In Attendance: Week Nine Preview
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Week nine kicks off tomorrow, meaning the end of the season is just around the corner. Several big-time games are going on this week, and this article will preview the match-ups I will attend and the players on the radar.…
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Continue ReadingWeek nine kicks off tomorrow, meaning the end of the season is just around the corner.
Several big-time games are going on this week, and this article will preview the match-ups I will attend and the players on the radar.
I will not be attending a game on Thursday of this week.
#20 Fossil Ridge (7-1) at #24 Fairview (7-1) | Friday, October 21, 2022 | 7:00 P.M.
The Fossil Ridge Sabercats will travel down to Boulder to take on the Fairview Knights in a match that may decide the league’s outcome. The Sabercats are coming into this game on a streak of six-straight wins, whereas the Knights will be looking to get their sixth-straight win from this contest.
Pregame Perceptions
This game is intriguing because of how evenly matched these two teams are on paper. With both teams having high-powered offenses that are successful on the ground and in the air, the game’s focus will be on the defenses.
The Knights are a young team with many juniors and sophomores among its ranks, giving the Sabercats a slight edge in experience. The questions coming into this game will focus a little more on whether or not Fairview’s offense can keep Fossil Ridge’s defense on the field and on their heels while avoiding turnovers; and if the Knight’s defense can keep the Sabercats’ offense from getting comfortable.
Fossil Ridge’s Top Players
Colton Pawlak | 2025 QB/RB/ATH | 31 of 62 for 488 YDS, 7 TD, 5 INT; 115 CAR, 964 YDS, 13 TD
Jake Toshcoff | 2025 RB | 69 CAR, 511 YDS, 4 TD
Trek Keyworth | 2023 WR | 42 REC, 644 YDS, 4 TD
Theo Frericks
Theo
Frericks
DL
Fossil Ridge | 2023
State
CO
| 2023 DE | 40 TCK, 7 TFL, 5 sacks, 5 QB HUR, 1 FMB REC
Ryan Pollyea | 2023 CB | 48 TCK, 1 sack, 3 INT, 2 FF, 1 PBU
Other Sabercats to watch
Domenic Leone | 2023 WR
Michael Doyle | 2023 WR/DB
Julian Smith | 2023 DE/OLB
Fairview’s Top Players
Rowan Risner
Rowan
Risner
6'2" | 195 lbs | QB
Fairview | 2024
State
CO
| 2024 QB | 131 of 219 for 1,760 YDS, 17 TD, 9 INT
Zach Lewis
Zach
Lewis
6'2" | 220 lbs | LB
Fairview | 2023
State
CO
| 2023 LB/RB | 80 TCK, 9 TFL, 2 FF, 2 QB HUR, 1 sack; 105 CAR, 716 YDS, 9 TD; 12 REC, 79 YDS, 3 TD
Jordan Rechel
Jordan
Rechel
5'11" | 165 lbs | WR
Fairview | 2025
State
CO
| 2025 WR/ATH | 38 REC, 620 YDS, 5 TD; 51 CAR, 475, 4 TD
Ryder Villarreal
Ryder
Villarreal
6'0" | 205 lbs | LB
Fairview | 2025
State
CO
| 2025 LB/QB | 66 TCK, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 QB HUR, 3 PBU, 1 FMB REC
Wyatt Keegan
Wyatt
Keegan
5'8" | 150 lbs | DB
Fairview | 2025
State
CO
| 2025 CB/WR | 34 TCK, 16 PBU, 2 INT, 1 FF
Other Knights to watch
Ben Holly
Ben
Holly
WR
Fairview | 2024
State
CO
| 2024 WR/ATH
Brock Kolstad
Brock
Kolstad
6'0" | 215 lbs | LB
Fairview | 2025
State
CO
| 2025 LB
Diego Valdiviezo
Diego
Valdiviezo
5'11" | 180 lbs | DB
Fairview | 2024
State
CO
| 2024 SS
Conifer (3-4) at Littleton (5-2) | Saturday, October 22, 2022 | 1:00 P.M.
The Conifer Lobos will be traveling to Littleton to take on the Lions in the third league game for both teams. The Lobos are coming off a hefty loss to Green Mountain, and the Lions are doing the same after playing Evergreen last Saturday. Both teams sit at 1-1 in league play.
Pregame Perceptions
Sitting at 5-2, the Lions are having the best season the program has seen since 2008, when they finished 8-3 on a playoff-caliber season, establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league.
Eyes will be on both teams to see how they bounce back after suffering shutout losses, but the focus will be on Littleton and if they can get back on track with their potent rushing attack. Defensively for Conifer, finishing plays upon first contact will be crucial to stopping the run and preventing successful drives.
Conifer’s Top Players
Wyatt Nichols | 2024 QB | 58 of 110 for 563 YDS, 5 TD, 5 INT
Nic Hudson | 2023 RB/DL | 102 CAR, 438 YDS, 4 TD; 4 REC, 30 YDS; 3 TCK
Evan Clark | 2023 RB/DB | 27 CAR, 93 YDS, 5 TD; 10 REC, 81 YDS, 1 TD; 34 TCK, 5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF
Grady Forsythe
Grady
Forsythe
6'4" | 215 lbs | TE
Conifer | 2024
State
CO
| 2024 TE/DE | 29 REC, 406 YDS, 2 TD; 52 TCK, 4 TFL, 5 sacks, 4 PBU, 1 FMB REC, 1 BLK PNT
Koen Sykes| 2023 LB/ATH | 57 TCK, 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF; 20 CAR, 110 YDS
Other Lobos to watch
Austin Knolmayer | 2023 OL/DL
Jackson Kosar | 2024 WR/DE/QB
Benson White | 2025 TE/DE
Littleton’s Top Players
Tim Higgins | 2023 QB | 61 of 126 for 1,029 YDS, 7 TD, 7 INT
Brycen Mhlanga
Brycen
Mhlanga
5'11" | 205 lbs | RB
Littleton | 2023
State
CO
| 2023 RB/LB | 134 CAR, 1,019 YDS, 16 TD; 5 REC, 60 YDS; 12 TCK
Aidan Lauer
Aidan
Lauer
ATH
Littleton | 2023
State
CO
| 2023 WR/CB/ATH | 27 REC, 540 YDS, 5 TD; 23 TCK, 1 TFL,
Ethan Bird
Ethan
Bird
6'3" | 190 lbs | DL
Littleton | 2023
State
CO
| 2023 DE/TE | 11 REC, 225 YDS, 1 TD; 26 TCK, 3 TFL, 6 sacks
Conor Wherry | 2023 FB/LB/ATH | 39 CAR, 228 YDS, 3 TD; 8 REC, 83 YDS, 1 TD; 20 TCK, 3 INT, 1 PBU
Other Lions to watch
Brady Jenkins | 2023 DL/OL
Colton Gerber | 2024 OL/DL
Armando Jimenez
Armando
Jimenez
5'11" | 180 lbs | LB
Littleton | 2024
State
CO
| 2024 SS/RB
Other notable week nine games
There are more than a few games kicking off this week worth watching. Here is a look at my top runner-up games and a name to know from each team.
Bear Creek (5-3) at Standley Lake (5-3) | Thursday | 4:00 P.M.
Adrian Rico – Bear Creek – 2024 QB
Blake Stout
Blake
Stout
RB
Standley Lake | 2023
State
CO
– Standley Lake – 2023 RB/ATH
#17 Loveland (7-1) at Windsor (5-3) | Thursday at 7:00 P.M.
Garrett Harstad
Garrett
Harstad
6'5" | 195 lbs | ATH
Loveland | 2023
State
CO
– Loveland – 2023 QB/RB
Jaden Thomas – Windsor – 2023 RB
#23 Montrose (6-2) at Mesa Ridge (6-2) | Thursday at 6:00 P.M.
Blake Griffin
Blake
Griffin
5'9" | 195 lbs | RB
Montrose | 2024
State
CO
– Montrose – 2024 RB
Bryce Riehl – Mesa Ridge – 2025 QB
#21 Legend (5-3) at #4 Regis Jesuit (5-3) | Thursday at 6:30 P.M.
Alex Martinez
Alex
Martinez
5'9" | 180 lbs | RB
Legend | 2024
State
CO
– Legend – 2024 RB
Hayden Moore
Hayden
Moore
6'4" | 195 lbs | LB
Regis Jesuit | 2023
State
CO
– Regis Jesuit – 2023 LB
#1 Cherry Creek (7-1) at #13 Arapahoe (5-3) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Blake Purchase
Blake
Purchase
6'4" | 230 lbs | DL
Cherry Creek | 2023
State
CO
– Cherry Creek – 2023 EDGE
Charlie Eckhardt
Charlie
Eckhardt
6'2" | 180 lbs | WR
Arapahoe | 2024
State
CO
– Arapahoe – 2024 WR/DB
#2 Valor Christian (6-2) at #8 ThunderRidge (8-0) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Gabe Sawchuk
Gabe
Sawchuk
5'10" | 165 lbs | RB
Valor Christian | 2024
State
CO
– Valor Christian – 2024 RB/DB
Aiden Olshan – ThunderRidge – 2023 LB
Fruita Monument (6-2) at #9 Broomfield (8-0) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Corben Rowell – Fruita Monument – 2023 QB/ATH
Cole LaCrue
Cole
LaCrue
6'2" | 190 lbs | QB
Broomfield | 2023
State
CO
– Broomfield – 2023 QB
The Academy (6-1) at Berthoud (5-2) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Isaiah Eliot
Isaiah
Eliot
5'10" | 175 lbs | QB
The Academy | 2023
State
CO
– The Academy – 2023 QB/ATH
Alex Larson – Berthoud – 2024 RB/LB
Thompson Valley (5-2) at Northridge (6-1) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Riley Suarez – Thompson Valley – 2024 QB
Cooper Rose – Northridge – 2024 QB
Denver South (7-1) at Far Northeast (4-4) | Saturday at 1:00 P.M.
Chevelle Early
Chevelle
Early
RB
Denver South | 2024
State
CO
– Denver South – 2024 RB
Dre’Monti Jackson
Dre’Monti
Jackson
ATH
Far Northeast | 2023
State
CO
– Far Northeast – 2023 ATH