the game.

In addition to the four turnovers, Roosevelt collected four sacks and 11 tackles for loss overall.

This week, they host Pueblo County.  The Hornets are playing their first 3A opponent of the season as they toppled 2A La Junta 24-7 in week one before losing the Pigskin Classic to 4A Pueblo West 48-0 last week.  The offense struggled; committing four turnovers with two of them returned for scores.  Defensively, they faced several short fields and allowed 274 yards.

Pueblo East has an important date with Mesa Ridge.  The Eagles are 0-2 and a third loss might mean they have to win the conference championship to earn a playoff bid.

Both teams have faced 4A #1 Palmer Ridge this year and Mesa Ridge fared much better.  They traded scores with the Bears last week before falling 30-27 while the Eagles were taken out 49-14 in week one.  Those two outcomes give the advantage to the Grizzlies this week.

Mesa Ridge is in position for a breakout year.  They won just one game during COVID but finished either 5-5 or 6-5 in the previous five seasons.  A win over East puts them in position for seven or eight wins, which easily puts them into the 24-team Class 4A playoff bracket.

QB Noah Ramirez is a main reason for the improvement.  He’s thrown for 496 yards with four TDs.  Desmond Burton has nine catches for 163 yards and a score with Tanner Widic next on the receiving charts with seven catches for 147 yards and two scores.

East has produced just 323 yards of offense in their two losses.  CJ Lucero did give the offense a boost last week; throwing for 128 yards and a TD in a loss to Erie.  Oscar Michel-Flores caught three passes for 61 yards and a score.

Conifer heads to Glenwood Springs in a battle of two teams on 2-0 starts.  While the Demons have two solid wins against regular playoff clubs Rifle and Harrison, the Lobos have taken out Skyview (28-0) and Pueblo Central (9-7).

This game could be determined on if Conifer can establish their running game.  All five of their touchdowns have come on the ground including three from Gauge Womack.  He leads the offense with 205 yards rushing.  Nicholas Hudson is next with 185 yards and one score.

Glenwood’s defense faced a strong running game last week against Rifle and limited them to just 139 yards in the 14-6 win.   Teddy Huttenhower leads the group with 23 tackles.  Freshman Mason Markovich has provided instant help and sits second on the list with 14 stops.

On offense, QB Joaquin Sandoval threw for 210 yards and a TD against Rifle.  He gives the Demons offense good balance.  They will face a Conifer group that has forced four turnovers over their first eight quarters.

Green Mountain faces a third straight 4A opponent when they line up against Standley Lake this week.  They’ve split the first two with identical scores; beating Monarch 35-14 in week one and falling to Golden 35-14 last weekend.  The Gators will be a tough out as they moved to 2-0 by outscored Rampart 37-25 in week two.

Both teams feature mainly underclassmen so this is a building block game for later in the season and future years.  Gator sophomore Fulton Jackson threw for 139 yards and three touchdowns and added another 112 yards rushing with a fourth score last week.  Junior Cannon Frost contributed 101 yards on just six carries.

Green Mountain gets most of their offense on the ground with junior QB Zack Wallace picking up 170 yards and two scores and sophomore RB Nowell Dacres adding 150 yards and two TDs.  Most of that total came in week one against Monarch as the Rams offense managed just 95 yards against Golden.

On defense, the Rams gave up 315 yards to the Demons including 197 and four TDs on the ground.  Standley Lake allowed 300 yards to Rampart but intercepted two passes.  Dylan Graham had one of them and also led the group with 17 tackles.

NOTE:  #2 Durango meets #4 Montrose from 4A in another very good matchup involving a 3A program.  Colorado Preps includes that preview in our 4A report this week.

 

CLASS 3A – TOP 10 SCHEDULE

#1 Roosevelt vs Pueblo County

#2 Durango at #4 Montrose (4A)

#3 Mead at #6 Discovery Canyon (THURS)

#4 Lutheran at Battle Mountain

#5 Fort Morgan vs #7 Frederick (Cancelled)

#8 Holy Family – BYE WEEK

#9 Evergreen at Sterling (SAT)