Each week of the six-man season has seen a clash of top-five teams, and this week is no exception. The slate has a rare in-season 1 vs. 2, as Granada and Cheyenne Wells meet on Saturday, with the winner keeping a share of the lead in the South East division. While that is definitely the featured contest this weekend, there are plenty of others with quite a bit on the line.
PHOTO BY BOB SCHECTER
We start with the big fight in Cheyenne Wells (3-0), with both teams coming off lopsided wins last week. The top-ranked Bobcats got a big road win last week at #6 Idalia (2-1), 62-14. Granada (2-0) needed three plays to get on the board, and they didn’t slow down until the mercy clock was rolling in the third quarter.
Dominic Coleman put on a show throwing the ball, completing 15 of 19 attempts for 399 yards and seven touchdowns. His younger brother, Maddox, showed the chemistry that the two have developed over the years, snagging 10 passes for 271 yards and all seven touchdowns from Dominic. Through two games, the elder Coleman has thrown for 566 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Maddox has caught 14 balls for 385 yards and 10 touchdowns.
That duo has also starred on the opposite side of the ball, combining for 29 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. However, head coach Traegon Marquez was quick to point out the efforts of some of the under the radar guys on his squad. Luis Cano is second on the team with 17 tackles and has a team-high three sacks. Bailey Hernandez, the other defensive end, recorded a dozen tackles against Idalia and picked up a sack. On special teams, Ivan Yanez has converted nine of 10 PAT kicks, including all six attempts last week.
If there’s a team in the class who can match athleticism with the Bobcats, it just might be Cheyenne Wells. The Tigers have a number of state track medalists, including Cade Mitchek, who has scored 11 touchdowns this season. That total includes eight on the ground and one apiece as a receiver, punt returner, and kick returner. For good measure, he’s third on the team with 17 tackles, behind Evan Worley and Rogelio Rangel (25 tackles each), and he’s one of eight players with at least one sack. Worley has three to lead the team.
Blake Gilmore, who doubles as quarterback and safety, has completed 12 of 19 passes for 343 yards and five scores, and has two of the Tigers’ five return touchdowns. One of those came on a pick-six in last week’s 69-6 victory over rival Kit Carson (0-3). Rangel is second on the squad with five total touchdowns, one on defense. Jesse Harlow has been successful on 12 of his 17 PAT kicks, while four others on the team have attempted at least one try. They are four out of eight.
This is just the third meeting between the two programs in six-man, as they did not play last year. Cheyenne Wells won the 2019 contest 76-36, while Granada took the win in 2018, 80-64. Dominic Coleman racked up 490 total yards and five touchdowns through the air in the two previous meetings.
Third-ranked Fleming (2-1) visits Pawnee (0-2) on Friday, and the Wildcats will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 46-0 loss to Haxtun in an eight-man contest last week. Both teams lost opponents during the week and were able to fill the gap in their respective schedules by facing each other. Haxtun scored 32 points in the first quarter, the first points allowed by the Wildcats on the season.
Fleming’s offense had been explosive in the first two weeks of the season, as coach John King had used ten different runners, with none getting more than 11 carries. Defensively, the Wildcats had 15 players record tackles in those two wins.
The return of the Pawnee program has gotten off to a bumpy start, with the Coyotes being outscored 121-14 in their first two games of the year. That includes a 55-2 loss to Peetz last weekend. The Coyotes are very young, making this a learning experience.
Fifth-ranked Briggsdale (3-0) has the top scoring offense in the class, with 201 points in the first three games. The Falcons have increased their scoring each contest, starting with 56 in week one, 66 in week two, and a season-high 79 last week against Weldon Valley (0-3). After allowing a total of 20 points in the first two games, the Falcons allowed 26 to the Warriors. Briggsdale has two dynamic weapons in the offensive backfield in seniors Braden Krise (QB) and Malik Carlson (RB).
Tasked with stopping that high-flying attack this week is Otis (1-2) who visits on Friday. The Bulldogs dropped their second straight game last week, falling to #4 Stratton (2-1) 57-18. Otis trailed 35-6 at the half and could not make up any ground in the second half. After defeating Weldon Valley in week one, the Bulldogs have been outscored 122-26 the last two weeks. Freshman Tayte Smith has been a bright spot so far, running for 300 yards with six touchdowns. Smith has also tossed a TD pass, and reached the end zone on a pick-six.
Briggsdale has won the last three meetings with Otis, as the teams are facing each other for the fourth straight season. The Falcons claimed a 55-12 victory last year, with Krise throwing for two touchdowns and running for one, while Carlson ran for four and caught another.
Branson/Kim (3-0) is another squad that has seen its scoring output increase each week. The Bearcats posted a season-high 72 points in their home-opener last week. They also held Deer Trail (1-1) to just 14 points in the first game on their new “Field of Dreams”. Branson/Kim jumped out to a 38-6 first quarter lead and then pushed out to a 58-6 advantage by the half. Peyton Cranson reached paydirt on four of his eight carries, and racked up 137 yards. The defense also got in on the fun, recording two safeties, two scoop and scores, and a pick-six.
The Bearcats are on the road Friday to face Cotopaxi (0-2) in a non-league contest. The Pirates are winless, but have only been outscored by a total of 18 points. Most of that gap came in last week’s 37-25 loss at home to Mountain Valley (2-1). Ty Coleman’s play stood out on both sides of the ball, as he ran for 128 yards, threw for 122 with a TD, and racked up a game-high 19 tackles. Add in a 62-yard fumble return and the junior helped keep the Pirates in the game.
This is just the third meeting between the two programs, with each owning a close victory in the past. Cotopaxi claimed a 28-20 win in 2018 and Branson/Kim answering the following season, 28-12.
It’s just four weeks into the season and #8 Prairie (2-1) is preparing to play its third North division contest. The Mustangs have claimed league wins over Weldon Valley (53-0) and North Park (65-25) over the last two weeks. They head to Peetz (2-1) on Saturday, looking for a 3-0 start in league play. Andy Long has thrown for 539 yards and eight touchdowns, with a lot of the damage coming to David Speicher, who has caught 12 passes for 342 yards and five scores. Claytin Hove has been the primary threat in the backfield, running for 266 yards and five touchdowns.
Peetz evened its league record with last week’s lopsided victory over Pawnee and the Bulldogs need another win this week to keep their hopes of a league title alive. Mike Kissell has blazed many paths to the end zone, scoring 10 total touchdowns so far. The senior has four touchdowns as a receiver, three on the ground, two on fumble returns, and one on an interception return. The rest of the team has combined for seven touchdowns. Three of those belong to Brayden Weinbender.
Peetz owns a 9-6 record in the series, dating back to 2004, but Prairie has won the last two and three of the last four. Last season, the Mustangs claimed a 67-14 victory, with Hove running for 171 yards and four scores. Hove also threw a 55-yard TD in that contest. Long added two TD passes. Chance Segelke had a TD pass for the Bulldogs.
The South West division title could be on the line when #9 Sierra Grande (3-0) visits Mountain Valley on Saturday. The Panthers have outscored their opponents 194-34 through three weeks, highlighted by last week’s 80-6 win over La Veta (0-3). Sierra Grande got three TD passes from Isiah Chairez, who also ran for two scores and returned a fumble for another touchdown. Damian Ferran ran for two scores, and Lennie Valdez added one on the ground and one on a pick-six. Tyler Kester recorded three sacks, giving the sophomore five on the season.
Mountain Valley bounced back from a week two loss to Cheraw (2-1) to earn its league win over Cotopaxi last week. The Indians got big outings from Tristan Martinez (249 yards, three TD rushing) and Riley Heater (140 yards, three TD passing). Defensively, Kodiak Reigel (15 tackles), Martinez (14 tackles), and Jacob Martinez (13 tackles) were all recorded double digit stops.
Sierra Grande has won three of the last five meetings with the Indians, including a 32-13 win last season. Chairez was a difference maker in that contest, rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns.
Outside of the top-ten, Cheraw looks to stay unbeaten in the South East when the Wolverines visit Kit Carson on Friday. The Wildcats are in search of their first victory of the year. Also in that division, Eads (1-2) hosts Walsh (1-2) with both teams needing a victory to have any shot at a league title.
