It’s week five of the football season and big match-ups can be found all over the eight-man map. This includes two clashes of unbeatens and three more where the teams combine for two or fewer losses. PHOTO BY BILLIE CARLSON
Before delving into the upcoming slate of games, one must first look back to the beginning of the week, where two of the top three teams in the RPI met in a “pick-up” game. Top-ranked Sedgwick County (4-0) had its week four game with Caliche (0-3) scrubbed when the Buffs had to cancel due to COVID-19 issues within the district. Holly (2-2), ranked #1 in the RPI, had an opening because of the same problem at Crowley County (3-0). The two got together Monday at Limon.
Sedgwick County wasted little time in establishing its dominance, building a quick 34-0 lead in the first quarter. Two more second quarter scores meant the Cougars had the running clock rolling by halftime, as they went on to a 56-8 non-league victory over the Wildcats.
The Cougars are in one of those games between unbeatens this Friday, as they travel to #3 Merino (4-0) with the Plains crown on the line. Merino enters the contest on the heels of a 44-12 win over Haxtun (1-3) last Saturday. Andrew Frank (209 yards, 2 TDs) and Deacon Trenkle (129 yards, 3 TDs) helped the Rams pile up the rushing yards, but it was Derrick Alber who stole the show with a performance for the record books. The lanky junior picked off four passes in the game, tying him for third place in state history for a single game. The record of five in one game was set in 1974 and matched one year later. Alber became the second player this season to intercept four in a contest.
This will be the first home game of the season for Merino, whose home facilities were just upgraded. The Rams are the last team to hand Sedgwick County a loss, as they beat the Cougars 27-24 in the 2018 regular season finale. Sedgwick County avenged that loss three weeks later, 32-0 in the state semifinals.
Friday also has second-ranked Fowler (4-0) visiting #7 Crowley County with the winner staying in the running for the Arkansas Valley title. Crowley County returned from its COVID hiatus with a 38-6 victory over Springfield (0-4) on Monday, as Adam Schultz ran for 242 yards and three touchdowns. The Chargers’ defense came up with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Case Buford had both of the fumble recoveries, including a scoop-and-score to aid the cause. In three games, Schultz has recorded 675 yards and eight touchdowns to pace the Chargers.
Despite being in the top-five of the coaches poll, MaxPreps rankings, and Packard rankings, Fowler may need the victory more that Crowley County. Heading into the match-up, the Grizzlies find themselves 14th in the RPI. That is because the four teams they’ve beaten to date have a combined record of 1-14. The most recent victory for Fowler came last Friday, as they blanked McClave (0-4) 66-0. Eight different Grizzlies scored a touchdown in that effort.
Fifth-ranked Mancos (4-0) finds itself in a similar position as Fowler. The Bluejays are in solid shape in three of the four metrics used to determine the postseason field, however, they are just 11th in the most recent RPI rankings. That would receive a boost if they are able to knock off #9 Dove Creek (3-1) at home on Friday. Mancos picked up a forfeit from Sangre de Cristo last week, so Friday’s game will be their first action since a 52-6 win over Sargent in week three.
Dove Creek is looking for a bounce back after falling to #4 Sanford (4-0) 36-12 last Friday. The Bulldogs tied the contest at 6-all midway through the first quarter, but a pick-six by Sanford’s Kelton Gartrell late in the second quarter sparked an 18-0 run that gave the Indians all the momentum they would need. That was one of four interceptions thrown by Chorbin Cressler on the day. He did run for more than 100 yards and also tossed a TD pass. Hayden Gray recorded 17 tackles to lead the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs can still earn a share of the Mountain division title by bumping off Mancos and then having the Bluejays beat Sanford next week. As they enter this contest looking to end a four-game skid to the Bluejays, Dove Creek sits right on the fringe of a playoff spot.
Sixth-ranked Rangely (4-0) can take a huge step toward not only nailing down the Northwest crown on Friday, but a victory at home over Vail Christian (2-1) would nearly lock up a postseason berth for the Panthers. The only metric in which they are outside of the top eight is the Packard, where the Panthers were ninth ahead of the updated rankings due out on Wednesday. Vail Christian was third. Rangely cruised to a 44-6 win at home last Friday over Hayden (0-4) with Zane Varner rushing for 179 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Richens added 101 yards and a TD.
The Saints have picked up two straight wins since a week one loss to Dove Creek, the latest being a 56-18 decision over Soroco (0-4). They have alternated wins and losses in the past four meetings with Rangely. The Saints took last year’s contest 34-22, but no one who touched the ball on offense is back this season. Varner went for 128 yards and a rushing touchdown for the Panthers.
A surprising 12-6 loss at home to Dolores Huerta Prep (2-2) last Saturday dealt a blow to the playoff chances of Pikes Peak Christian (3-1). It knocked the Eagles out of the coaches poll, and out of the top 10 in the MaxPreps rankings. When the updated Packard rankings are released, there is a good likelihood that the Eagles will tumble from last week’s #7 position. The Eagles failed to complete a pass last week, and the ground game averaged less than four yards a carry. Andrew Harris scored the only points for them in the game with a rushing score.
The Eagles now visit Swink (3-1) on Friday and they’ll be facing a Lions squad that must win out to have any shot at reaching the postseason. The Lions are part of a four-way tie for the top spot in the Southern division and come into the contest riding the high of a 60-0 non-league win over Denver Christian last week. Matthew Mendoza had a career day with 311 yards and five scores on the ground. That came one week after running for 290 yards against Dolores Huerta. The senior went over 3100 yards for his career. Swink is just 1-3 against PPC, having dropped the last three with the Eagles.
Dolores Huerta and Calhan (2-2) hook up on Saturday with both teams facing an uphill climb to qualify for the postseason. Both are in the double digits in all four points of data and would need a ton of help. However, a win guarantees that one of these teams will finish no worse than .500 on the season. The Scorpions have won a total of three games over the last five seasons, while Calhan is coming off a 4-4 campaign last year. The winner also maintains a share of the Southern league lead.
Other games to keep an eye on this weekend include Elbert (3-1) at Byers (2-2) on Saturday and Lyons (2-2) at Simla (3-1) the night before. The Cubs can ill-afford a loss in their non-league battle against the Lions.
