As the calendar turns to Week 2 of the high school football season, there are plenty of storylines making waves in the big classifications of the sport.
A star quarterback is putting up big numbers and there are some standout teams looking to do big things as the year progresses.
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Austyn Powers
Mountain Vista QB Austyn Modrzewski is one of the top players in Class 5A and he lived up to his billing against Arapahoe last week. Modrzewski powered the Golden Eagles to a 35-0 win and threw for four touchdowns and this season he has thrown for 627 yards and 10 TDs.
Up next for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Modrzewski is another big test when the Golden Eagles, who are ranked No. 2 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll, travel to Erie to take on the Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday.
Arvada West headed in the right direction
After scoring 99 points through two games, date with Fairview offers first big test. This week the Wildcats face Fairview at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. A-West has been paced by junior running backs Adrian Symalla (263 yards and 3 TDs) – second in the state to Glenwood Springs’ Mason Markovich (320 yards) – and Jaiden Green (238 yards and 4 TDs).
Cyclone Curtain
Historically, Class 4A Pueblo West (2-0) has always been a smashmouth football team and garnered plenty of success along the way. So far this season, the Cyclones defense has yet to give up a point in its two wins over Loveland (42-0) and Pueblo County (41-0).
West, ranked No. 4 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com rankings, will get a stiffer test when it entertains a highly touted 3A team in Pomona (1-0). Emmitt Munson leads the Pomona with 173 yards rushing and one score.
Games to keep an eye on:
Class 5A
No. 3 Columbine (1-0) at No. 5 Legend (2-0), (Fri., 7 p.m.):
Columbine was celebrating a Class 5A state title last December and the celebration continued into Week 1 of 2024 with a 40-15 victory over ThunderRidge. The Rebels have won 15 games in row. Legend, meanwhile, is coming off a strong 21-14 win over a talented Grandview squad. Legend is paced offensively by senior running back Jaden Lawrence (137 yards and two touchdowns) and junior Ryken Banks (107 yards rushing and three touchdowns).
Class 4A
Arapahoe (0-1) at No. 6 4A Heritage (1-0), (Sat., 11 a.m.):
Arapahoe got hit with two tough games to start the 2024 season. Arapahoe got blanked by No. 2 Mountain Vista (2-0) and now will take on talented Heritage squad.
Senior William Cacy leads the Arapahoe offense with 207 yards rushing and three TDs. Heritage begins a seven-game stretch against teams that all were in the playoffs in 2023.
Class 3A
No. 1 Holy Family (1-0) at No. 4 Roosevelt (1-0) (Fri., 7 p.m.):
This is a huge early-season match-up in 3A. Top-ranked Holy Family is coming off a 41-6 drubbing of Northridge in its season opener. HF’s Anthony Scott has 156 yards and one score, and Browen Wills has 104 yards and 1 TD. Roosevelt is fresh off a 28-20 win over Northfield to begin its season. Senior running back Luc Vigil stepped up big in his team’s win over Northfield, carrying the ball 16 times for 192 yards and two scores.
