vs
| 10/11/24 - Home | 35-14 W |
| 10/13/23 - Home | 42-14 W |
| 10/13/22 - Away | 60-14 W |
| 11/11/21 - Neutral | 38-21 W |
| 10/01/21 - Away | 21-24 L |
| + 4 more games |
Columbine is 8-1 against Arvada West since October of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Rebels will head out to square off against the Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. After the two teams made easy work of their previous opponents, one won't be so lucky on Thursday.
Columbine had to skate by with only a one-point margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 39-point drubbing they dealt Denver East on Friday. The Rebels really took it to the Angels for the full four quarters, racking up a 48-9 win. The victory continues a trend for the Rebels in their matchups with the Angels: they've now won seven in a row.
Columbine can attribute much of their success to Lucas Gonzales, who rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns, and Mark Snyder, who rushed for 63 yards and a pair of scores on only five carries. Gonzales' longest rush was for an impressive 55 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total. James Himes made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Columbine was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 267 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 224 rushing yards in three consecutive contests.
Columbine didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Jesse Adame and Himes. Himes got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Arvada West humbled Denver South with a 45-7 victory. Given the Wildcats' advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado football rankings (they are ranked sixth, while the Ravens are ranked 61st) , the win on Friday wasn't entirely unexpected.
Columbine better keep an eye on Keegen Balistreri. He was instrumental in Arvada West's win, picking up 103 receiving yards and a pair of TDs. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyriek Cullum, who rushed for 70 yards and one score on only nine carries.
Arvada West's defense made their presence known, laying out George O'Reilly five times. In that department, Lyle Cavanaugh was the leader with two sacks. Tucker Rhoades got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Arvada West's record is now 6-0. As for Columbine, the win got them back to even at 3-3.
Thursday's game might be decided on the ground. Columbine has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 237.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Arvada West struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 173.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Columbine took their victory against Arvada West in their previous meeting back in October of 2024 by a conclusive 35-14 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Rebels since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
