CHSAANow

Category: Fall Sports

  • 5A football semifinals: Boulder, Far Northeast set to battle for Season C title

    (Brad Cochi)

    The first team to emerge from the Class 4A semis was the No. 2 Far Northeast Warriors, who rode their stifling defense to win over No. 3 Vista PEAK. Then on Saturday night, No. 4 Boulder won a low-scoring slugfest against No. 8 Denver East.

    Far Northeast and Boulder will go head-to-head for the trophy when the 5A state championship game begins on Saturday at 7 p.m. at CSU-Pueblo’s Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Stadium

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    (2) Far Northeast 23, (3) Vista PEAK 16

    What started as an uncertain and confusing school year now has a chance to end in a special and potentially historic football season for the Far Northeast Warriors.

    At Evie Dennis Stadium on Friday night, the second-seeded Warriors (5-2) won 23-16 over the No. 3 Vista PEAK Bison (5-3) in the Class 5A state semifinals for the spring Season C campaign. It took an outstanding defensive effort and a late stand against a dangerous Bison offense to get them there, and the Warriors earned a chance to compete for their program’s first state championship on Saturday night in Pueblo.

    “I told my guys that this is a weird year,” FNE head coach Tony Lindsay Sr. said. “Montbello has been to the championship a couple times – like in ’81 – but we’ve never taken state. Aside from remembering the pandemic, you’ll remember what you did during the pandemic. So, to top it off with something like that would be special after all the months and months of everything we’ve had to do just to come out and play football.

    “It’s just awesome.”

    The Warriors’ defense paced their semifinal triumph from start to finish, forcing a sack fumble for a safety on the Bison’s opening drive of the evening and holding Vista PEAK well below its scoring average of 26.75 points per game. The Bison only led briefly in the first quarter when Jaylen Carrizales caught a touchdown pass.

    Both teams were playing with significant injuries to key offensive players. But Far Northeast’s Gregory Anderson was able to overcome his bumps and bruises to run for a long touchdown in the second quarter. Later in the frame, the Warriors forced their second of three first-half turnovers, another sack fumble that Daeontez Thomas returned for a touchdown. Warriors senior Abdullahi Mberwa made a spectacular diving touchdown grab late in the second quarter to send Far Northeast into halftime with a 23-6 lead.

    In the second half, the Warriors fumbled twice and a 28-yard field goal combined with Carrizales’ second touchdown of the game cut the lead to seven. With 2 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the game, Vista PEAK’s Nathan Hunholz blocked a punt at midfield to give his team a chance at a game-tying drive. But the Warriors defense held strong one more time to seal the victory and punch their ticket to the title game.

    “We’ve worked for this all week and all season,” Warriors senior Emmanuel Nwaneto said. “Our defensive coach got us ready and we came out strong. We came out here with 14 dudes. Other teams have us outnumbered. But it’s just the heart and the coaching staff that we have. We just came out here and showed why we’re the best defense in the state.

    “We’re a family and a strong group of individuals, and there’s nothing that can break us.”

    In Saturday’s title game at CSU-Pueblo’s Thunderbowl Stadium, Far Northeast will face the winner of Saturday afternoon’s semifinal between No. 4 Boulder and No. 8 Denver East.

    (Brad Cochi)

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    (4) Boulder 6, (8) Denver East 3

    It has been nearly three decades since the Boulder football team last played for a championship, but that opportunity has finally arrived once again at the end of the Season C campaign.

    On Saturday night at Recht Field, the No. 4-seeded Panthers ground out a 6-3 win over No. 8 Denver East in the Class 5A state semifinals to punch their ticket to the spring title game. The Panthers last won the state championship in 1992, and will have a chance to win their program’s fourth when they take the field at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl next Saturday night.

    “We’ve all had to overcome so much — the community, us personally, with COVID, with everything,” Boulder coach Ryan Bishop told BoCoPreps.com’s Brent New. “Words can’t describe it. I lost my mom in September and I know that she is just so proud, so proud. And that’s what this is about. Overcoming adversity, making this community proud, this school proud, the administration proud.”

  • 4A football semifinals: Thomas Jefferson, Gateway to meet in championship game

    (Brad Cochi)

    In Friday’s first semifinal of the Class 4A football state tournament, No. 6 Gateway continued its run of pulling off late-game upsets with a victory over previously-unbeaten No. 2 Harrison. Then on Saturday afternoon, No. 1 Thomas Jefferson outlasted No. 4 Falcon at All City Stadium.

    In next Friday’s 4A state championship game, the Gateway Olympians will face the Thomas Jefferson Spartans for the trophy at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl.

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    (1) Thomas Jefferson 35, (4) Falcon 21

    Having already squared off in a season opener that was decided by just three points way back on March 19, both No. 1 Thomas Jefferson and No. 4 Falcon knew their rematch in Saturday’s Class 4A semifinals would be a battle.

    This time around, as it did in the team’s first game of Season C, Thomas Jefferson prevailed.

    The top-seeded Spartans pulled ahead early and came up with some timely turnovers on defense to hold off a comeback from Falcon and win 35-21 to punch their ticket to Friday’s state championship game. The Thomas Jefferson football team will now have a chance to play for its first state championship since 1989.

    “If you would have told me six months ago that we’d be playing in the spring and we’d be contending for state, I’d tell you, ‘Nah, you’re lying,’” Spartans freshman defensive back Dimitri Haralambopoulos said. “But we here now, baby, and we still need one more. Obviously, we’re going to enjoy this moment with my teammates, but just watch out for us next week.”

    Playing at All City Stadium, the unbeaten Spartans (7-0) pulled out to a 21-0 lead over the Falcons (5-3) in the first quarter on Saturday. The Falcons, however, cut the lead to 28-21 in the fourth quarter.

    With 5 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game and the Falcons in possession, the Thomas Jefferson defense forced a fumble that gave the Spartans offense the ball at the Falcon 14-yard line. Two plays later, Spartans senior Jaden Hill punched in his fourth rushing touchdown of the game to give Thomas Jefferson a 14-point lead. The Falcons drove down the field on their next drive but Haralambopoulos intercepted a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone to clinch the victory and state title game berth.

    “Our guys on defense did a great job because Falcon is so explosive that they can flip the field, just like we did a few times today,” Thomas Jefferson head coach Mike Griebel said. “Darius McFarland is such a great back and I think we did a good job of containing him. He had a couple big runs that got away from us but he didn’t just go off today. We were resilient enough to hang in there and we found a way to finish. We had a war with them in Week 1 so we knew it was going to be a tough game and our kids were ready for them.”

    (Brad Cochi)

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    (6) Gateway 28, (2) Harrison 21

    The Gateway football team has proven itself in big moments throughout this postseason and continues to work its way through the Class 4A state playoffs’ top seeds in Season C.

    Fresh off a three-point victory over No. 3 George Washington in the quarterfinals, the No. 6 Olympians (5-3) took down the previously-unbeaten No. 2 Harrison Panthers (7-1), 28-21, in the state semifinals on Friday night. Their latest upset earned the Olympians a chance to play for their program’s first state championship at CSU-Pueblo’s Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Stadium on Friday night.

    Gateway scored first, returning a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter, according to MaxPreps.com. But Harrison’s Kahli Dotison and Davonn Stevens each scored rushing touchdowns to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead. Gateway’s Erick Covington scored on a long run just a few minutes before halftime to send the Olympians into the midway break with a 14-13 advantage.

    Covington scored on another long run in the third quarter but Harrison’s Kahar Briggs matched the Olympian’s touchdown to send the game into the fourth quarter knotted at 21-21. A passing touchdown early in the fourth quarter turned out to be the deciding score that sent the Olympians to the 4A title game.

    In next Friday’s 4A state championship game, the No. 6 Olympians will face No. 1 Thomas Jefferson.

    (Courtney Oakes)

  • 3A football semifinals: No. 4 Rifle and No. 2 TCA to meet for state crown

    More photos. (Alan Versaw)

    A showdown is set for the Season C Class 3A football title as Rifle and The Classical Academy will meet at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl on Saturday.

    Each team battled through tough semifinal matchups but emerged victorious and will advance to next weekend. The 3A football title game is set to kickoff on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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    (4) Rifle 20, (1) Glenwood Springs 17 (OT)

    If the Western Slope teams are in the habit of playing in exciting football games, next week will be a treat for the fans as the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl. Top-seeded Glenwood Springs had every bit of hope of reaching the 3A title game, but had to get through a talented and well-coached Rifle team.

    It turned out to be too tough a task.

    The Demons fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter, but quickly tied the game. The two teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter and then the defenses clamped down in the second half as neither team was able to break the tie. Regulation ended with the two teams still locked in a 14-14 stalemate.

    The Rifle defense held Glenwood to just a field goal attempt and then the offense rewarded the effort by scoring a quick touchdown to send the Bears to Pueblo next Saturday.

    It was a satisfying win for the Bears after they had lost to Glenwood 22-15 back on April 16. The Bears were ranked No. 1 in the state at the time and the Demons propelled themselves into that position after that win. But with the Bears getting even, they maintain a chance to end the season as a champion, the definitive accomplishment of a No. 1 team.

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    (2) The Classical Academy 39, (6) Sand Creek 13

    Sand Creek took an early lead on a fumble recovery from Greg Garnett, but TCA’s explosive offense eventually showed up and allowed the Titans to take control.

    Cade Palmer rushed for three touchdowns and helped TCA build a 32-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. TCA eventually added another score to complete the win.

    It was an odd feeling for the Titans as they hadn’t trailed at any point this season and found themselves playing from behind after the first quarter.

    They went 4-0 in the regular season and and gave up just 19 total points in that span. Sand Creek officially gave the Titans their toughest challenge of the season. The Scorpions were ahead after the first and they scored more points than any other opponent that TCA has faced this season.

  • 2A football semifinals: Manitou Springs and Flatirons Academy to meet for title

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    The Class 2A Season C football championship game is set as Manitou Springs and Flatirons Academy won their respective semifinal games and remain alive for next week.

    Flatirons Academy was dominant while the Mustangs came away with a thrilling win that involved heroics in the last couple of minutes of play. The Mustangs and the Bison will play at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl next Friday at 2 p.m.

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    (4) Manitou Springs 20, (1) Buena Vista 17

    BUENA VISTA — With about two minutes left on the clock, Manitou Springs needed a big play. So quarterback Caleb Allen decided to go to the biggest guy. Allen sold a pump fake on a screen pass then watched as Joah Armour raced up the sideline. Allen’s throw was right on the money and Armour hauled it in, then pulled away from the defenders pursuing him.

    His touchdown gave the Mustangs (6-1 overall) a 20-17 and their first chance at a football title since 1990.

    “(Offensive coordinator) Coach (Brandon) DeMatto told me at halftime that I was having a terrible night, straight up,” Armour said. “He said I was going to come out crazy in the second half and with Caleb throwing the ball, it’s hard not to catch it.”

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Allen and Armour connected on two touchdown passes on the night. Haden Camp got Buena Vista on the board first with a touchdown run in the second quarter. A long score from Isaiah Thomas got called back as the Mustangs were flagged for an illegal block in the back.

    The next play, Allen found Armour on a slant and the Mustangs were on the board, but still trailing 7-6 after a failed 2-point conversion.

    The Demons (6-1) added a field goal to increase the lead, but the Mustangs got their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown run from Thomas. Buena Vista scored quickly and took advantage of mental mistake from the Mustangs and recovered the ensuing kickoff.

    The Mustangs escaped trouble as Buena Vista couldn’t run the rest of the clock off and missed its field goal attempt. And that’s when Allen found Armour for an 80-yard strike, a big play that both players badly wanted.

    “It wasn’t just that I wanted it,” Allen said. “We needed it to get that momentum and to get more points on the board.”

    The Demons had one last chance to drive down and either tie the game or take the lead, but a desperation pass was intercepted by Tate Christian to seal the game for Manitou.

    The Mustangs head to the championship game on a six-game winning streak. They fell to Buena Vista in Week 1 but avenged that loss with a thrilling semifinal win.

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    (2) Flatirons Academy 41, (3) Estes Park 6

    (Barry Smith)

    Flatirons Academy remains undefeated on the year after beating Estes Park 41-6 to advance to the 2A title game.

    The two teams had met in Week 1 of Season C and the Bison won the game by just a point. Friday night, they were more polished and gained a fast edge and held on to it.

    This was the first game that Flatirons Academy had played since April 17 after they were on the receiving end of forfeits from Ellicott and St. Mary’s.

  • 8-man football semifinals: John Mall and Hoehne advance to title game

    (Barry Smith)

    The 8-man football title game is set as top-ranked Hoehne will meet No. 3 John Mall at the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl on Thursday.

    Both teams advanced through the semifinals by comfortable margins, setting up a championship game between two deserving programs.

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    (3) John Mall 44, (4) Front Range Christian 20

    Front Range Christian jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first quarter and that’s when John Mall woke up. The Panthers scored 30 unanswered points to take a 30-6 lead at halftime and also take firm control of the game.

    John Mall added to its lead early in the third quarter with a touchdown run from Travis Vialpando, his fourth touchdown run of the season. The Falcons were able to get into the end zone a couple more times, but the Panthers had built too big of a lead to rebound from.

    The Panthers went 3-6 playing in Class 1A last year and has now seen a successful turnaround this spring. They hope to complete that turnaround with another solid performance in the state championship game next week.

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    (1) Hoehne 68, (4) Plateau Valley12

    Hoehne wasted no time in jumping out to a big lead over Plateau Valley and hanging on to earn a spot in next week’s title game.

    In their last three games, the Farmers have now outscored their opponents 184-12. They already have a 66-34 win over John Mall this season.

    Grant Arellanes and Weston Hill have paced Hoehne on the ground, totaling nearly 1,500 rushing yards between the two of them. They had scored a combined 23 rushing touchdowns heading into the semifinals.

  • Photos: Flatirons Academy beats Estes Park to advance to 2A football title game

    Flatirons Academy rolled to a 41-6 win over Estes Park to advance to the Class 2A football championship game.

  • Photos: FNE Warriors hold off Vista PEAK to reach 5A football final

  • Information for the girls volleyball state championships

     

    State volleyball generic
    (Pam Wagner/CHSAANow.com)

    To be hosted at the The Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, the Colorado girls volleyball state championship tournament will take place on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Below is the schedule for matches and information on event tickets for each session, which can only be purchased ONLINE via GoFan.

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    Quarterfinals, Wednesday, May 12

    8 a.m.

    Windsor vs TCA (Court 1)

    Mountain Vista vs Grandview (Court 2)

    Coronado vs Mead  (Court 3)

    Eaton vs Resurrection Christian (Court 4)

    11 a.m.

    Fleming vs Otis (Court 1)

    Columbine vs Cherry Creek (Court 2)

    Cheyenne Mountain vs Discovery Canyon (Court 3)

    Wiggins vs Yuma (Court 4)

    2 p.m.

    Simla vs Stratton/Liberty (Court 1)

    Palisade vs Palmer Ridge (Court 2)

    Lamar vs University (Court 3)

    Fowler vs Vail Christian (Court 4)

    5 p.m.

    Wiley vs Sangre de Cristo (Court 1)

    Rampart vs Legend (Court 2)

    Montezuma-Cortez vs Prospect Ridge (Court 3)

    Denver Christian vs Holyoke (Court 4)

    8 p.m.

    Merino vs Briggsdale (Court 1)

    Ralston Valley vs Chatfield (Court 2)

    Sterling vs Lutheran (Court 3)

    Sedgwick County vs Dayspring Christian (Court 4)

    Semifinals, Thursday, May 13

    8 a.m.

    1A Semifinals (Court 1)

    5A Semifinals (Court 2)

    3A Semifinals (Court 3)

    2A Semifinals (Court 4)

    11 a.m.

    1A Semifinals (Court 1)

    5A Semifinals (Court 2)

    4A Semifinals (Court 3)

    2A Semifinals (Court 4)

    2 p.m.

    3A Semifinals (Court 2)

    4A Semifinals (Court 3)

    Finals, Thursday, May 13

    5 p.m.

    1A Finals (Court 1)

    5A Finals (Court 2)

    2A Finals (Court 4)

    8 p.m.

    3A Finals (Court 1)

    4A Finals (Court 4)

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    TICKET INFORMATION

    Tickets for all sessions are available to to the public and can be purchased ONLINE via GoFan.

    • Tickets are $10 per game
    • Tickets can ONLY be purchased digitally
    • Masks are required in the building.
    • Spectators can enter the building 30 minutes before games time, unless matches are delayed and should enter at the gate listed on their ticket.
    • As soon as the match is over, spectators must leave the arena due to capacity limitations and because the next set of spectators will be coming in.

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    SITE

    The Broadmoor World Arena

    3185 Venetucci Blvd

    Colorado Springs, CO 80906

    BROADMOOR WORLD ARENA MAP

    [pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Broadmoor-World-Arena-Spectator-Court-Map-State-Volleyball.pdf” title=”Broadmoor World Arena Spectator & Court Map – State Volleyball”]

  • Rampart’s Anjelina Starck named Gatorade girls volleyball player of the year

    (David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotoprahpy.com)

    Anjelina Starck has this quiet demeanor about her, at least until she sees the perfect set hanging over the net. The Rampart hitter has been a big factor in the Rams’ success this season and for that – and other reasons – she has been named the Colorado girls volleyball Player of the Year by Gatorade.

    Starck has 164 kills on the season and has helped the Rams earn a 10-1 record on the court, the only loss coming to Cheyenne Mountain, a game in which Starck was held out of the front row.

    In her two seasons at Rampart, she has totaled 594 kills. She will continue her volleyball career at Penn State next fall.

    “It shows that all the work that I’ve put in, all the extra time at the gym has paid off,” Starck said. “This happened by working hard, staying dedicated and not listening to all the negative comments. If you stay on line with what you want to do, it pays off.”

    Starck joined Rampart last year after her family moved to Colorado from Las Vegas. She immediately felt at home and benefitted from Rampart’s family atmosphere that has been building for several seasons.

    “She’s a really well rounded player,” Rampart coach Nikki Bloemen said last year. “She can do just about everything. She can hit, she can set, she can pass, she can serve. I can put her in any role and she just does her job.”

    And the Rams have certainly felt her impact. They swept their way through regionals to earn a berth in next week’s Class 5A state tournament. And luckily the team won’t have to travel far as the tournament will be held at the Broadmoor World Arena.

    It’s the exact environment that Starck wants to thrive in and she’s hoping that she can help the Rams claim their first state volleyball title.

    “I won one in Las Vegas when I lived there,” Starck said. “My goal since I moved here has been to win one. Our team this year, we’ve been playing so well together and our practices have been great. Our coaches are also really amazing and I think we have a really good chance.”

    Starck also earned first-team Under Armour All-American honors for 2020-21. She’s the kind of student-athlete that makes a team and a school better the second she walks in the door.

    “She’s just raised our level of play and forced other people to be more competitive,” Bloeman said. “The team as a whole has been more competitive and played at a higher level.”

  • 1A girls volleyball state tournament bracket

    The 2021 state tournament bracket for Class 1A girls volleyball.
    2021 CHSAA State Girls Volleyball Championships (Colorado) Class 1A