Four weeks into the season, a few surprises have shaken up the ranks.
Kent Denver running back Jaden Franklin, left, has posted some eye-popping numbers this season. The senior has rushed for 465 yards in the Sun Devils' three games, averaging 12.2 yards per carry.
File photo by Alan Hart
With only two weeks remaining in the month of September, league play is either underway or set to begin soon for prep football teams in Colorado. For the state's small schools, the season has unfolded according to plan for the most part – but that's not to say some teams haven't made an early splash.
In Class 2A, a handful of teams are still undefeated, with
Brush sitting atop the heap. Defending state champion
Platte Valley (Kersey) has been handed a pair of losses, though both have come by less than a touchdown. Perhaps the biggest early surprise has been
St. Mary's (Colorado Springs), which was 1-8 a year ago. The No. 9 Pirates have shut out their first three opponents, and senior
Ben Breier has rushed for 554 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In Class 1A, three of last year's semifinalists – including defending champion
Paonia – are off to strong starts. After going 5-4 in 2013,
Meeker is also undefeated behind the passing of
Jake Phelan (325 yards, eight touchdowns) and the rushing of
TJ Shelton (455 yards and five scores). October will show just how far the Cowboys have come, though, with Western Slope League foes looming in No. 1 Paonia and No. 7
Cedaredge.
Byers is also undefeated after winning only two games last fall, and senior
Raul Hurtado has rushed for 699 yards through three games.
Dayspring Christian Academy (Greeley),
Norwood and
Caliche (Iliff) are leading the charge in
8-Man, along with a handful of other undefeated squads. Like Meeker in 1A,
Springfield was just 5-4 a year ago but has stormed out to three quick victories – including a 36-6 triumph over 2013 semifinalist Hoehne. Junior
Rafe Hutches is averaging 118.7 rushing yards per game and has six touchdowns, while seniors
Robert Quick and
Evan Waters have three sacks each.
In 6-man, the big story was last week's game between defending champion and No. 1
Stratton/Liberty and No. 2
Arickaree/Woodlin. While the team wasn't necessarily an underdog, Arickaree/Woodlin made a big statement with a 60-30 victory over the Knighted Eagles. Senior
Kyle Leoffler (544 yards rushing, nine TDs) has led the offensive charge and
Trent Leoffler has six touchdown passes. The team also lit up the scoreboard against another top-10 team in Peetz with 69 points.
As the first full month starts to wind down, here is a look at 10 can't-miss games coming up over the next two weeks:
Limon (3-0) at Burlington (2-1), 7 p.m., Sept. 19Two heavyweights in the 1A ranks go toe-to-toe as the third-ranked Badgers visit No. 8 Burlington in a non-league contest. The two teams have combined for 26 state championships and are off to strong starts, with Limon topping the 40-point mark in each of its first three games behind senior running back
Kerigan Kappel (586 yards, eight touchdowns). Burlington's only blemish came in the opener to 2A's Lamar.
Bayfield (2-1) at Paonia (3-0), 7 p.m., Sept. 19After dispatching a trio of 1A teams, top-ranked Paonia gets a test in the form of 2A Bayfield. This will be the first in-state game for the No. 10 Wolverines, who are coming off a loss to Miyamura, N.M. Junior
Zane Phelps is averaging 168.3 yards a game rushing; Paonia quarterback
Taylor Walters already has nine rushing TDs in three games.
Stratton/Liberty (2-1) at Eads (3-0), 7 p.m., Sept. 19The defending 6-Man champion Knighted Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season last weekend. With all-state back
Kyle English sidelined for the year by injury, Stratton/Liberty has relied upon
Cordell Burton in his stead. Second-ranked Eads is averaging 58 points a game while giving up just 10.3.
St. Mary's (3-0) at University (Greeley) (3-0), 7 p.m., Sept. 19The Pirates have yet to allow a touchdown through three games but have two tough tests to close out the month. First is undefeated University, and No. 6 Lamar awaits after that. St. Mary's has forced 10 turnovers on defense. University has won three close games by an average of just more than six points.
Brush (3-0) at Lamar (3-0), 1 p.m., Sept. 20A top-10 battle in 2A pits two undefeated squads in the No. 1 Beetdiggers and No. 6 Savages. Brush is coming off consecutive 50-plus-point performances, while Lamar is getting the job done on defense. The Savages have forced six turnovers in the first three games and have nine sacks to their credit – four by junior
Evan Beard.
Kent Denver (Englewood) (3-0) at Manual (Denver) (3-0), 4 p.m., Sept. 26After only winning two games last season, Manual is an early surprise with three impressive victories. Senior
Elijah Huff already has 641 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns for the Thunderbolts, who visit
Faith Christian (Arvada) before facing the Sun Devils. Kent Denver has posted back-to-back shutouts, and
Jaden Franklin and
Will McKissick have combined for 13 touchdowns through three games.
Eaton (3-0) at Platte Valley (2-2), 7 p.m., Sept. 26This 2A Patriot League opener pits unbeaten and seventh-ranked Eaton against No. 5 Platte Valley.
Gavin Ledall has six touchdown passes for the Reds and
Dalton Waln has six rushing scores. The Broncos' losses have come to No. 4 Strasburg and 3A's No. 1 team in Lutheran by a combined six points.
Merino (3-0) at Akron (3-0), 7:30 p.m., Sept. 26One of two top-five 8-Man contests the last weekend of September pits No. 4 Merino against No. 5 Akron. Merino already owns two victories against top-10 teams in Simla and Granada behind the running of senior
Marcelino Baptista. Akron quarterback
Jared Clarkson has thrown for 756 yards and 11 touchdowns through three games.
Fleming (3-0) at Peetz (2-1), 7 p.m., Sept. 26Few teams are scoring at the clip of No. 3 Fleming, which is averaging nearly 65 points through three games. The Wildcats have a tough close to the month with trips to No. 10 Weldon Valley and then No. 6 Peetz, but have a sophomore sensation in running back
Alex Vandenbark (648 yards, nine touchdowns). Peetz was handed its lone loss to current No. 1 Arickaree/Woodlin but has bounced back nicely, and junior
Jordan Nelson already has 10 total TDs.
Caliche (3-0) at Dayspring Christian Academy (3-0), 1 p.m., Sept. 27Perhaps the best game to close out a great first month is a rematch of the 2013 8-Man state championship game, won by the Eagles. Top-ranked Dayspring Christian, which edged Caliche twice last year, has posted three shutouts thus far and senior
Kylar Mai has rushed for 509 yards and nine touchdowns. The No. 3 Buffaloes, who have to get past undefeated Rangely first, have allowed only six points in three games.
