North Fork High School, the newly formed combined school between Paonia and Hotchkiss, picked up its first victory in its football program’s history on Friday, topping Center 42-8.
The Miners scored all 42 of their points in the first half while eight players — Mordecai White, Drayden Taylor, Blaine Peebles, Hayden Moreno, Hunter Moreno, Malikhi Hamilton, Diezel Balko and Ace Connelly — combined for 228 yards rushing on 24 carries.
Elsewhere in 1A, Grand Valley topped Olathe 42-8. Steven Hicks completed 7 of 9 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, while adding two more scores on the ground.
Roaring Fork fell 50-20 to Ignacio.
CLASS 2A
Moffat County opened its 2021 campaign with a dominating 42-0 win over Northfield. Senior quarterback Ryan Peck was 14-for-19 with 197 yards and two touchdowns while Evan Atkin rushed for three scores.
In other action, Delta blanked Summit 27-0 behind a balanced rushing attack from Nathan Scharnhorst, Timothy Horn and Esai Carrillo.
Basalt beat Woodland Park 35-6 on a three-touchdown day from junior quarterback Kade Schneider, two of which were pulled in by Sam Sherry.
Aspen topped Colorado Springs Christian 42-21.
CLASS 3A
In a cross-classification contest between two former league rivals, No. 6 Palisade (3A) pummeled No. 5 Rifle (2A) 35-3.
The Bulldogs had three dominant rushers and totaled 380 yards on 32 carries. Phallen Salvati tallied eight carries for 160 yards and three touchdowns, including a 76-yard score. Quarterback Malakhi Espinosa had eight carries for 105 yards, and Rhett Ward had 10 touches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs renew a second cross-class rivalry next week when they face Grand Junction Central.
Elsewhere in 3A, Eagle Valley eked out a 38-30 victory over Thomas Jefferson in overtime, putting up two scores in the extra period.
Battle Mountain fell to Evergreen 35-6, with Kai Ogawa rushing for the Huskies’ lone touchdown.
Glenwood Springs hammered Harrison 41-13 and Steamboat Springs topped Valley 28-15.
CLASS 4A
In match-up of former Southwestern League foes, No. 7 Montrose thumped Central 46-6.
The Indians scored all their points in the first three quarters, powered by a balanced rushing attack. Fullback Austin Griffin had eight carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Tayne Ila added two more scores on five carries and 55 yards. Quarterback Bridger Kurtz found Ethan Hartman for a 57-yard score and, earlier in the game, Hartman scored on the ground from 30 yards out. Kohen Booth added a 40-yard field goal to the mix.
Central’s lone score came on a 95-yard kick return by Justin Blanton.
In other action, Fruita Monument flew by Highlands Ranch 42-17. Wildcats quarterback Corben Rowell was 6-for-7 passing with 158 yards and one touchdown. The junior added a 1-yard score on the ground and finished with six carries for 38 yards. Fruita was anchored by Armony Trujillo, who ran 21 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
Grand Junction lost to Coronado 36-7. Isaiah Biochic, who started the game at running back before stepping in at quarterback, had the Tigers’ only score with an 8-yard touchdown run.
VOLLEYBALL
Meeker, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A, started its season strong with victories over Coal Ridge (3-1), Telluride (3-1) and Dolores (3-0).
In the first two of those matches, Sophomore Emma Luce combined to finish with 48 kills, 10 aces and four blocks.
Olathe also picked up a trio of victories, beating Rangely 3-1, Cedaredge 3-2 and North Park 3-0. Sophomore Sadie Shea had eight aces across the weekend and paced a balanced attack that included Daisey Ibarra, Tyra Gray, Sieanna McCall and Angelina Bollinger.
Plateau Valley finished 3-1 on the weekend, beating Rangely, Hayden and Lotus School for Excellence before falling to Class 3A Rifle. Against Rangely and Hayden, Sophomore Meloni Miller combined to finish with 15 kills and Sierra Piland added 13 kills.
Caprock Academy had a five-set victory over Rangley, taking the fifth set 15-5.
CLASS 3A
In addition to Rifle’s victory over Plateau Valley, the Bears also beat Grand Valley, Rangely, De Beque and Hayden to improve to 5-0.
Across those games, senior Kimber Lang had a team-high 49 kills. Mady Berglund had 77 digs while Kristyn Mentink had 95 assists and 20 aces.
North Fork won twice over the weekend to improve to 3-1. The Miners topped Telluride 3-2 and swept Dolores 3-0.
Against Telluride, North Fork was led by senior Izzy Houseweart, who had 14 assists and 14 digs. Payton Fister chipped in a team-high 19 digs.
During the match against Dolores, junior Delilah Vasquez finished with nine kills.
Moffat County split the weekend with a 3-0 loss to Little Snake River (Wyo.) and a 3-1 win over Gilpin County. During the victory, four players finished with six kills or more: Olivia Profumo, Abbe Adams, Cayden King and Lizze Lewarne.
Coal Ridge swept Roaring Fork, where Peyton Garrison and Lydia Dye chipped in seven kills apiece.
CLASS 4A
No. 10 Palisade opened the weekend with a 3-1 loss to Montrose. The Indians’ upset was paced by seniors Kelsey Rocco and Madisen Matoush, who combined for 30 of the team’s 45 kills.
The Bulldogs, however, rebounded with a pair of 3-1 wins over Steamboat Springs and Overland.
Eagle Valley swept Grand Junction Central to remain undefeated on the season.
CLASS 5A
Fruita Monument swept Overland and Lakewood on the road and has yet to drop a set this season. Against Overland, senior Hayden Murray led the way with 13 assists, four aces and three kills. Against Lakewood, Jillian Buck finished with 13 kills and BayLea Sparks added 11 kills.
SOFTBALL
Senior Kennedy Vis pitched a no-hitter for Grand Junction Central in an 11-0 win over Poudre on Saturday. Vis struck out seven batters and walked only one across five innings. On offense, the Warriors were paced by Olivia Litzen’s three-run double.
Central also beat Fort Collins 1-0 one day earlier. Litzsen drove in the eventual winning run in the fifth inning.
Fruita Monument went 2-1 on the weekend with wins over Heritage and Liberty, and a loss to Pueblo South.
CLASS 4A
Rifle split with Montezuma-Cortez. The Bears 13-11 in game one and rebounded with a 15-6 win. During the victory, Emma Speakman, Myia Valencia, Jadyn Petree, Hailey Worton and Emma Poole had multiple hits.
Montrose split a doubleheader with Durango, winning the first game 8-6 before losing 13-6.
CLASS 3A
Gunnison took home one win and one loss against Basalt. During the 11-7 victory, the Cowboys fell behind 2-0 in the third before scoring nine runs across three innings to pull ahead.
Tahlayn Fee and Melita Ferchau finished with two doubles apiece.
BOYS SOCCER
No. 2 Coal Ridge beat a pair of Denver opponents and secured a first-place vote in the latest CHSAANow.com poll.
The Titans opened the weekend with a 2-1 victory over KIPP Denver Collegiate. Caleb Thompson and Ezra Williams scored the goals.
Coal Ridge also beat Kent Denver 3-0, with Thompson, Williams and Alan Quezada finding the net.
Palisade fell 6-0 to Montrose but bounced back with a 9-0 win over Montezuma-Cortez, where Silas Ford led the Bulldogs with four goals.
Glenwood Springs topped Delta 5-0, paced by a hat trick from Dylan West.
CLASS 4A
During Montrose’s 6-0 against Palisade, Quincy Cooling had a hat trick, while Aiden Harrel added two goals and two assists.
CLASS 5A
Grand Junction Central beat Montezuma-Cortez 7-1 in its season-opening game. Senior Alfonso Banuelas led the Warriors with five goals on nine shots.
Freshman Oscar Fuentas had three assists.
