By Kevin Shaffer, ColoradoPreps.com
Special to MaxPreps.com
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Mullen Knocks Off Grandview
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In the much-anticipated battle between top-ranked Mullen and third-ranked Grandview, the Mustangs took control early with 21 first quarter points on their way to a 28-6 Centennial Conference win.ÿ
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Phillip Morelli exploded for an 81-yard touchdown run and finished with 125 yards on 13 carries. Grandview missed a chance to get back in the game on the opening drive of the third quarter. They held the ball for over seven minutes and 18 plays but failed to get on the scoreboard.
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Grandview turns around and faces fifth-ranked Eaglecrest in another crucial Centennial contest. A second loss will virtually knock the Wolves out of the title chase.
Pine Creek Outlasts Rampart in Four Overtimes
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Colorado Springs rivals Pine Creek and Rampart hooked up in the game of the year thus far.
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Tied at 22 at the end of the regulation, the teams worked through four overtimes before Pine Creek gained a wild, 50-43, victory. The game was the conference opener for both schools. Pine Creek running back Jordan Savage totaled over 200 yards in offense and was involved in five touchdowns.
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The Eagles must recover quickly as they face fellow unbeaten Fountain Fort Carson in a first-place showdown in the Pikes Peak Conference Friday.
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Big Numbers From Quarterbacks
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Week three of the Colorado prep season was highlighted by sensational play from quarterbacks.ÿ
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Glenwood Springs sophomore Dakota Stonehouse burst onto the scene with a six touchdown effort against Denver West. He completed 17 of 22 attempts for 261 yards.
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D'Evelyn's Mark Schaffer continued his early season torrid pace. In a wild, 48-47, win over Falcon, Schaffer completed 17 of 33 attempts for 416 yards and five touchdowns.ÿ On the season, the senior is 55 of 99 for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns already.ÿ He's added 308 yards rushing for the resurgent Jaguars (3-0).
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Buena Vista signal caller Jake Fickle gained 231 yards against Manitou Springs two weeks ago, but he surpassed that with a 238 yard effort against Bayfield. The Demons have rushed for over 900 yards in their last two games.
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South Metro Conference Up For Grabs
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One of the results of the new alignment in Class 5A this year was the creation of a new 10-team South Metro league. Combining the former CS Metro and Jeffco leagues has created a very tight race.ÿ
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Through three weeks of football, seven of the ten teams are tied for first at 2-1. Doherty and Lakewood were the only unbeaten teams entering the week, but they were upset by a total of 50 points by Columbine and Palmer, respectively. Key games that will break up the logjam include Lakewood at Doherty and Palmer at Arvada West. All four teams are part of the seven-team tie.
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Amazing Race Expected in 4A Mountain Plains
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Long considered the top 4A association in the state, 2006 is shaping up to be a very exciting race in the Mountain Plains. League opens Thursday and seven of the eight teams in the conference are 2-1 or better, including five unbeaten teams. That number will be reduced by one when No. 2 ThunderRidge meets No. 7 Wheat Ridge. Other unbeaten teams include surprising Arvada and Standley Lake, which were a combined 1-19 last season.
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Englewood Hopes to Slow Down Alamosa
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Sixth-ranked Englewood hopes to do what no team has done through the first three weeks and that's slow down Alamosa's high powered offense. The top-ranked Mean Moose have outscored their first three opponents 161-22. And the blowouts have come early.ÿ Alamosa is outscoring the opposition 72-7 in the first quarter and then 68-0 in the second quarter.
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Third Longest Volleyball Streak Snapped
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Colorado Springs Christian lost to 5A defending champion Grandview in a volleyball tournament Saturday, ending the Lions 66-match winning streak. The Lions have won the last two 3A state titles, but ended their streak against a perennial big school power.ÿ
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The 66-consecutive matches is the third longest such streak in the state. The state record is a whopping 182 straight by Evergreen from 1978-85.