Mountain Vista High School quarterback Austyn Modrzewski rebounded after a tough loss to Ralston Valley (13-7) in the opener with a big game on Aug. 25.
The 6-foot-5 190-pound junior threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-34 win over Heritage. In the loss, Heritage senior signal-caller Kurt Rossner threw for 381 yards, and five touchdowns for his 4A squad.
Modrzewski will try and keep his momentum going when the Golden Eagles face Fort Collins on Thursday night. The Lambkins are coming off a 56-21 drubbing to Ponderosa in their season opener.
Top rushing performer: Mathias Price (Fountain-Fort Carson) was nearly unstoppable as the Trojans opened their season with a 49-18 win over Falcon. The senior carried the ball 17 times for 191 yards and two scores. His 11.24 yards per carry isn’t quite the best on the team as Terence Morris sits at just over 40 yards per carry. He ran the ball three times for 121 yards and three touchdowns.
Receiver Props: Joining the spotlight last week were receivers – Heritage’s Tanner Terch (263 yards, and 3 TDs) and Ponderosa’s Max Mervin (217 yards, 2 TDs).
Class 5A
Valor Christian (0-1) at Pine Creek (1-0), (Fri. 7 p.m.)
Coming off a tough 24-21 loss to Regis Jesuit in their season opener, things will not get any easier for Valor. The Eagles will meet perennial power Pine Creek. Pine Creek (1-0) is ranked No. 3 in 5A, and Valor is No. 5. Pine Creek had a 10-3 record in 2022 and reached the 5A state semifinals. Pine Creek was supposed to open the season last week against out-of-state Las Vegas, but the Nevada-based program was forced to forfeit. Valor QB Asher Weiner played well at Regis but came up short against the Raiders.
Grandview (1-0) at Fossil Ridge (0-1), (Fri. 7 p.m.)
Grandview QB Liam Szarka threw for 201 yards and two scores as his squad rolled past Overland (48-6). Chris Blanks (100 yards rushing) also had big opener and he and Szarka will try and keep things going against Fossil Ridge, which suffered a close loss to Loveland (28-26) last week. Junior receiver Marcus Mozer paced Fossil in the defeat with six catches for 68 yards and one touchdown.
Class 4A
Palmer Ridge (1-0) at Mesa Ridge (1-0), (Thurs. at 7 p.m.)
Colorado Springs will be the site of a key early-season battle. Palmer Ridge QB Derek Hester was responsible for four touchdowns in his team’s comeback win over Montrose (28-27) last week. Look for Hester to find receiver Jimmy Weir against Mesa Ridge. Weir had 107 yards receiving against Montrose. Mesa Ridge had an eight-win season a year ago and has bigger aspirations in 2023 and had a 57-0 trouncing against Kennedy to start the season.
Erie (0-1) vs. Mullen (0-1), (Fri. 7 p.m.)
The Tigers came into the 2023 season considered one of the top teams in 4A and they began the season with a tough defeat, losing at Vanguard in Ocala, Fla., 26-20. Now, Erie, back in Colorado, will clash with Mullen, which is coming off a 56-6 defeat to Columbine in week one.
Class 3A
Holy Family (1-0) vs. Broomfield (1-0), (Fri. 7 p.m.)
This game will be a great measuring stick. Holy Family is a stout 3A squad coming off a 28-8 win past ranked 3A team Frederick. Holy Family will square up against one of 4A’s best in Broomfield. The Eagles won 42-14 over Longmont in their opener. Holy Family is going to have to find a way to contain Broomfield’s Colin Torres, who ran for 188 yards and three scores against Longmont.
Pueblo East (1-0) vs. Pueblo Central (0-0), (Fri. 7 p.m.)
Pueblo East, a fixture as the 3A state champ not long ago, started its season right by drubbing Cheyenne Mountain (35-13). Receiver Izaiah Trujillo, a junior, led the way for the Eagles with five receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Pueblo Central muscled past Alamosa 40-12 in its opener. The Cats are fueled by 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back Amari Brown. Brown had 181 yards rushing against the Mean Moose and four scores.
