4A Preview – Week 2

Several matchups of early unbeaten squads fill up the 4A football schedule in week two.  Winners in each game take a huge early step forward in the quest for a playoff berth.

The quickest game may take place out west between #6 Montrose and Fruita Monument.  Both teams want to run the football, control the line of scrimmage and clock.  Each used the strategy to perfection in week one where Montrose scored six times an totaled a whopping 567 yards on the ground in moving past Chatfield 42-13.  Fruita Monument ran for 274 yards and averaged nearly eight yards in a carry in downing Wheat Ridge 42-10.  Espin Hernandez collected 107 yards with three scores and Armony Trujillo added 94 with two TDs.  On defense, Tanner Jolley led the way with 12 tackles while Trujillo and Pelasio Petelo finished with 10 apiece.  Tanner Sawyer also registered three sacks.

A more wide-open affair could involve #9 Fountain Fort Carson at Vista Ridge.  The Trojans and Wolves combined 120 points while beating Coronado (54-0) and Palmer (66-12) respectively.  Facing stronger defenses, neither team will probably hit those marks this week but there should be plenty of points.

Wolves sophomore QB Bradyn Dorman, who already has an offer from Iowa State, tossed five touchdowns in the win.  Three of those went to Brandon Hill who finished with four catches for 107 yards.  Keyon Burris (6-77) also caught a TD pass as did Kyshawn Bridges.  Overall, Dorman hit 27 of 37 attempts for 347 yards.  The defense also forced four turnovers.

Q Jones ran the football just eight times but scored on four of them and picked up 163 yards in leading Fountain Fort Carson to their week one victory.  QB Tavian Tuli also tossed a TD pass and Curtis Jackson picked off two passes returning one for a score.  The Trojans also picked up a special teams touchdown.

Staying down south, the battle between #8 Pueblo West and Air Academy could also get interesting.  The Cyclones tossed a shutout in beating Cheyenne Mountain 42-0 while Air Academy outscored Liberty 50-20.

Maybe the key matchup finds the Pueblo West defense trying to slow down RB Sam Beers.   The sophomore collected over 1,800 yards rushing as a freshman and began this campaign with over 200 in the win over Liberty.  Against Pueblo West last year, he ran the ball 21 times for 150 yards but the Cyclones still grabbed the 42-14 decision.

The outcome is important to Pueblo West as their schedule gets much tougher in the final month where they have games with Fountain Fort Carson, Vista Ridge and Rampart.  So a loss this week would make their playoff trek much more difficult.

Expect a physical and defensive minded game when #4 Broomfield heads to Brighton.  Defenses dominated for both clubs a year ago as Broomfield escaped with a 7-0 victory.  Both squads though were more offensive minded in 2020 season openers with Broomfield holding off Monarch 27-20 and Brighton beating Longmont 32-17.

Cole Lacrue was very effective in his first start as Broomfield QB; finishing with 91 yards rushing and 121 yards passing.  He was involved in four touchdowns including two scoring connections with Josh Dunn.  The defense gave up 242 yards rushing to Monarch’s running game but Hall Edmonds recorded a game-high 16 tackles.

Brighton’s defense surrendered 259 yards passing to Longmont but also intercepted three passes.  They also limited the Trojans to just 50 yards on the ground.  Eli Bowman led the Bulldogs offensive attack; scoring three touchdowns in the win.

Friday is another tough assignment for Heritage as they look to avoid an 0-2 start.  The Eagles allowed over 500 yards rushing in a loss to Loveland last week and now face another run oriented attack at Windsor.  The Wizards picked up 333 yards and averaged nine yards per carry in a 51-8 blowout of Greeley Central.  Kenny Sleeth scored twice while Isaiah Strange earned 96 yards and Jaden Thomas 80.

Monarch and Longmont join Heritage in needing wins this week to remain in the playoff chase.  Unfortunately, the Coyotes and Trojans play each other this week so one tradition-rich program will open 0-2.

Keegan Patterson completed 18 of 37 passes for 259 yards and a score but his three interceptions were costly.  Eddie Kurjak led receivers with six catches for 110 yards.  For Monarch, Cole Carlucci ran for 141 yards and two scores and also paced the defense with 15 tackles.

One boost for Monarch could be the return of Keiran Singh.  He totaled over 1,300 yards rushing as a sophomore but missed last week while battling back from an off-season knee injury.  He could be cleared to play this week.

Top ranked Pine Creek faces another off week as the Eagles finish up a two-week quarantine brought about by positive tests before last week’s scheduled game with Ralston Valley.  The second no contest puts some pressure on the defending state champs as teams must play four games to be playoff eligible.  They will not be able to miss another game over the final month.

#2 Dakota Ridge looks for a 2-0 start when they venture to Bear Creek.  The Eagles rolled up 65 points in an easy home opening win over Grand Junction Central.  Ben Gultig was involved in three TD’s and combined for 192 yards in limited snaps.  Charlie Offerdahl ran the ball just four times but still managed 82 yards and two scores.  Joey Cavallaro (3) and Mason Galbreath (4) combined for seven receptions.  Bear Creek fell to Ponderosa (34-8) and allowed 333 yards on just 36 offensive snaps.

Ponderosa is ranked #5 this week and heads to Grand Junction Central this week.  Jack Hanenberg (10-12) was nearly perfect in the passing game; ending with 156 yards and two scores against Bear Creek.  Cael Porter (88 yards) led the running game while Bradley Romage and Carter Motichika each caught a TD pass.

Three-time defending 3A champ Palmer Ridge moved up to #3 in the 4A rankings this week.  The Bears look for a 2-0 start by hosting Grand Junction.  The Tigers are coming off a tough 19-13 loss to Standley Lake despite 214 yards passing from Peyton Brock.  Palmer Ridge dumped Golden 42-7; getting 345 yards and four TDs passing from Luke McAllister.  Three of those TD connections went to Anthony Costanzo who finished with four catches and 99 yards.  Saxon Wright also scored twice on the ground and topped the defense with eight tackles.

#7 Loveland could have another big offensive day when they host Greeley Central on Friday.  The Indians attempted just three passes against Heritage last week because they rumbled for 532 yards on 65 rushing attempts.  Zac Ratowsky went for 217 yards on 30 carries and Garrett Harstad added 113.  Tyson Williams (81) and Joe Killian (72) combined for another 153.

Skyline (#10) moved into the rankings this week on the strength of their 41-17 rivalry win over Silver Creek.  The Falcons head north to Greeley West for their week two contest.  Key returning seniors Chase Silva and Grayden Bridwell paced the Falcons in week one.  Silva threw for 226 yards and ran for 60 and Bridwell added 135 yards rushing and 62 receiving.  The defense limited the Raptors to just 39 yards rushing and was led by Bridwell, Dilan Bridwell and Oscar Aranday who all finished with eight tackles.  Logan Miller also intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.

Erie did not crack the top 10 this week but the Tigers made a big splash in their 4A debut; rolling Greeley West 52-12.  And an even bigger splash came from freshman QB Blake Barnett.  He directed an offense that generated 553 yards and much of it came from him.  Three of his four completions went for TDs as he finished with 135 yards passing and Barnett also ran for 121 yards and a score on just six attempts.  Senior Mason Veve paced the ground game with 150 yards while Caleb Theisen and Trey Khanna each added 63.