Week 3 games to watch in Colorado
As the regular season hits the midway point for high school football in Colorado this week, the intensity is heating up. With only eight teams making the playoffs, undefeated teams are looking to stay perfect for the best chance at…
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Continue ReadingAs the regular season hits the midway point for high school football in Colorado this week, the intensity is heating up. With only eight teams making the playoffs, undefeated teams are looking to stay perfect for the best chance at getting in and teams with one loss are looking to avoid a second that could ultimately prove to be fatal for their playoff hopes.
Plenty of good games have been played so far and some critical games are on the slate this week. Here is a look at some of the top games across Colorado for Week 3.
Pomona vs. Ralston Valley, Class 5A, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
There are a number of games in Class 5A that are enticing, including this one between No. 4 Pomona and No. 6 Ralston Valley. Pomona has had back-to-back shutout wins to start the season and has been a strong defensive unit as a whole, led by linebacker Juju Howard with his team-high nine tackles. Where Pomona has excelled so far on offense is in the run game with an offense averaging 300 rushing yards per game and with three backs already with 100 yards or more this season. Look for Jack Popsil to try and lead the run game with Anthony Devries Anthony Devries 6'0" | OL Pomona | 2021 State CO leading the way along a strong, physical offensive line. On the other side is Ralston Valley and its strong defense that has only allowed three points through two weeks. Bubba Harr has flown all over the field and leads the team with 17 tackles, but keep an eye on Marquel Collins, a disrupter with three sacks through two games. Ralston Valley has a balanced offense with quarterback Zach Friedman throwing for 294 yards and four touchdowns by spreading the ball to multiple receivers, and they can run the ball thanks to a strong offensive line led by Wilson Clark Wilson Clark 6'5" | OL Ralston Valley | 2021 State CO and Austin Brown Austin Brown 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Johnston City | 2022 State IL . This should be a physical, competitive ball game.
Kit Carson vs. Cheyenne Wells, 6-man, Oct. 24, 1 p.m.
This 6-man game features two darkhorse contenders for the state championship. Both have had success in the regular season over the last few years and are hoping to take a step further in the playoffs if given the chance. Cheyenne Wells is ranked No. 4 and has an athletic playmaker in Evan Worley to watch. He leads the team with 281 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns and 19 tackles on defense. When Cheyenne Wells throws the ball, they have hit big plays to Dillon Ball with a team-high six receptions, but it’s his five sacks on defense that has been a spotlight for the team. Keep an eye on sophomore Alex Mitchek for Kit Carson, who saw the field as a freshman and is being asked to play a bigger role on both sides of the ball this season. Kit Carson is ranked No. 3 in the polls, and one of these two teams will suffer their first loss of the season in this important game.
Platte Valley vs. Sterling, Class 2A, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The defending state champs in Class 2A lost a big senior class, but the Sterling Tigers have proven there is plenty of talent remaining this fall. The Tigers have been solid on defense and do a good job in pursuit and gang tackling. Peyton Rose has assisted on 31 tackles, Keaton Knaub Keaton Knaub 6'3" | DL Sterling | 2021 State CO leads the front line with three sacks, and Tucker Myers is the playmaker on the back end in the secondary and already has an interception and a return for 55 yards. Defense has helped Sterling win versus Brush and Eaton, but they will be tasked with slowing down a Platte Valley offense that has scored 34 points in each of its first two games this season. Kade McDaniel is a dual-threat quarterback who can make plays with his arm and his legs for Platte Valley, and he has a couple of good receiving targets in Jordan Korte and Devyn Lauer. The battle between the Platte Valley offense versus Sterling defense should be a fun battle to watch in what looks to be the biggest game of the season in the Patriot League.
Delta vs. Woodland Park, Class 2A, Oct. 26, 6 p.m.
We’ve talked about Delta quarterback Nolan Bynum Nolan Bynum 6'1" | QB Delta | 2021 State CO and his playmaking ability, and so far in 2020 he has put that on full display. In two games, he has completed 28 of 47 passes (59 percent completion rate) for 463 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 82 yards and three more scores. Colbi Braslin has been a favorite target with nine receptions for 223 yards and provides a tall, lengthy receiver with a solid 6-foot-5 frame to throw to. So far, Delta has overcome a slow first half to win against Bayfield and then beat a top 10 team in University last week, a game both teams scheduled against each other at the last minute due to COVID-19 impacting their opponents. Woodland Park has proven to be a sneaky good team with two wins so far over Alamosa and Elizabeth, and they will be looking to prove they are legit by beating a top 10 team on its home field. Tight end Bryson Cox Bryson Cox 6'3" | TE Woodland Park | 2021 State CO is an intriguing small-school prospect and already has 11 receptions for 92 yards and a score. Looking to slow down the Delta offense will be linebacker Darren Grenger, a physical and versatile defender who flies all over the field. Delta looks to continue building on early momentum while Woodland Park tries to get a signature win in this battle of unbeatens.
Mead vs. Fort Morgan, Class 3A, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
Mead lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Roosevelt last week, but they are still highly thought of after sitting No. 5 in the polls this week. Nathan Bailey Nathan Bailey 5'9" | RB Mead | 2021 State CO has hit some big plays in the run game and leads the offense with 144 rushing yards, but it’s a committee approach running the ball with 11 players carrying the ball so far this season. On defense, cornerback Corby Tecu Corby Tecu 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Mead | 2022 State CO leads the back end while defensive end Will Tenore gets pressure and stops the run along the front. They will look to stop an undefeated Fort Morgan team that has dominated the second half of games against Mountain View and Frederick they won. Frank Ortega is shifty in the open field and can get to the next level to lead the run game, and quarterback Briggs Wheatley Briggs Wheatley 5'10" | QB Fort Morgan | 2022 State CO is having an impressive start to his junior season with 392 passing yards with a 62 percent completion rate, 215 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. Defensive end Eddie DePriest will be the man to try and slow down the Mead offense for Fort Morgan.
Legend vs. Regis Jesuit, Class 5A, Oct. 23, 6 p.m.
Regis Jesuit lost its former starting quarterback in the summer, but the offense has chugged along and put up 34 and 42 points in the first two games. They have primarily moved the ball on the ground with a speedy back in David Dody David Dody 5'11" | RB Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO , who has 207 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. They are strong up front with lineman Anthony Tocchini Anthony Tocchini 6'4" | OL Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO and Alexander Bruns Alexander Bruns 6'3" | OL Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO anchoring a strong group. The defensive line is just as impressive with Clay Nanke Clay Nanke 6'6" | DL Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO , a top-20 prospect in the Class of 2021 according to Prep Redzone Colorado, as well as Matthew Baer Matthew Baer 6'1" | DL Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO and Nunie Tuitele Nunie Tuitele 6'4" | DL Regis Jesuit | 2022 State CO . Legend joins the top 10 polls this week and is also 2-0 thanks to a defense that has shutouts in both games so far. Jaxon Muma Jaxon Muma 6'1" | DB Legend | 2021 State CO leads the defense with 16 tackles and is a great defender in the passing game with three interceptions as well. J.T. Alexrod at linebacker is another defender to watch. On offense, check for Connor Eise to carry the workload in the backfield, quarterback Kalen Shoemaker Kalen Shoemaker 5'10" | QB Legend | 2021 State CO to show off his accuracy (79 percent completion rate through two games), and an offensive line led by James Betschart James Betschart 6'5" | OL Legend | 2021 State CO to lead the way blocking. This could shape up to be a close ball game against top 10 teams.
Other notable games
Cherry Creek vs. Grandview, Class 5A
Strasburg vs. Banning Lewis Prep, Class 1A
Erie vs. Windsor, Class 4A
Pikes Peak Christian vs. Simla, Class 8-man
Meeker vs. Hotchkiss, Class 1A
Durango vs. Pueblo County, Class 4A
Green Mountain vs. Eagle Valley, Class 1A
Prairie vs. Fleming, Class 6-man
Note: All games and start times are subject to change