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.
AURORA — The chase is over for Eaton’s softball team and head coach Dale Hughes.
The Reds captured their first Class 3A championship, and brought their coach to tears, as they defeated Lutheran, 5-1, Saturday at Aurora Sports Park.
“I’ve spent 17 years chasing that damn trophy,” said an emotional Hughes as he watched his team celebrate with their families, friends and each other. “Gosh! I feel so happy! It’s a big weight off my shoulders. What do they call that … ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride’? Well, we got it done this year.”
Freshman pitcher Sadie Ross, who is all of 13-years-old, was dominant in the win for Eaton. She struck out 12 while allowing just one run in the complete-game win.
Ross, who drove in the game’s first run with a scorching ground-rule double in the bottom of the first inning, also fulfilled a promise she made to her coach at the beginning of the season.
“I’ve been told many a time that she doesn’t shy away from the pressure, and she showed it today,” Hughes said. “She’s been wanting this for awhile. Her big sister (Remington) played for us and was with us a couple of times when we came up short.
“Sadie came up to me at the beginning of this year and said ‘Coach, we’re going to get ‘er done,” he revealed.
The top-seeded Reds, who advanced to their third title game with a 15-3, four-inning victory over Brush in the semifinals, finished second in 2015 and 2018 (falling both times to Strasburg).
Ross wasn’t about to let it happen again.
“It has been a long ride. We worked so hard for this, and it feels amazing,” she said. “I knew this year was the year we would go all the way. I’ve seen this team get so close in the past. It’s time that we have one.”
Senior third baseman Jenny Jarnagin was 2-for-3 in the championship game and scored two runs, including one on a massive home run to right-centerfield that iced the game for Eaton.
“It feels awesome,” she raved after the game. “We’ve been working hard for four years to get this. We were here my sophomore year, too, and when we didn’t win, it sucked bad.
“It feels awesome right now knowing that our hard work paid off,” Jarnagin added. “Mentally, we were always able to stay positive today. Even when they (Brush and Lutheran) scored runs, we didn’t get down. We just kept scoring runs and battling back.”
Lutheran, the No. 3 seed in just its first year as a program, defeated defending champion University in the other semifinal (14-3 in five innings) to advance to the championship game.
But the day belonged to Hughes, Ross and the Reds.
“I’m so happy for our seniors,” Hughes said. “They really led the way this season with their leadership.”
First, the group reviewed automatic qualifiers from each league. Then the remaining spots on the bracket were filled according to the next-highest ranking teams in the CHSAA Seeding Index.
Heading the fields as No. 1 seeds are Eaton (3A), Wheat Ridge (4A) and Rock Canyon (5A).
The first-round games can be played either Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week, and will be hosted by the higher seed. Quarterfinals will be held on Thursday, and will also be hosted by the higher seed.
The semifinals and finals will be held at Aurora Sports Park on Oct. 10.
With the regular season nearing its end, the top two ranked softball teams took to the field for what could be a state championship preview.
But if that’s the case, it’s hard not to consider No. 1 Eaton a heavy favorite heading into next week’s state softball tournament.
Eaton jumped out to a quick lead and never relented en route to a 17-6 win over the defending Class 3A state champion (and No.2-ranked) Bulldogs.
Each side scored multiple runs in the first inning as they went into the top of the second with Eaton holding a 3-2 lead. But then the bats heated up and five Eaton players crossed home plate over the course of the third inning to make it an 8-2 game. Eaton scored four more in the top of the fourth and University finally found a little offensive momentum in the bottom half of the inning, matching Eaton’s four runs.
But Eaton refused to take the foot off the gas and scored a combined seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to end the game after six.
Jennifer Jarnagin led the Eaton offense going 4-for-5 on the day, blasting a home run and driving in three total runs. She also crossed home plate four times.
Olivia Comer also played a big role as she went 2-for-3 and drove in a game-high four runs.
Freshman Sadie Ross was steady in the pitcher’s circle as she three all six innings, striking out five hitters and allowing four earned runs. With the win she improves to 9-1 on the year. She also held the Bulldogs to nine hits through the course of the game.
Just two players in University’s lineup had multiple hits in the contest. Andi Padilla and Kendree Kern each hit safely twice, but neither drove a run in and Kern managed to score once. Delaney Wieneke’s lone hit of the game was a solo home run.
Kaden Wyatt and Lexi Sanchez shared the team lead with two RBI’s on the day.
Both teams close out regular season play on Saturday and await their fates when the 3A state bracket is released early next week.
