Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Nick Kasa, Sr., DE, Legacy
At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Legacy’s Nick Kasa will be a scary sight for Colorado quarterbacks who will undoubtedly make sure they know exactly where he is on each play. Already a three-year starter for the Lightning, Kasa had 8 ½ sacks as a junior and has 21 in his career. He also had 14 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt. Returning Stat Leaders – Passing: Zach Thenell, Bear Creek, 244-347, 3,168 yards, 34 TDs; Rushing: Jose Astorga, Douglas County, 2,145 yards, 21 TDs.
Top All-Time Player: Byron “Whizzer” White, Wellington
An All-American for the Colorado Buffaloes in 1937, White finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He played only three years in the NFL, leading the league in rushing during two of those seasons. World War II cut short his career and he pursued a law degree after his military service ended. He eventually became a Supreme Court Justice, serving for 31 years.
2008 Must See: Mullen vs. Grandview
The top two teams from the Centennial League play in the final game of the season, Oct. 24, in a game that could decide the favorite for the 5A state playoffs. Grandview lost to Mullen last year in the third game of the year and Mullen went on to an undefeated regular season. However Mullen lost in the state playoffs to Douglas County, which Grandview defeated for the 5A state title.
On The Throne: Mullen
Mullen has the best record in Colorado over the past five seasons with a 61-7 mark, but it is two of those losses that haunt the Mustangs heading into the 2008 season. Coach Dave Logan’s team has gone undefeated each of the past two seasons only to lose in the playoffs. Mullen was 12-1 last year, losing to Douglass County. In 2006, the Mustangs won 13 in a row before falling to Columbine. Mullen did win a state title in 2004, posting a 14-1 overall mark. The Mustangs figure to be in the hunt for the 5A title again this season thanks to the return of junior line standout Nduka Onyeali, sophomore running back Adonis Ameen-Moore, and senior running back Josh Ford.
Best Rivalry: Akron vs. Limon
When it comes to small school football in Colorado, it doesn’t get any better than Akron vs. Limon. While the two teams don’t play each other during the regular season, they have been frequent competitors in the 1A state championship game. Limon, which is 60-3 over the past five seasons and a winner of a state-record 14 state championships, has defeated Akron twice in the finals in 2003 and 2005; however Akron defeated the Badgers last year to complete a 13-0 season. The loss was the only one of the year for Limon, which finished 12-1.
Future Star: Zach Thenell, Jr., QB, Bear Creek
The state career passing yardage marks could be in danger by the time Zach Thenell finishes his career at Bear Creek. The yardage records are very familiar to Bear Creek head coach Tom Thenell, since his quarterback Justin Holland set the record of 10,565 career yards between 1997 and 2000. Now Thenell’s son is coming off a sophomore season in which he led the state with 3,168 yards, the sixth best single season mark in state history. The Bears could be in for a huge offensive season with RB Tommy Flanagan, WR Dajuan Mack and OL Jeremiah Sirles all back in the fold this year along with Thenell.
Fun Fact
Ever play football with a frozen chicken? They do in Fruita, where every third weekend in May the town celebrates “Mike the Headless Chicken Festival.” It seems that in 1945, Mike was a chicken who was scheduled to be dinner one day. However after farmer Frank Olsen chopped off half of Mike’s head, the chicken continued to live. Frank decided not to have Mike for dinner and the headless chicken managed to survive for another 18 months, becoming somewhat of a local celebrity. The townspeople continue to honor Mike each year with a festival that includes chicken-related events, such as a football game played with a frozen chicken.
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR - Brandon Kaufman, Heritage
WR - Dajuan Mack, Bear Creek
WR - Jevon Reynolds, South
TE - DaVaughn Thornton, Denver East
OL - Jeremiah Sirles, Bear Creek
OL - Nduka Onyeali, Mullen
OL - Cody Sanders, Heritage
OL - Terry Alletto, Ponderosa
OL - Jack Harris, Chaparral
QB - Dakota Stonehouse, Glenwood Springs
QB - Zach Thenell, Bear Creek
RB - Joe Astorga, Douglas County
RB - Josh Morton, Poudre
RB - Tommy Flanagan, Bear Creek
Ath - Donovan Bowens, Pomona
K - Kip Smith, Legacy
DL - Nick Kasa, Legacy
DL - Aaron Wagler, Palisade
DL - Ryan Paulson, Legacy
DL - Valentino Dressler, Denver South
LB - Clarence Bumpas, Sierra
LB - Brian Ford, Alamosa
LB - Matt Musgrave, Rocky Mountain
LB - Todd Knight, Grandview
DB - Matt Tucker, Grandview
DB - Tyree Davis, Grandview
DB - TJ Shantz, Cherry Creek
DB - Alex Logan, Mullen
DB - Parker Orms, Wheat Ridge
P - Justin Jimmerson, Eaglecrest
