Englewood hasn't had much luck against Kent Denver recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Pirates will head out on the road to challenge the Sun Devils at 1:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Englewood comes in on three and Kent Denver on five.
Englewood's defense heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They blew past Bennett 44-0. The result was nothing new for the Pirates, who have now won four matchups by 35 points or more so far this season.
Englewood's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Logan Mael led the charge by rushing for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mael didn't just play on offense: he also picked up 1.5 sacks, forced one fumble, and made three total tackles. Nathan Owens was another key pass catcher, picking up 78 receiving yards and three TDs.
Englewood's run defense was locked in: Bennett could only muster 1.8 yards per carry. The team can thank Kaloni Refuels for the heroic effort on defense: he. The dominant display was nothing new: Englewood has now limited their opponent to fewer and fewer yards per carry in three consecutive games.
Englewood didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Kayel Adkins and Daniel Cullin.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Kent Denver). They claimed a resounding 60-0 victory over Hinkley. The team's explosion on offense also rewarded the Sun Devils with their most commanding win of the season.
Englewood better keep an eye on Yianni Balafas. He was instrumental in Kent Denver's win, throwing for 71 yards and three touchdowns on perfect 5-for-5 passing. The dominant performance also gave Balafas a new career-high in passer rating (177.1). Colton Meade was in the mix as well, providing Kent Denver with two scores.
Englewood's record is now 4-1. As for Kent Denver, their record now sits at 5-0.
Saturday's contest might be decided on the ground. Englewood has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 152.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Kent Denver struggles in that department as they've been averaging 181.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Englewood came up short against Kent Denver in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, falling 37-27. Thankfully for the Pirates, Wyatt Walker (who rushed for 286 yards while picking up 12.4 yards per carry) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
