It took two overtime periods, but Eagle Valley held on to defeat University 38-30 and secure its first 3-0 start since 2015.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Devils stretched their lead to 22-6, only to see it evaporate in the third quarter. Tied 22-22 headed into the fourth, neither team found the end zone, forcing extra periods. The teams traded touchdowns, then Eagle Valley added another score before a stop on defense to close out the win.
It was the Devils’ second overtime victory of the season, coming after a 38-30 extra-time win over Thomas Jefferson in Week 1.
Elsewhere in Class 3A, another team is off to a hot start for the first time in several years. Steamboat Springs defeated Coal Ridge 24-6 to move to 3-1, the first time it has won three of its first four games since 2009.
The Sailors scored twice on special teams — a blocked punt recovered for a TD by Austin Moore and a 45-yard field goal from Charlie Reisman — and quarterback Jake Hamric threw for two touchdowns.
Battle Mountain picked up its first win of the season with a 43-34 decision over Aspen, anchored by a big day from Kai Ogawa. The junior ran for 156 yards and three scores on 19 carries.
The rest of the 3A Western Slope Conference lost, with Glenwood Springs falling 34-14 to Basalt, Summit dropping a contest against Kennedy 35-22 and Palisade losing to highly touted 4A opponent Montrose.
CLASS 4A
Montrose, ranked No. 5 in the latest CHSAANow.com poll, scored five times in the first three quarters and limited a potent Palisade rushing attack to just 164 yards on 35 carries during the 35-7 victory.
The Indians were paced on offense by Austin Griffin, who scored four touchdowns and rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries. Griffin has scored 13 touchdowns in four games, which is tied for first in the state across all classifications.
The Bulldogs didn’t have a rusher cross the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, after having two players reach the century mark in each of their first three games.
Grand Junction Central beat cross-town rival Grand Junction 19-7. After falling behind 7-0 in the third quarter, Warriors quarterback Devin Hickey scored on the ground three times to secure the win.
Fruita Monument fell 28-7 to No. 4 Chatfield, with Calvin Nycum notching the Wildcats’ lone touchdown.
CLASS 2A
Freshman quarterback Ty Reed threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Delta past Montezuma-Cortez 49-8. Senior running back Timothy Horn added two more scores. The Panthers’ defense accounted for the three remaining scores, with Konner Workman and Alex Ward housing interceptions, and Hunter Goff scooping up a fumble for a score.
Rifle defeated Faith Christian 42-10, led by a pair of rushers crossing the century mark: Toto Fletchall and Trey Caldwell.
CLASS 1A
No. 6 North Fork walloped Olathe 55-0. The Miners split 11 carries between eight players, with three players finding the end zone on single touches: Hunter Moreno (70 yards), Blaine Peebles (55 yards) and Mordecai White (50 yards). Diezel Balko chipped in his score with 42 yards across three carries.
North Fork scored twice on interception returns from Drayden Taylor, as well as a pair of punt returns from White and Peebles.
Grand Valley topped Roaring Fork 35-14 to improve to 3-1. The Cardinals got a standout performance from quarterback Steven Hicks, who threw for two touchdowns. A trio of backs — Emilio Garcia, Kaden Sheets and Brayden Harper — each scored on the ground.
Meeker defeated Cedaredge 40-6, led by the 11 carries, 146 yards and three touchdowns from senior running back Kelton Turner.
Gunnison beat Dove Creek, normally an 8-man program, 24-14.
VOLLEYBALL
Meeker swept Rangely and topped Cedaredge 3-1 to remain undefeated on the season. The Cowboys are now the top-ranked team in Class 2A, led by Emma Luce. The junior had 46 of her team’s 70 kills across the two matches. She added in a team-best 48 digs as well.
Plateau Valley improved to 9-2 with a pair of wins over Vail Christian and Vail Mountain. The Cowboys were led by Sierra Piland in the sweep of Vail Christian, where she finished a team-high 10 kills and three blocks.
West Grand swept Olathe and Hayden to push their winning streak to eight matches.
CLASS 3A
Delta swept Moffat County, led by double-digit kills from Erika Kuta and Ellie Ames, who added 13 blocks and five aces.
The Bulldogs rebounded the following day by defeating Cedaredge 3-1. Cayden King had 10 kills and three aces to lead the way.
CLASS 4A
Eagle Valley finished 2-2 at a Front Range tournament, with losses to Eaglecrest and Mountain Vista, then wins over Columbine and Legend.
The Devils followed that up with a sweep of Summit on Monday. Anna Gill, Evie Geddes-Boyd and C.J. Yurcak combined on 11 of the team’s 14 aces.
Montrose won a back-and-forth contest with Durango 3-2. Madisen Matoush paced the Indians with 17 kills, while Kelsey Rocco had 11.
The Indians are now 9-2 and prepare for a showdown with fellow 9-2 opponent Fruita Monument.
CLASS 5A
Fruita Monument swept Durango for its fourth consecutive victory. Jillian Buck and BayLea Sparks finished with 14 kills apiece. Kylie Williams and Hayden Murray had 19 assists each.
SOFTBALL
Grand Junction Central reached an 11-3 record after a 10-0 win against Montrose.
The Warriors got a five-inning, one-hit performance from junior Jenna Fraser. On offense, Central compiled 11 hits, drew six walks and stole 10 bases.
Fruita Monument also defeated Montrose, snapping a three-game skid with an 11-0 win. Bailey Bingham had a big day at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI.
CLASS 4A
Montrose rebounded from a pair of Southwestern League losses with a 7-6 victory over Palisade on Monday. In the Indians rallied for six runs in the sixth inning to secure the win.
Eagle Valley defeated Skyline 16-6 in five innings. Freshman Allie Braun had a 2-for-3 day, including a home run, and drove in five runs.
Rifle returned to .500 with a 10-0 win against Meeker. Sophomore pitcher Blayke Hostettler went the distance and allowed only two hits while striking out seven.
CLASS 3A
Delta swept Aspen with 18-2 and 38-1 victories. The Panthers had 18 hits in the first game and 34 in the second. All nine players in Delta’s lineup during the second game finished with three hits or more.
