6MAN FOOTBALL – WEEK 6

Only two ranked teams lost last week, and both of those came against teams ranked higher in the polls. That leads to a week where the top six were unchanged, and only one new team made its way into the top 10. This week’s schedule is highlighted by a second straight clash of unbeatens in the South East, with the division title likely on the line.
Cheyenne Wells (5-0) held steady at #4 in the polls after last week’s 76-36 victory over previously unbeaten Granada (4-1). The Tigers scored 22 points in the second quarter and 24 in the third to pull away from the now ninth-ranked Bobcats. Kyle Nelson hit nine of 10 passes for 139 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers, who also received more than 100 yards rushing from Cade Mitchek and Quade Pelton. That pair each scored twice on the ground. Cheyenne Wells had five different players catch TD passes.
Challenging the Tigers this Saturday will be top-ranked Kit Carson (5-0), who took a 60-21 win over Cheraw (3-2) last Tuesday. The Wildcats had a comfortable 33-6 lead at halftime of that victory. It was the 13th time Kit Carson had beaten the Wolverines in as many tries since 2004.
Kit Carson has won four of six meetings with Cheyenne Wells, including a 64-0 decision last year. Jayden McCombs-Farmer had five touches on offense and scored three times for the Wildcats. Pelton recorded eight tackles for Cheyenne Wells, six of them solo. Both teams are 2-0 in the league, so the winner will most likely go on to claim the South East crown, and a first round home game in the playoffs.
That division also has an important contest between the two teams that lost to those squads last week, as Granada hosts Cheraw on Friday. Granada enters the week tied with Walsh (2-3) for third in the league, and Cheraw is a game back. The Wolverines currently sit 12th in the RPI and a win would help solidify their chances of securing a postseason spot. Granada is ninth in the RPI, while Walsh is 10th, so as many as five teams from the South East could reach the playoffs. Last year saw the first meeting between the Bobcats and Wolverines, won by Granada 61-20, with Caleb Dorenkamp scoring three times on the ground.
Another important game as far as the RPI goes has #8 Branson/Kim (5-0) hosting #10 Cotopaxi (4-1) on Saturday. Both are in charge of their respective divisions, with the Bearcats leading the South Central and Cotopaxi on top of the South West. Branson/Kim took care of La Veta (0-5) 70-6 on the road last week, behind three Finn Warner rushing touchdowns. The defense recorded four takeaways, and scored on a fumble return by Koy Pickard.
The Pirates received a forfeit from Cripple Creek-Victor last week, so they have not had any action on the field for two weeks. Had it not been for a lightning delay in week two, and the ensuing decision to call the game in the final minutes to allow North Park to get on the road, Cotopaxi could be unbeaten entering this week’s game. They trailed 45-40 and were about to get the ball back when the delay occurred. The Pirates had outscored North Park 28-7 in the fourth quarter to get back into contention.
Cotopaxi won the only previous meeting with the Bearcats, 28-20 last year. Tyler Sawyer ran for 150 yards and three scores, and caught another TD for the Pirates. Warner supplied all of the scoring for Branson/Kim in that match-up, recording a rushing touchdown and another on a kick return, converting both PAT kicks, and hitting a field goal.
Second-ranked Fleming (5-0) took command of the North division with a 60-20 victory over #6 Prairie (3-2) last week. The Wildcats trailed 14-6 at the half and outscored the Mustangs 30-0 in the third to seize control. Kade Comstock hit seven of 12 passes for the Wildcats, with five touchdowns. Three of those went to Eric Resendiz, who also intercepted a pass. Brady Kuntz added a pair of return touchdowns, one on a fumble and the other on a kick-off.
Fleming faces an out-of-state challenge this week, taking on Encampment (WY) on Friday in Briggsdale. The Tigers are 2-1, playing a freelance schedule in Wyoming.
Prairie will look to rebound when it hosts Otis (1-4) on Friday. The Mustangs had won two straight over ranked teams prior to that loss last week, beating Briggsdale (who just fell out of the top 10) and #7 North Park. They face on Otis squad that has dropped two straight, including a 54-14 contest against #3 Stratton/Liberty (4-1) last week. The Bulldogs won a wild 64-59 shootout last year, but both teams have a much different look this season.
Stratton/Liberty looks to improve to 2-0 inside the East Central on Saturday when the Knighted Eagles host Idalia (0-5). It’s a mismatch on paper, with the hosts averaging better than 53 points, and Idalia surrendering almost 65 a game. Last week, they were on opposite sides of mercy rule games. Stratton/Liberty led Otis 40-0 after one quarter and 54-6 at the half. Charlie Clapper had 153 yards and two scores on the ground for the Knighted Eagles, who also got a pair of punt return TDs from Jaret Lichty.
Idalia trailed #5 Flagler/Hi-Plains 42-6 at the end of the first quarter last Saturday and 58-12 at the half. The clock started in the mercy rule phase with 2:37 to go before intermission. The Wolves would go on to lose 66-26. Over the last three games, they have allowed 206 points. Last season, they lost to the Knighted Eagles 59-22, but it was 52-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
Zayd Banks threw for 239 yards and five touchdowns in that win over Idalia last week, hitting Nick Schroeder twice for scores, including a 55-yarder on the first play from scrimmage. The Thunder starters watched the second half from the sideline. This Friday, they will be in action against Arickaree/Woodlin (1-4) who got its first win of the season last week against Kiowa. The Indian-Mustangs scored a season-high 48 points, while allowing a season-low 26 in the victory. Arickaree/Woodlin won last year’s contest against the Thunder, 54-28, but lost the two prior meetings 64-42 and 82-16.
North Park used a strong second half to down Peetz (2-3) 63-26, outscoring the Bulldogs 37-14 after the break. That gave the Wildcats a share of third in the North ahead of this week’s game against Weldon Valley (0-5) on Saturday. Eli Houston (156 yards) and Destry Schmidt (122 yards) powered the rushing attack against Peetz, with each scoring three touchdowns. They also had an interception apiece, with Houston returning his for a score. Will Martin added a pick-six on defense, too.
The Wildcats have won five of the last six encounters with Weldon Valley, and six of seven overall. Last year, they cruised 78-26, creating four takeaways, returning one for a TD. Coy Groves had a defensive score for the Warriors in that contest.
Briggsdale is tied with North Park for third in the division and the Falcons host Peetz on Friday, having won their last two outings this season. That includes a 70-12 win over Weldon Valley last week. Peetz saw the return of Sterling Sorensen from injury last week, allowing Cooper White to focus more on his regular running back position. White ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns, and hauled in four passes for 103 yards and a TD in last year’s 101-85 win over the Falcons. Ty Blickem threw for 386 yards and eight touchdowns for Briggsdale in the loss.