Fruita Monument 26, Ponderosa 22, Silver Creek 18, Brighton 13, Greeley West 10, Golden 9, Grand Junction 9, Wheat Ridge 9, Skyline 5, Air Academy 4, Windsor 4, Longmont 3, Vista Ridge 2, Mesa Ridge 1, Rampart 1.
Dropped out
Ponderosa (7), Silver Creek (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (19)
4-0
202
1
W
2
Mead (1)
4-0
190
2
Bye
3
Pueblo South
3-1
167
3
L
4
Discovery Canyon
4-1
120
4
W
5
Green Mountain
3-1
101
5
W
6
Frederick (1)
4-0
95
7
W
7
Palisade
2-2
62
6
L
8
Lutheran
3-1
50
8
W
9
Erie
2-2
40
10
W
10
Durango
3-2
39
9
W
Others receiving votes:
Conifer 27, Holy Family 16, Thomas Jefferson 16, Northridge 15, Pueblo Central 15, Fort Morgan 12, Roosevelt 10, Harrison 8, Lewis-Palmer 7, Pueblo East 7, Battle Mountain 6, Skyview 4, Lincoln 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (13)
4-0
204
1
W
2
Delta (5)
4-0
192
2
W
3
Platte Valley (2)
3-1
165
3
Bye
4
Sterling
3-1
157
4
Bye
5
Resurrection Christian (2)
3-1
137
5
W
6
Faith Christian (1)
3-1
117
6
W
7
Basalt
4-0
66
9
W
8
La Junta
3-1
64
8
W
9
Lamar
3-1
51
–
W
10
Alamosa
3-1
49
7
L
Others receiving votes:
Eaton 21, Moffat County 15, Elizabeth 9, Aspen 6, University 6, Englewood 3, D’Evelyn 2, Arvada 1.
Dropped out
Eaton (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (17)
4-0
188
2
W
2
Limon (1)
3-1
162
1
L
3
Holyoke (1)
4-0
142
3
W
4
Florence
4-0
119
4
W
5
Centauri
4-1
98
7
W
6
Colorado Springs Christian
3-1
95
6
W
7
Meeker
3-1
79
5
Bye
8
Burlington
2-2
35
10
W
9
Rye
4-0
29
9
Bye
10
Highland
2-2
23
–
L
Others receiving votes:
Hotchkiss 21, Buena Vista 19, Wray 14, Flatirons Academy 10, Peyton 6, Grand Valley 3, Paonia 2.
Dropped out
Buena Vista (8).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (13)
5-0
148
1
W
2
Fowler (2)
4-0
120
2
W
3
Mancos
4-0
117
3
W
4
Dayspring Christian Academy
4-0
106
5
W
5
Caliche
3-1
71
4
L
6
Merino
3-1
67
6
W
7
Sanford
4-0
62
7
W
8
Vail Christian
4-0
40
8
W
9
Pikes Peak Christian
2-1
26
–
Bye
10
Rangely
3-1
17
10
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Hoehne 15, Soroco 14, West Grand 10, Sargent 5, Dove Creek 4, Elbert 1, Holly 1, Plateau Valley 1.
David Moore III rushed for four first-half touchdowns as top-ranked Pine Creek flexed its muscles in a win over No. 3 Pueblo West.
The Eagles led 35-0 at the break, and went on to win 41-13. Pine Creek is now 3-1 this season, with the lone loss coming to 5A No. 3 Valor Christian.
“David had a great game,” Pine Creek coach Todd Miller told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “He just keeps ripping off long runs. And our front is doing a good job of blocking and our receivers are chasing downfield and setting up long runs.”
Officially, Moore rushed for 202 yards on 11 carries, with the four scores.
“David, he’s got great vision, and he’s been doing this for a long time,” Miller added. “He’s one of the best young men I’ve been around, and one of the best football players, too.”
In a tight battle, Dakota Ridge held a potent Ponderosa offense in check to secure a top-10 win.
The Eagles expanded a 7-0 halftime lead to 13-0 in the third quarter. Then when Ponderosa cut it to 13-6, Dakota Ridge put the game away with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from Ben Gulting with three minutes to play.
“It was a great win,” coach Ron Woitalewicz told the Scoreboard Show. “Our kids played very well, and beat a very good Ponderosa team.”
“We kinda kept the pressure on them, and we shut down the run game,” the coach added. “It’s always good to get a quality win against a good team. Sometimes it’s good to fly under the radar.”
Centauri built a 24-0 lead after the first quarter, and then went on to secure the 37-0 win over Buena Vista.
The Falcons, who have won at least six games each of the past three seasons, are now 4-1 so far this season.
[divider]
8-man: (5) Dayspring Christian 24, (4) Caliche 18
In a league matchup, Dayspring Christian rallied from down 6-0 at halftime to improve to 4-0.
“The boys really showed up tonight,” Dayspring coach Ben Fusco told the Scoreboard Show. “It was really fun to go up there and come out with a win.”
Trailing at halftime, Fusco said, “the coaches rallied the boys, and they really responded.” Dayspring scored on its first possession of the third quarter.
“Caliche is a physical football team, and you find that coming out here to play these Eastern teams,” Fusco said. “The boys really rallied and embraced that challenge this week. They went toe-to-toe with a couple of big boys on that Caliche squad.”
[divider]
8-man: (8) Vail Christian 12, (9) West Grand 6
In a defensive battle, Vail Christian nailed down a top-10 win. The Saints scored both touchdowns following long drives in the second quarter.
“Both teams played really well on defense,” coach Tim Pierson told the Scoreboard Show. “We’re grateful to get out of here with a win.”
“We got some big tackles for losses,” he added. “The kids just played hard.”
Vail Christian is now 4-0.
[divider]
Notables
5A No. 1 Columbine went on a road trip, and beat Olathe North (Kan.) 24-21.
In 4A, Mountain Vista knocked off No. 10 Silver Creek in triple OT, 24-21.
Lamar knocked off 2A No. 7 Alamosa, 48-25.
Prospect Ridge Academy running back Seth Hagan rushed for 348 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Jefferson. Photos are here.
Overland beat Fountain-Fort Carson on the road, 29-21, and is now 3-2 — a year after going 1-9.
Manitou Springs held on to beat rival St. Mary’s on a missed field goal with 10 seconds to play. The Mustangs won 16-15.
This week’s football rankings feature seven new teams: Legend (5A), Vista Peak (4A), Silver Creek (4A), Frederick (3A), Eaton (2A), Vail Christian (8-man), and Briggsdale (6-man).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Loveland 32, Greeley West 25, Skyline 15, Fruita Monument 14, Windsor 13, Grand Junction 11, Golden 6, Monarch 6, Rampart 6, Hinkley 5, Longmont 5, Wheat Ridge 4, Brighton 3, Air Academy 1.
Dropped out
Loveland (8), Windsor (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (18)
3-0
200
1
W
2
Mead (2)
4-0
187
2
W
3
Pueblo South
3-0
162
4
Bye
4
Discovery Canyon
3-1
107
6
W
5
Green Mountain
2-1
91
3
L
6
Palisade
2-1
89
5
W
7
Frederick
3-0
85
7
W
8
Lutheran
2-1
35
–
W
9
Durango
2-2
31
10
W
10
Erie
1-2
30
9
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Roosevelt 27, Pueblo Central 18, Fort Morgan 16, Thomas Jefferson 16, Conifer 13, Holy Family 11, Northridge 10, Pueblo East 8, Battle Mountain 6, Skyview 4, Denver North 3, Harrison 3, Lewis-Palmer 3.
Dropped out
Roosevelt (8).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (15)
3-0
205
1
W
2
Delta (4)
3-0
172
3
W
3
Platte Valley (1)
3-1
146
4
W
4
Sterling
3-1
140
2
L
5
Resurrection Christian (1)
2-1
121
6
W
6
Faith Christian (1)
2-1
112
5
W
7
Alamosa
3-0
105
8
W
8
La Junta
2-1
71
7
W
9
Basalt
3-0
67
9
W
10
Eaton
1-2
17
–
L
Others receiving votes:
Bayfield 8, Bennett 8, Moffat County 8, The Classical Academy 6, Lamar 5, D’Evelyn 4, University 4, Bishop Machebeuf 3, Elizabeth 3, Englewood 2, Kent Denver 2, Aspen 1.
Dropped out
Bayfield (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Limon (15)
3-0
193
1
W
2
Strasburg (4)
3-0
169
2
Bye
3
Holyoke (1)
3-0
167
3
Bye
4
Florence
3-0
125
5
W
5
Meeker
3-1
101
4
L
6
Colorado Springs Christian
2-1
92
6
W
7
Centauri
3-1
83
7
W
8
Buena Vista
3-0
57
9
W
9
Rye
4-0
37
10
W
10
Burlington
1-2
21
8
L
Others receiving votes:
Highland 19, Hotchkiss 11, Wray 9, Paonia 6, Peyton 4, Wiggins 4, Monte Vista 2.
Dropped out
None.
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (12)
4-0
129
1
W
2
Fowler (1)
3-0
97
2
Bye
3
Mancos
3-0
95
4
W
4
Caliche
3-0
93
3
Bye
5
Dayspring Christian Academy
3-0
75
5
W
6
Merino
2-1
48
6
Bye
7
Sanford
3-0
44
8
W
8
Vail Christian
3-0
33
–
W
9
West Grand
3-1
26
9
W
10
Rangely
3-1
19
7
L
Others receiving votes:
Hoehne 18, Pikes Peak Christian 16, Soroco 8, Holly 6, Sargent 5, Dove Creek 3.
More photos. (Chris Fehrm/Chris Fehrm Photography)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Everyone in District 20 Stadium knew that David Moore III was going to be good for a long touchdown run. Not many were surprised when he scampered for an 80-yard score on just the second offensive drive of the game for Pine Creek.
The senior standout back has made a habit of playing his best football on the best stages. But when Gavin Sawchuck broke off an 80-yard touchdown run of his own to steal momentum for Valor Christian, he and his Eagles had no intention of giving back as Valor topped the Pine Creek Eagles 24-14 in a battle of two of Colorado’s top teams in 2019.
Credit must be given where credit is due, Pine Creek delivered two touchdowns on their first two drives of the game eliciting massive cheers from its fans and leaving the Valor contingent that had traveled from Highlands Ranch somewhat stunned. Class 5A No. 3 Valor could only muster a field goal as quarterback Cole Bott misfired on some passes and watched receivers drop others.
The solution for Valor coach Ed McCaffrey was a quarterback change at halftime and it was Jack Howell who took the snaps and showed why his coach had faith in him.
“Jack is an absolute warrior,” McCaffrey said. “He can play the quarterback position but if he’s not the best athlete in the state, he’s certainly one of them.”
The combination of Howell, Sawchuck and a team defense mentality helped settle down a Valor team that got off to a shaky start.
Gavin Herberg found Eddie Kyle for a 24-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive and after Pine Creek bent, but didn’t break, on defense and surrendered the field goal, Moore broke free to put Pine Creek up 14-3. Moore went into the locker room at halftime with 135 rushing yards on 12 carries to go with that touchdown.
But against a team like Valor, there can’t be any slowing down when there is that much production so early in the game.
“They’re a great football team,” coach Todd Miller said. “We got up and they made some great adjustments and we got bogged down. They had some kids that made some plays.”
One of those kids was Sawchuck and it was the first offensive play in the second half that he made for Valor. He countered Moore to go for his own 80-yard touchdown run to cut the Pine Creek lead to 14-10.
“When we had to get the momentum up, it was big and it was important,” Sawchuck said. “My team stepped up and made the blocks and allowed me to get it done.”
And the defense followed suit. Valor limited Moore to just 50 rushing yards in the second half and couldn’t break into the red zone at any point in the final 24 minutes of play. And it was just what Howell wanted to see after getting the nod at quarterback coming out of the locker room.
“Our defense is crazy,” Howell said. “It was great last year, it’s great this year and we kind of pride ourselves there. Everyone stepped up and it was a great team effort.”
Howell broke for a 55-yard touchdown run to give Valor the lead and Sawchuck added an eight-yard touchdown run to seal the game.
And it was a matchup that didn’t disappoint anyone in attendance. From the time Pine Creek was leading at halftime to when Valor walked away victorious, there wasn’t a soul in District 20 Stadium that didn’t believe both teams are in shape for deep playoff runs.
“It was a fight,” Miller said. “Both teams fought to the end. That team over there competes and it plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
Lakewood 12, Legend 12, Castle View 11, Smoky Hill 10, Mullen 3, Chaparral 2, Mountain Vista 1, Overland 1.
Dropped out
Legend (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Pine Creek (19)
2-0
217
1
W
2
Broomfield (1)
3-0
204
2
W
3
Montrose (2)
3-0
165
3
W
4
Pueblo West
3-0
150
4
W
5
Dakota Ridge
2-0
114
5
Bye
6
Chatfield
2-1
106
6
W
7
Ponderosa
1-2
78
8
W
8
Loveland
1-1
61
7
W
9
Windsor
1-1
27
10
L
10
Heritage
1-1
26
9
L
Others receiving votes:
Vista Peak Prep 25, Silver Creek 18, Monarch 14, Skyline 14, Fruita Monument 11, Hinkley 11, Greeley West 8, Longmont 4, Wheat Ridge 4, Brighton 3, Grand Junction 3, Rampart 2.
Dropped out
None.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (16)
2-0
184
1
W
2
Mead (1)
3-0
163
3
W
3
Green Mountain
2-0
142
4
W
4
Pueblo South (1)
3-0
138
6
W
5
Palisade
1-1
90
2
L
6
Discovery Canyon
2-1
83
5
L
7
Frederick
2-0
54
–
W
8
Roosevelt
1-1
53
9
Bye
9
Erie
1-2
33
7
L
10
Durango
1-2
27
10
L
Others receiving votes:
Fort Morgan 23, Pueblo East 21, Northridge 18, Holy Family 17, Pueblo Central 13, Lincoln 10, Lewis-Palmer 7, Battle Mountain 6, Thomas Jefferson 6, Lutheran 5, Conifer 4, Harrison 3.
Dropped out
Pueblo East (8).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (7)
2-0
171
2
Bye
2
Sterling (7)
3-0
170
5
W
3
Delta (2)
2-0
150
3
W
4
Platte Valley (2)
2-1
140
4
W
5
Faith Christian (1)
1-1
111
7
W
6
Resurrection Christian (1)
1-1
111
6
Bye
7
La Junta (1)
1-1
99
1
L
8
Alamosa
2-0
75
–
W
9
Basalt (1)
2-0
39
–
W
10
Bayfield
1-1
37
10
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Eaton 32, Kent Denver 26, The Classical Academy 14, Aspen 6, Bennett 5, Elizabeth 5, Bishop Machebeuf 4, Brush 4, D’Evelyn 4, Englewood 2, Lamar 2, University 2, Moffat County 1.
Dropped out
Kent Denver (8), The Classical Academy (9).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Limon (15)
2-0
196
1
W
2
Strasburg (4)
3-0
167
2
W
3
Holyoke (1)
4-0
164
3
–
4
Meeker
3-0
133
4
W
5
Florence (1)
2-0
123
6
Bye
6
Colorado Springs Christian
1-1
89
7
W
7
Centauri
1-1
78
5
L
8
Burlington
1-1
54
8
W
9
Buena Vista
2-0
47
9
W
10
Rye
3-0
42
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Highland 20, Hotchkiss 14, Paonia 10, Flatirons Academy 7, Monte Vista 6, Peyton 2, Wray 2, Wiggins 1.
Dropped out
Highland (10).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (14)
3-0
140
1
W
2
Fowler
3-0
103
4
W
3
Caliche
3-0
102
2
W
4
Mancos
2-0
99
5
W
5
Dayspring Christian Academy
2-0
79
7
W
6
Merino
2-1
59
3
L
7
Rangely
3-0
47
8
W
8
Sanford
2-0
35
10
W
9
West Grand
2-1
20
–
W
10
Hoehne
0-2
19
6
L
Others receiving votes:
Vail Christian 18, Pikes Peak Christian 17, Sargent 17, Soroco 6, Holly 5, Dove Creek 4.
Gavin Herberg threw four touchdown passes, and David Moore III rushed for 218 yards and three scores as Pine Creek football beat Doherty 49-21 on Friday.
Skyline 22, Silver Creek 18, Longmont 16, Vista Peak Prep 16, Fruita Monument 13, Brighton 10, Denver South 9, Greeley West 9, Rampart 7, Bear Creek 5, Grand Junction 4, Monarch 3, Greeley Central 2, Fort Collins 1, Golden 1.
Dropped out
Skyline (7).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (19)
1-0
197
1
W
2
Palisade
1-0
164
2
W
3
Mead (1)
2-0
157
3
W
4
Green Mountain
1-0
116
6
W
5
Discovery Canyon
2-0
114
7
W
6
Pueblo South (1)
2-0
100
8
W
7
Erie
1-1
68
4
L
8
Pueblo East
1-1
59
9
W
9
Roosevelt
1-1
45
5
L
10
Durango
1-1
35
10
L
Others receiving votes:
Frederick 23, Holy Family 20, Fort Morgan 13, Pueblo Central 10, Northridge 8, Battle Mountain 6, Thomas Jefferson 6, Lutheran 5, Denver North 4, Evergreen 3, Harrison 2.
