Green Mountain’s trip to Palisade is the lone top 10 matchup in Class 3A this week and the outcome is extremely important to the overall playoff picture. Midway through the season, both teams are in good position to land a berth but the winner on Friday likely ends up as the top team in the Western Slope. PHOTO IS BY GEORGE BROWN.
The game could be a bit more important to #8 Palisade. The Bulldogs dropped to 2-1 last week following a 30-point loss to #2 Lutheran. They remain #9 in RPI and likely in the bracket right now, but a second loss could critically damage their chances. #7 Green Mountain is 3-0 after moving past Eagle Valley and can absorb a loss and remain in strong contention. They currently sit #4 in RPI.
Palisade’s defense couldn’t get off the field in the loss to Lutheran; allowing 709 yards of offense overall. The Bulldogs were down 21-0 in the first quarter and 35-3 at halftime and their offense is not built to come from two or three scores down. They still ran for 241 yards including 136 from QB Gabe Harrison but the Bulldogs as a team did not complete a pass on the night.
Against Green Mountain, the Bulldogs face a defense that allowed just 74 yards rushing in a 35-20 win over Eagle Valley last week. The Rams offense also displayed excellent balance but turnovers hurt them. Jose Cedillo anchored the ground game with 116 yards and two scores. Darius Padilla added 81 yards rushing and also connected on 13 of 20 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, but he also tossed three interceptions. Those mistakes helped keep the Devils close through three quarters.
Following the lopsided win at Palisade last week, Lutheran jumped to #2 in the latest rankings and received three first place votes. It was their second straight impressive victory as they handled Discovery Canyon the week before. Fast starts have been the difference as they’ve outscored opponents 63-0 in the first quarter and have led at halftime by a combined 82 points. The Lions offense has scored exactly 35 points in the first half in all three games this year.
Against Palisade, Clayton Jacobs threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns but also gave away three interceptions. 12 different players had receptions including Colton Thewes who caught two touchdown passes. Ryan Kenny, with 170 yards and two scores, paced the running game. Dorian Pacheco added 91 yards and another touchdown.
This week, the Lions host Pueblo County who saw another explosive offense last week in their 49-21 loss to #3 Durango. The Hornets defense allowed 304 yards and six touchdowns rushing last week and must be better to have a chance at upsetting the explosive Lions. Offensively, the Hornets get about 60 percent of their offense from QB Chase Hartman. Through three games, the senior has produced 613 yards of offense to 434 for the rest of the team. Against Durango, Hartman ran for 101 yards and matched that number through the air. It was the third straight game of reaching the century mark in both categories.
Pueblo County is tied with Palisade for 9th in RPI and a second loss could drop them out of the playoff discussion. Lutheran must avoid looking ahead to a huge league showdown with Holy Family next week. They enter the game atop the 3A RPI standings.
Durango is ranked third by both the coaches and RPI so they’re easily in the playoff bracket right now. The Demons were slated to play Pueblo Centennial this week but when the Bulldogs bowed out, they turned to Evergreen for a week four opponent. It should be a good matchup as the Cougars have won their last two to continue their playoff push.
The quarterback position will draw attention in this one. Durango may have to play without all-state signal caller Jordan Woolverton while Evergreen will have Griffin Lauritano in the lineup for a third straight week.
Woolverton missed the second half of last week’s win over Pueblo County with injury. His status for this week is unknown but a Durango Herald report from Monday listed him as questionable. If he’s out, the Demons will again turn to Ben Finnesmith. The standout receiver caught three passes for 59 yards in the first half and then rushed for 100 yards and two scores on eight attempts while at quarterback.
Lauritano has completed 19 of 35 passes for 280 yards and seven scores in his two starts this season. As you’ve read this year, the senior returned to Evergreen after spending a short time in Georgia. He had transferred there when CHSAA announced football would be played in the spring. He then asked for a return when some football was allowed in the Fall and the transfer was granted. But he will not be able to play in the post-season should the Cougars qualify.
Each signal caller has other weapons to rely on. Evergreen’s running game features Noah Martens who ran for 250 yards in last week’s win over Battle Mountain (41-14). He has over 400 yards in the last two games overall. Carter Cassion has nine catches for 103 yards and three scores. Durango collected 78 yards and two scores rushing from Nate Messier last week and Gage Mestas returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
The game also begins a critical three game second half stretch for the Cougars. They follow up this week with games against Green Mountain and Conifer. Due to that early loss to Palisade, they may need to win all three to get in. They’re #16 in RPI but their schedule strength will get a big boost this week and the following two games.
#4 Pueblo South (1-0) renews its in-city rivalry with Pueblo East (2-1) this week. Both teams have tremendous tradition of late as at least one has played in a state championship game six of the last seven years. Together, they’ve captured four state titles in that span.
South is favored this year. They handled Pueblo Centennial 41-0 in their first game of the season last week. Well rested, the Colts were sharp after missing the first two games with COVID concerns. As expected, they relied on George Longoria who gained 241 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. QB Jace Bellah added 92 yards rushing and two touchdowns along with 143 yards and a score in the passing game. Luke Guarienti caught four passes and John Lopez was on the receiving end of the touchdown pass.
Pueblo East bounced back from the week two loss to Canon City by downing Pueblo Central 26-12. They’re #11 in RPI so they remain squarely in the playoff chase and an upset of the Colts will only boost their chances.
Several other members of the top 10 could score blowouts this week as #1 Roosevelt, #5 Mead, #6 Holy Family and #9 Fort Morgan all line up against struggling opponents.
Roosevelt entertains Battle Mountain. The Riders blew past Thompson 42-0 last week and hope to get another easy win on the books before facing Fort Morgan next week. Battle Mountain has allowed at least 41 points in each game but has played a strong schedule against 5A Ralston Valley, Palisade and Evergreen. Keaton Kaiser with 18 catches and Tanner Peterson with four touchdown receptions form a very good 1-2 outside punch for the Riders. Brig Hartson has thrown 8 scoring passes overall.
Mead heads to Northridge on Thursday. The Grizzlies (0-3) pushed Green Mountain in week one (21-14) but have lost their last two to Mountain View and Frederick by a combined 70 points. They’ve produced just 462 yards of offense so far this year. Mead is coming off a 35-0 shutout of Fort Morgan as Gavin Garrettson tossed three TD passes. Brayden Keys (6) and Nathan Bailey (4) combined for 10 catches and 201 yards with two touchdowns. They each also ran for 30 yards. Hayden Smock caught the third touchdown pass from 42 yards out.
Holy Family is home to Mitchell. They have a common opponent in Discovery Canyon. The Tigers topped the Thunder 29-3 last week and Mitchell came up short 48-14 in game one. Holy Family got 132 yards rushing from Trevin Johnson and 202 passing from Michael White last week. The final score came on a 91-yard TD connection from White to Liam Gray.
Fort Morgan looks to rebound against Thompson Valley. The loss to Mead dropped them to #12 in RPI and right on the playoff bubble. Looming next week is the game with Roosevelt but they must first focus on the Eagles. Thompson Valley has given up 137 points in three games so the Mustangs offense has a chance to get back in stride following last week’s shutout.
#10 Canon City hopes to join the group expecting double digit wins this week. At the start of the week, the Tigers did not have a game on the schedule but picked up a contest with Pueblo Central. The matchup will be played at Dutch Clark stadium in Pueblo on Monday November 2nd (6:00pm).
The Tigers last played two weeks ago and rallied past Pueblo East 21-18; a win that moved them into the coaches top 10 poll. They enter the game tied for 5th with Holy Family in RPI so the Tigers remain a very strong post-season candidate. Central dropped to 1-2 with last week’s loss to Pueblo East (26-12).
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