Last weekend’s season-opening slate was highlighted by a pair of top 5 clashes. Neither really lived up to the billing, as Kit Carson won a championship rematch with Stratton/Liberty (48-14) and Fleming dominated Idalia (65-12). There is another top 5 match-up this week, as #3 Stratton/Liberty visits #4 Prairie.
The Knighted Eagles opened the season ranked #1 in the CHSAA polls, but the lopsided loss to Kit Carson cost them two spots this week. They are without the services of last year’s leading rusher, Jaret Lichty, who suffered a sprained MCL leading up to last week’s game. Trevor Frank filled that role against the Wildcats, gaining 120 yards on the ground and 58 as a receiver, scoring a pair of first half touchdowns for the Knighted Eagles.
Prairie had no troubles dispatching Hanover in its opener, running out to a 36-0 first quarter lead en route to the 58-18 victory. Mitch Dollerschell completed four of his five pass attempts, good for 79 yards and a touchdown to help the Mustangs to the victory. The defense did its part, recording four takeaways. Erik Lebsock recorded two of them, with a fumble recovery and an interception. Arek Wulf added a special teams TD on a kick return.
Stratton/Liberty pulled away from a 22-16 halftime lead in last year’s meeting to claim a 66-23 victory. Both teams have a much different look this year, as the Knighted Eagles lost six key contributors, while Prairie lost nine seniors.
Thursday afternoon will have a clash between #8 North Park and Cotopaxi, who leads the group of “others receiving votes” this week. North Park used a stout defensive effort to claim a 36-8 victory over previously eighth-ranked Arickaree/Woodlin. Brock Follett led that charge with 25 tackles, 18 of the solo variety. The senior also provided three offensive touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving. Eli Houston added 99 yards on the ground and Destry Schmidt supplied 89 yards. Both scored a touchdown.
Cotopaxi rolled to 43 first half points on its way to a 61-18 win over Edison to kick-off the season. Tyler Sawyer amassed 215 yards and three touchdowns in the ground game, but it was freshman QB Ty Coleman who stole the show. Making his high school debut, Coleman hit five of seven passes for 144 yards. All five completions went for touchdowns. Frank Ogden scored three times and Jonah Bertolino, twice. Liam True led the defense with seven tackles and two sacks.
Last season, the Pirates outscored North Park 18-7 in the fourth quarter to earn a 36-27 comeback victory. Sawyer scored three times in that contest, twice on the ground and once on a kick return.
Thanks to their victory over Stratton/Liberty last week, the Kit Carson Wildcats are the new #1 team this week, receiving all seven first place votes. Jayden McCombs-Farmer went for more than 150 yards on the ground and reached the end zone three times in the contest, including a 71-yard screen pass that opened the scoring. The two big blows in the contest came in a very short span. Cordell Farmer scampered 39 yards for a go-ahead touchdown as time expired in the first half, and three plays in the second half, Joe Bryan returned an interception 20 yards for another score.
The Wildcats will make the trip to La Veta on Friday, where they’ll face a Redskin squad that dropped a 42-14 decision to Sierra Grande last week. Zamir Holguin supplied both touchdowns for La Veta, with one in the rushing game and the other on special teams, and the senior led the team with 14 tackles. To avoid an 0-2 start, the Redskins must do a better job against the pass, as they gave up 274 yards and six touchdowns to the Panthers.
Kit Carson claimed a 73-6 victory over La Veta last year, with most of the damage being provided by the defense and special teams. The Wildcats scored six non-offensive touchdowns in that contest, two on interceptions, two on kick returns, and one apiece on a fumble return and a punt return. They scored 16 non-offensive touchdowns last season.
With its dominating victory, Fleming climbed one spot this week to #2. Brandon Williams had a very productive night against Idalia, on both sides of the ball. The powerful senior rushed for 154 yards and three scores on just four carries, and also recorded two interceptions. One of those went back for a TD. Chris Goss wreaked havoc on defense, registering 10 total tackles, nine solo, and causing a fumble that was recovered by freshman Nolan Japp.
The Wildcats will visit an Arickaree/Woodlin squad that struggled to generate much offense in its loss to North Park. The Indian-Mustangs did create two fumbles on defense, but they had issues stopping the power running attack of the boys from Walden. That, coupled with Fleming’s style of offense, could spell bad news. Plus, the Wildcats will be looking to avenge last season’s 26-20 loss to the Indian-Mustangs.
Fifth-ranked Cheyenne Wells posted an impressive 58-8 victory over Otis last week, giving new head coach Myles Smith his first win. The Tigers will look to make it two straight to open the campaign as they host Genoa-Hugo on Saturday. The Pirates were upended by new #10 Eads 61-37 last week. Genoa-Hugo got 133 yards and three scores on the ground from Wyatt Miller, and 102 yards and two more scores through the air from Colby Simmons, but their defense just could not stop Damian Barnes, who rolled up 280 yards and six touchdowns on just 13 carries.
Eads can match last season’s win total with a victory over Manzanola on Friday. The Bobcats dropped a 24-18 decision to Granada last week, being outscored 12-0 in the second half. Axel Escareno threw for 135 yards in the loss.
Flagler/Hi-Plains (#6) and #9 Briggsdale had to wait out a lengthy weather delay last Friday. The Thunder outlasted the lightning and the Falcons to claim a 40-39 victory. The teams combined for 39 fourth quarter points after being tied at 20 heading into the final frame. Chris Hile threw for 120 yards on five of seven passing, and Zayd Banks rushed for 100 yards to pace the Thunder. Nick Schroeder reached the end zone three times, twice as a runner and once on a pick-6.
Flagler/Hi-Plains will host Walsh (0-1) on Saturday, while Briggsdale hits the road for a Friday afternoon affair with Sierra Grande. The Falcons will have to contend with a Panther offense that rolled up 446 yards in the win over La Veta. A.J. Ojeda threw for 274 yards and six touchdowns, three apiece to Caleb Scharsch and Isaiah Chairez. Chairez tallied 195 yards on eight catches. Lennie Valdez came up with two of the team’s four takeaways.
The last game featuring a ranked team has #7 Peetz hosting Otis (0-1) in a fight between two sets of Bulldogs. Peetz blitzed Weldon Valley last Thursday, 59-28, The defense set the tone, snagging eight takeaways. Nolan Hill came up with three of the five interceptions, and Brayden Weinbender recorded a pair of fumble recoveries.
