As the 2018 high school football season rolls into Week 6, a big picture is starting to take shape. Many teams will begin conference play this week and others will look to improve their footing in the RPI ratings.
Coverage of games can be found on CHSAANow, through its various media partners and also on radio waves throughout the state.
(If any stations are interested in featuring their games in this weekly post, please send an email to dmohrmann@chsaa.org)
[divider]
Greeley West at Greeley Central
Time: 7 p.m. kick
Station: 1310 KFKA
On the call: Clark Johnson (Play by play), Mike Danson (Color)
Preps director Tanner Schwindt on the matchup: Greeley west looks to continue their dominance in the battle for Greeley. West and their rushing attack will give Central all they can handle.
Listen to the game at KFKA 1310 or online at 1310kfka.com.
[divider]
Merino at Akron
Game time: 7:30 p.m. kick
Station: KAT Country 98.3 FM
On the call: Marc Romero
Romero on the matchup: Sedgwick County, Merino, and Caliche all remain unbeaten in Plains League play, while Akron is trying to avoid falling 2 games back in the league. Akron is run-heavy (I know, surprise!), with over 1000 yards on the ground, led by senior Justin Traxler’s 530 to go along with 6 scores. Merino doesn’t post stats, but return 1300 yard passer Cade Conger and 700 yard rusher Matt Frank from last year’s offense to compliment a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game this year.
Listen on KAT Country 98.3 FM or katcountry983.com by clicking sports.
[divider]
Legend at Fountain-Fort Carson
Time: 7 p.m. kick
Station: XTRA Sports 1300
On the call: Ryan Kaufman (Play by play), Ryan Pelton (Color)
Kaufman on the matchup: After a mixed bag of results in non-conference games, Fountain-Ft. Carson is looking to begin their conference season on the right foot. Last year, their 10-7 loss to Legend sent them in a tailspin and their hoping a win can have the opposite effect. They have a uber talented back in “Q” Jones who ran for 340 yards and four touchdowns last week against Overland and the key for the Trojans tonight and moving forward is to get him going and take the pressure off of first year quarterback Isaac Robinson.
The story is similar for Legend, who looks to establish the run as well. They have done a terrific job of putting their quarterback, Kalen Shoemacher, in low-risk situations so as not to give the other team good field position on turnovers. Despite losing number one tailback Caden Meis to injury, they have continued to run the ball well with Junior Blake Rarog to the tune of 98 yards a game.
On the call: Caleb Burggraaf (Play by play), Bob Marken (Color), Dan R. (Sideline)
Burggraaf on the matchup: The Buena Vista Demons have had a rough go in their past two games, with games against ranked Salida and Centauri, and both on the road no less. Now, the Demons return home where they are 2-0, including an impressive win against Cedaredge in their last home game. St. Mary’s on the other hand, comes into the game with a 2-2 record of their own. Expect St. Mary’s to have a balanced passing and rushing attack, but the strength of the Pirates will be in their ability to defend. Buena Vista will need to use their speed to get to the edges where they have a big advantage to win the game.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Vista Ridge softball lost two separate leads, but battled back both times to beat Discovery Canyon 13-10 on Wednesday.
The win clinched the Pikes Peak Athletic Conference title for the Wolves (13-6 overall, 7-0 PPAC) who still have some work to do before getting into the Class 5A playoff picture. The PPAC is a 4A league, so Vista Ridge will not receive an automatic postseason berth.
But that doesn’t mean that the thrilling win on Wednesday won’t power the Wolves going forward.
“You have to never quit,” Vista Ridge coach Brent Mrofcza said. “With the way runs are scored in high school ball, you have to fight every inning. We tried to win every inning and in the end, we did.”
Wednesday’s game marked the end of league play for both teams. Vista Ridge has two more home games before closing out the season on the road, first at Ponderosa then at Eaglecrest.
The Thunder (11-7, 6-1) has five games left on its slate and will finish the regular season at home against Pueblo West on Oct. 6.
AURORA — When a project to upgrade Aurora Central’s heating system meant the gym floor would need to be replaced, athletic director Rod Harrison saw a great opportunity ahead.
“Everyone in the community comes to the gym,” Harrison said on Thursday. “We wanted them to talk about our gym. We had a chance here to make a statement.”
Harrison designed the floor with one main concept in mind: The base color for the entire floor would be black. He drew inspiration from the court at Oakland University in Michigan, even going so far as emailing coach Greg Kampe for his thoughts on the design.
“I was like, ‘Man, we’ve got to do this. The kids will think this is sweet,’” Harrison said.
And though it took some convincing — he had help from former district athletic director Mike Krueger, and principal Gerardo De La Garza — the school agreed to move forward with the plan.
The plan included staining the court black instead of overlaying paint. It also included small details like using a dark grey as the lines for secondary courts that go across the main court, so that they wouldn’t distract from the overall look. Instead of a solid stripe across midcourt, there’s a subtle cutout which reveals a line — this leaves the “AC” logo uninterrupted.
“We chose it and here it is,” Harrison said.
Construction on the heating project started in May, and the floor was used for the first time by the girls volleyball team at practice this week.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The girls volleyball team, they were waiting in line to come to practice,” Harrison said. “How often does that happen? It was really cool.”
On social media, Harrison’s tweet announcing the renovation blew up. A photo posted on the school’s alumni Facebook group has been viewed more than 20,000 times.
But most important to Harrison?
“The kids love it,” he said. “I mean, that’s what it is about for me: What do the kids think?”
