WOODLAND PARK — In some ways, it’s Nolan Bynum’s world and everyone else just lives in it. The Delta quarterback was solid both on offense and defense to keep his Delta Panthers undefeated through Week 3.
Delta traveled over the terrain of the Rocky Mountains to get a 27-2 win over another group of Panthers donning green and white in Woodland Park.
The battle of two of the Class 2A CHSAANow.com top 10 teams lived up to the hype as one quarter and few key turnovers really made the difference.
And if Bynum showed one thing, it’s that he’s happy to capitalize off turnovers if he gets the chance. The teams got out of the first quarter locked in a scoreless tie, but Bynum quickly found Nathan Scharnhorst for a 25-yard touchdown to get Delta (3-0 overall, 1-0 2A West League) on the board.
He connected with Scharnhorst again for 44-yard touchdown toss to push the lead to 14-0.
That’s when the defense stepped up. Colton Johnson intercepted a Mason Pyles pass setting up Bynum’s third touchdown pass of the quarter – and the game – with a 48-yard strike to Noah Nortnik with just 23 seconds left in the first half.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
“After that second one, when we beat them deep I thought we’d be able to come back to that all night,” Bynum said. “They were momentum changers for sure heading into the half.”
And they were more crucial than Bynum or his teammates thought they’d be. The Woodland Park (2-1, 1-1) defense adjusted nicely in the second half and didn’t get beat by any big throws in the third or fourth quarter.
The problem was the lack of offense. Whether it was Colin Kucera or Pyles taking the snaps, Woodland Park couldn’t find a sustained rhythm to get into the end zone. Even when they got within striking distance, disaster struck in the form of a turnover. Bynum had thrown an interception early in the game, but made up for it with a defensive pick of his own in the third. On the first play on offense, Timothy Horn was swallowed up in the end zone for a safety.
It turned out to be a fair trade, giving up two points instead of seven with a Woodland Park touchdown.
“We didn’t really plan on that so it was a little surprising,” Delta coach Ben Johnson said. “I thought our defense played well. They were solid tonight.”
They complimented the second quarter offensive effort nicely and despite playing to good games to start the year, Woodland Park learned quickly that falling behind the 2019 2A runner-up early is not a recipe for success. Joe Roskam will look back to the drawing board and try to push his team forward to a playoff appearance.
“They did a nice job of being able to contain us,” Roskam said. “They didn’t let get anything vertical and that little nose guard that No. 50 kid (Jeffery Griffth), he’s a tough kid. We had a hard time blocking him inside.”
Bynum added a rushing a touchdown in the closing two minutes of the game and left the field pleased knowing that the team is capable of jumping on the bus for a long ride and still playing at a high level.
“It’s a whole different style of football over here on the eastern slope,” Bynum said. “On the western slope, everyone is hard-nosed and just runs the ball right at you. Guys that throw it around are a lot more fun to play against.”
There were quite a few changes to this week’s football rankings, with Dakota Ridge (4A), Roosevelt (3A), Resurrection Christian (2A), and Fleming (6-man) taking over atop their respective classifications.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Roosevelt defense stepped up in a monster moment on Friday night.
The fifth-ranked Roughriders, who had battled with Mead all night, held firm on a two-point conversion attempt to knock off the No. 1 team in Class 3A, 21-20.
Roosevelt got the ball first in overtime, and took just one play to score: Quarterback Brig Hartson found Keaton Kaiser for the score. The extra point was good, and then Mead’s offense took the field.
Likewise, the Mavericks needed just one play to score, when Brayden Keys dashed in for six. Mead coach Jason Klatt opted to go for the two-point conversion.
That’s when Roosevelt’s defense stuffed a run up the middle, setting off a celebration in Johnstown.
Roosevelt opened the game with a touchdown on its first drive, finished off when Brig Hartson found Tucker Peterson for a 19-yard touchdown pass.
The game stayed 7-0 until the third quarter, when Evan Morris tied the game up for Mead with a 1-yard rushing score.
Hartson, who ended the game with three touchdown passes, put Roosevelt up 14-7 with a 4-yard touchdown to Jadyn Herrera early in the fourth. But Mead responded quickly with a 74-yard pass from Porter Eastin to Corby Tecu, and the game eventually found its way to overtime.
Roosevelt is now 2-0, while Mead moves to 1-1.
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2A: (3) Sterling 14, (5) Eaton 10
The defending champions built a 14-3 lead at the break, and went on to win.
The Tigers’ defense had an outstanding game, and even scored a touchdown.
“It was a tough game, a hard-fought contest,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “It kind of went back and forth there for a while. Teams were battling and putting together some drives. It was back-and-forth, back-and-forth, and fortunately we were able to make a couple of stops and get a couple of takeaways.”
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8-man: Haxtun 38, (3) Dayspring Christian 36
Michael Gerk had four touchdowns, Owen Knode added three, according to KPMX Sports, and Haxtun came away with a monster win for its program.
The Fightin’ Bulldogs established themselves with a scoring drive right out of the gate.
“We jumped out pretty quick on a nice, long drive, and our offensive line kind of set the tone,” coach J.D. Stone told the Scoreboard Show.
Haxtun rebounded from an opening-week loss.
“We were really disappointed last week,” Stone said. “I think we grew a lot from that loss. The team really came together … and had a great week of practice.”
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3A: (10) Lutheran 57, (4) Discovery Canyon 17
The Lions jumped all over the Thunder early and often, leading 28-0 after the first quarter en route to the big win.
“Putting up the points early got us a lot of confidence,” Lutheran coach Stephen Robbins told the Scoreboard Show. “We just pounded it with tempo, and kept going at it. And our linemen up front. I’ll tell you: It’s one of the best O-line groups I’ve had in a decade. They got hungry and they kept going, and that just kind of propelled us.
“I think that was the difference-maker, was how we came out of the gate.”
Robbins said that the win could be “a program-changer.”
“We felt like last year, we left quite a bit on the field, especially against Discovery Canyon,” Robbins said. “So like I said, it’s a program-changer. Kids believe a little bit more, and it gets the community excited as well.”
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6-man: (1) Stratton/Liberty 66, (7) Eads 27
The Knighted Eagles came away with a big top-10 win, but coach Toby Kechter said they lost returning first-team all-state running back Jarret Lichty to an arm injury.
“We got up 16-0, and our best player, and in my opinion, the best player in the state, Jarret Lichty, he dislocated his elbow and broke his arm. Our young kids stepped up and played awesome the rest of the game. Eads is a high-quality team. Our kids, they played for him. They stepped up and played with all their hearts. It was great to see.”
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Notables:
In a top-10 5A matchup, No. 1 Cherry Creek cruised past No. 10 Cherokee Trail 49-7.
In 2A, No. 1 Delta beat No. University 31-21. The game was scheduled at the last minute following COVID-related cancellations.
A rare score here: In 4A, Standley Lake beat Golden 3-0.
In overtime, Riverdale Ridge beat Niwot 14-7 to pick up the program’s first 3A win.
Pueblo Central beat Pueblo Centennial 17-9 to win the 72nd Bell Game.
Montrose stopped a two-point conversion attempt in OT to beat Fruita Monument 28-27.
With smoke from the Cameron Peak Fire blowing in, the game between Erie and Silver Creek experienced a nearly 40-minute “smoke delay.” Erie went on to win 54-27.
In its first varsity season, Severance is now 2-0 following its 54-0 win over Alameda.
With its win over Otis on Friday, Weldon Valley put an end to a 15-game losing streak.
The preseason football rankings were released on Monday for all seven classifications. Leading their respective polls are: Stratton/Liberty (6-man), Sedgwick County (8-man), Limon (1A), Delta (2A), Pueblo South (3A), Pine Creek (4A), and Cherry Creek (5A).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
