As the days get shorter, the importance of each game grows larger. No less than six games this week will have a major impact on the chase for one of the eight postseason spots. PHOTO BY KARIANNE DONNELSON / OT SPORTSCHEK
Before getting into this week’s slate, one game last week helped rewrite the CHSAA record book. When #4 Granada (4-0) held off seventh-ranked Cheraw (3-1) 67-60 last Friday, eyes immediately turned to the stats sheets. Dominic Coleman, Granada’s junior QB, and Cheraw’s Cade Phillips, each tossed seven touchdowns in the contest. Those performances put each player into a share of third place for single game TD passes.
But, when combined, the 14 scoring passes set a new state record, surpassing the previous mark of 12. Additionally, when you factor in their numbers from week three and week two, both Coleman and Phillips crack the top 20 for TD passes in two straight games, and three straight games.
Granada was still trying to finalize a game with Sierra Grande (3-1) as of early Thursday morning. The Bobcats were originally supposed to square off with Walsh (1-3) this weekend, but that game was scrubbed on Wednesday. Sierra Grande was trying to fill the date for the third time, as contests against Cripple Creek-Victor (0-3) and Weldon Valley (2-2) were both lost. Weldon Valley went into a quarantine on Wednesday.
If officials are lined up, the game will be played on Saturday in Granada. The Bobcats had a real wild one on their hands the last time they were on their home field, as they scored 30 second quarter points to lead Cheraw 37-20 at the half last week. Cheraw bounced back with a 34-point third quarter and led 54-45 heading into the final frame. Granada then took a fourth quarter lead and held on for the seven point victory. Coleman finished with 294 passing yards to go with his seven TD tosses.
Sierra Grande edged Walsh 45-30 last week, with A.J. Ojeda throwing for 272 yards and three scores, while also adding 87 yards and one TD on the ground. Isaih Chairez was his favorite target in the contest, as the duo connected seven times for 122 yards and a touchdown. Richie Atencio recorded a game-high 15 tackles. The game with Granada carries a ton of weight for the Panthers, who enter the week in the teens in all four metrics.
Cheraw still finds itself on the fringe for a playoff spot. The Wolverines are seventh in the coaches poll, but only ninth in the MaxPreps, 11th in the most recent Packard rankings, and #12 in the RPI. Friday’s game against Manzanola (1-3) is not likely to help them much in any of the metrics. They will be facing a Bobcat squad that picked up its first win of the season last week.
Behind five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) from Daniel Escareno, Manzanola survived a 53-50 affair with Branson/Kim (1-3). The Bobcats led 53-24 going into the fourth quarter, and then had to hold on for dear life. Blake Williams caught a pair of TD passes and also scored on a kick return, and Dalton Carroll also returned a kick for a score.
The biggest contest on Friday looks to be #3 Cheyenne Wells (4-0) visiting sixth-ranked Eads (3-1) inside the East division. Cheyenne Wells stayed perfect on the season with a 45-6 non-league win over Genoa-Hugo (2-2) on the road last Friday. Evan Worley ran for 161 yards and three scores, including a 69-yarder on the second play of the game to lead the Tigers on offense. Defensively, Ty Scheler posted a game-high 13 tackles that included two sacks. Dillon Ball also registered a pair of sacks in the win.
In what has been a bit of a rarity this season, Eads will actually be playing their regularly scheduled opponent this week. Two weeks ago, the Eagles had their game with Hi-Plains canceled because of COVID issues at HP, and last week, Kit Carson had to back out because of injuries. Eads picked up games, and victories, at Idalia (73-23) and at Cotopaxi (64-20). In last week’s win over the Pirates, Damien Barnes ran for 164 yards and four touchdowns, and added another as a receiver. Zach Fowler had two sacks included in his eight tackle performance.
Both teams are in the top eight of all four data points, with Cheyenne Wells being in the top three of each one. The Tigers must avoid looking ahead to next Saturday’s clash with #2 Stratton/Liberty (4-0) that could be for the divisional crown and possibly the top overall seed. For Eads, a win this week greatly improves their playoff chances.
Top-ranked Fleming (4-0) is very much in the running for the top seed for the postseason, and a win on Friday against #8 Briggsdale (2-1) would help the cause of the Wildcats. Fleming is ranked first or second in all four metrics entering this week’s game on the road. They picked up a 68-19 at home over Peetz (2-2) last week, and while most of the drama was removed early with a 24-0 first quarter, those who stayed until the finish were rewarded with a record-tying feat.
After Peetz scored late in the game, the Bulldogs kicked deep to Fleming’s standout returner, Brady Kuntz. Few have elected to go that route this season, and Kuntz showed why as he took the kick back 57 yards for his 10th career touchdown. That tied the all-time state record, set 24 years ago by Simla’s Tad Eurich. Kuntz has had two opportunities to return a kick this season, and both have gone for scores.
Briggsdale will be well rested, as the Falcons have not played since beating Peetz 73-39 on October 23rd. Braden Krise threw for more than 200 yards and three scores in that one, and Malik Carlson added 199 yards and five scores on the ground. The Falcons really need to spring the upset to give themselves a shot at the postseason, as they sit eighth or worse in all four data points. They have dropped 14 of the last 15 against Fleming, with the lone win coming back in 2013.
Should any of the top teams stumble, the winner of Friday’s game between North Park (2-2) and Peetz could be in line for the final playoff spot. Both are in the 10-14 range in most of the metrics, so the winner will keep slim hopes alive.
The same goes for Genoa-Hugo, as the Pirates host Deer Trail (0-2) on Friday. The Pirates actual find themselves in pretty solid position right now, but the two remaining games, beginning with this week, will hurt them in the RPI. They must win out to stay alive.
Stratton/Liberty has had a rollercoaster ride the last couple weeks. The Knighted Eagles saw their week four contest with Hi-Plains moved from last Friday to this past Monday, to accommodate the Patriots who were coming out of quarantine. Then, just hours before the slated kickoff, the game was awarded to the Knighted Eagles by forfeiture. They were supposed to play Kit Carson this weekend, but the Wildcats are still dealing with too many injuries, so the void was filled with a non-league trip to Hanover (2-2) on Saturday.
Fifth-ranked Prairie (3-1) is coming off a 63-22 victory over North Park last Saturday, in which Andy Long threw for a career-high 350 yards and five touchdowns. The Mustangs host Arickaree/Woodlin (2-2) on Saturday in non-league play. They look to be a lock for the postseason, sitting top five in all four data points, but a loss to the Indian-Mustangs could make week six very interesting for the Mustangs.
