“It’s kind of funny,” Aidan Atkinson admitted.
It is and in multiple ways.
For one, a program assistant predicted Class 5A Fairview would have the best passing game in the nation this season. Atkinson, a junior quarterback, remembers saying “yeah, OK, whatever …”
In fact, the 17-year-old Atkinson through nine weeks has thrown for 3,750 yards. The total heads the U.S. by some 529 yards.
For another, he has established Colorado marks for single-season touchdown passes (53) and single-game 11-man passing yards (687, Sept. 27 against Legacy). And to date, he’s 234-of-374 (63 percent) with only seven interceptions.
However, he said, “at Fairview, kids don’t care what you do in sports. It keeps you humble.”
For another, he estimates 15 universities have shown solid attention, although “I don’t really have an interest for that type of stuff. I know a lot of kids do, but …”
Atkinson, 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, said he’ll get into it at the end of the season.
And for still another, he didn’t know or dream any of this would occur, including earning the starting job a year ago against an older player who clearly was the favorite … and who subsequently transferred.
“It’s pretty cool,” Atkinson said. “To think about all of the great quarterbacks that came out of Colorado and all of the great names and the great athletes … to be up there in the same sentence with them is pretty cool.”
It’s about the Knights owning the red zone, said head coach Tom McCartney, the current dean of 5A coaches at one school (26th year at Fairview), who has gone deep into the playoffs primarily rushing or primarily passing.
“When we get down close, last year we fed the ball to Mariano Kemp (running back now at CSU-Pueblo), who had 26 touchdowns,” he said. “This year, Aidan has been very efficient in that zone to where he keeps throwing a lot of touchdown passes.
“We like all four of our receivers and when we get certain matchups, (Atkinson) has been just really, really good in that red zone.”
Just like Atkinson, Fairview’s Fab Four of targets also have video-game numbers. Bryce Desjardins has 59 catches for 1,041 yards and 20 TDs. Ashton Nichols is at 55-692 and six TDs. For Matt Greenwald, it’s 49-945 with 11 TDs. And the one junior, Henry Blackburn, he’s at 43-787 and 15 TDs.
And to think the regular season has yet t be completed …
McCartney admitted he sometimes has forgotten to call a running play. And why would he? In one game, he said, he realized he was about to go an entire half without a rush by his team. So he called one, his team jumped offside and he went back to a passing play.
So, yes, he’s pleasantly surprised about Atkinson’s Air Show.
“Absolutely,” the coach said. “For me, when it was his first game last year and we played Horizon — and I have a ton of respect for (Hawks) coach (Frank) Ybarra — we looked up after the game and he had thrown for 375 yards. We thought, ‘Wow! He’s a sophomore!’ As we went through the season, we were just relay impressed with what he was doing.
“This year, he’s doing what I would call another level-type of thing and with our four receivers, those five have been just tremendous. It’s just one of those times where really, really good players are playing together.”
Atkinson, who’s equally concerned about keeping his grade-point average at or above 4.0 — he’s at 3.9 — will lead the 8-1 Knights against Fort Collins; Rocky Mountain at home in Boulder on Friday night in the Front Range League. He credits his offensive line and receivers for being in the weight room and withstanding the pounding. He feels they are ready to challenge for a state title against the likes of heavyweights Cherry Creek, Columbine, defending state champion Pomona and Valor Christian.
Indeed, he acknowledges his numbers, “but the team is the bigger goal, winning a state championship.
“It definitely would be cool tin win.”
As Colorado wraps up its 5A regular season, several other offerings are labelled below for your viewing pleasure:
Best bets …
Eaglecrest (8-1) vs. Cherokee Trail (7-2), Thursday, 7 p.m., Legacy Stadium
A lot going on here in the Metro East — both trail league-leading Cherry Creek, so an Eaglecrest victory secures at least second place, perhaps more; the Cougars can force a three-way tie for second with a victory. … Head-to-head in the series, the Raptors have won the past two, but had dropped seven of the previous eight. … Raptors QB Dylan James not only leads 5A in rushing (1,523 yards with 23 TDs), but stands third among all seven classes. It’s very unusual for a big-school QB. … Eaglecrest also stands second in 5A scoring (368 points). … Coach Joe Johnson’s Cougars are coming off a 35-14 loss to Cherry Creek and are 1-2 after a 6-0 start. They had been within 21-14 late in the third quarter. … QB Jayden Lavigne threw two TD tosses to Sean Roberts.
Cherry Creek (9-0) vs. Grandview (8-1), Friday, 7 p.m., Legacy Stadium
The Metro East belongs to Cherry Creek with a victory. If Grandview wins, a slew of possibilities include a three-way tie for the league title. … Cherry Creek’s schedule, always one of the best in Colorado, has proven difficult of late. In addition to the Wolves, the Bruins beat Eaglecrest by a point in Week 7 and Cherokee Trail by 21 the past week. If you’re keeping track, the three, including Grandview, are a combined 23-4. … Not that it’s a secret, but the Bruins — and everyone else — will try to stop RB Jordan Billingsley, who scorched Overland for 244 yards rushing and five TDs. In all, the Wolves rushed for 327 yards. … The Bruins stand third in points permitted (97) and Grandview is sixth (115).
Ralston Valley (7-2) vs. Pomona (6-3), Friday, 7 p.m., North Area Athletic Complex
The winner of the Metro West matchup is runner-up, the loser will finish third. … A week after falling to undefeated Columbine 29-14, Ralston Valley regrouped and whipped Lakewood 51-19. … Mustangs junior QB Walker Brickle was a very efficient 11-of-17 for 159 yards for three TDs last week, two to junior Ben Takata. … RV had eight players attempt a rush and eight catch a pass. … Pomona, the defending state champion, is beaten up with an assortment of injuries and dropped a 35-13 decision last week to Columbine. … The Panthers ran only 40 plays to Columbine’s 64. … Dominic Bettini and Riley Welch, both seniors, ran for TDs.
ThunderRidge (7-2) vs. Castle View (7-2), Friday, 7 p.m., Douglas County Stadium
The Metro South winner here will earn second place; the loser will have to accept third. … This is the kind of late-season, south-metropolitan matchup residents have pined for and now they have it. … ThunderRidge is fresh from a 38-17 pasting against Valor Christian, the league champion. … Senior RB Spencer Lambert has climbed to 1,314 yards rushing and 15 TDs. … Ryan Gilbert, the Grizzlies senior QB, has rushed and thrown for 2,298 yards and had a hand in 26 TDs. … Castle View enters having won its past three games, all against foes with losing marks, and each victory attains a new SaberCats height in the 5A ranks. … Clearly, first-year coach Todd Casebier, well-regarded on the Western Slope in lower ranks, is making a difference.
Also keep an eye on …
Arvada West (6-3) vs. Columbine (9-0), Thursday, 6 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium
The Rebels, who have secured first in the Metro West, and senior QB Logan DeArment are seeking their second undefeated regular season in four years.
Douglas County (1-8) vs. Regis Jesuit (5-4), Friday, 7 p.m. Lou Kellogg Stadium
The Raiders have clinched the South, but getting to .500 after a 1-4 start and finishing the regular season in strong fashion would be big for players such as Kiahn Martinez, who had 156 yards rushing and three TDs the past week in a 45-14 whipping of Fountain-Fort Carson.
Fountain-Fort Carson (5-4) vs. Doherty (4-5), Friday, 7 p.m., Garry Berry Stadium
The winner here is second in the South and loser third. Plus, finishing with a winning record and playoff positioning are on the line.
Highlands Ranch (3-6) vs. Valor Christian (9-0), Friday, 7 p.m., Valor Christian
The Metro South already belongs to Valor. Eagles senior QB Luke McCaffrey leads the team in passing and rushing (and has a hand in 22 TDs), but the Valor defense also tops 5A (just 43 points allowed), has registered four shutouts and permitted double figures once, last week.
Westminster (7-2) vs. Smoky Hill (9-0). Friday, 7 p.m., Stutler Bowl
Go ahead, give Smoky Hill an asterisk for being in a league of struggling programs, but the Buffaloes and junior RB Obasanjo Sanni (1,689 yards rushing, 16 TDs) won’t care. They’re going for an undefeated regular season after not having a winning record over the past 27 years.
