To be sure, the opponents in this week’s state football championship games are quite familiar with each other.
While top-seeded Yuma and three-time defending champion Akron will meet for the second time this season, defending 8-Man champion Dayspring Christian and Merino will square off for the fourth time in two years. They are meeting in the title game for the second time in as many years.
Akron, coached by Brian Christensen, is going for its fourth consecutive title against a Yuma team that ended its 46-game winning streak with a 17-14 victory on Oct. 23. Akron (11-1) was only eight seconds away from extending its streak against its North Central League rival when Yuma quarterback Mitch Wills scored on a 5-yard run. Akron had just gone ahead with 1:54 remaining on a 2-yard plunge by Jourdan Hottinger. In other words, expect this one to be close again.
"Yuma has a fine team, and the kids all know each other and we have the utmost respect for them," Akron coach Brian Christensen said. "It’s a chance for both of us to win a state title and both want to be at our best. It comes down to execution. We both play tough schedules, and I think we are both battle-tested. It should be fun."
The running game will be prominent for two of the classification’s top rushing attacks when the teams take to the field in Akron (1 p.m. Saturday). Yuma’s Joel Rhodes, who has rushed for 1,667 yards and scored 28 touchdowns, and teammate Nick Lovell (1,110, 11) will draw Akron’s attention once again. Add Grant Muirheid (642 yards rushing) to the mix and the Rams will have their hands full. Rhodes rushed for 111 against Akron in the first meeting.
On the other side, Yuma has to contain Hottinger, who has rushed for 1,816 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He had 199 against the Indians, and will team with quarterback Chance Friedly to keep the Indians defense honest. Friedly rushed for 78 yards and passed for another 99 to lead the Rams to a 28-21 semifinal victory at Rye.
Defensively, each team has been stout in their charge to the title game. The leaders for Akron have been Kendall Monasmith (120 tackles) and Hottinger (129). For Yuma, Joe Haag (55 tackles) and Seth Bauke (55 tackles) lead a balanced group.
"I think right now both sides are scheming against each other," Christensen said with a chuckle. "The kids have probably thought about the last loss, but we can’t dwell on it. I know it is totally clich
é, but we can’t turn the ball over and we’ve got to execute the three aspects of the game, offense, defense and special teams."
Gille said his team will be ready, looking forward to playing before a crowd on the plains that could be near 4,000.
"We’re thrilled to be here, to be playing against one of the premier teams and programs in the state," Yuma coach Keith Gille said. "But we all know how hard it is to beat the same team twice in the same year. We have a lot of respect for Brian and his kids and what he has done. I’m just honored to be a part of our league, schools and community."
In the 8-Man game, it seemed destined all season that Dayspring Christian and Merino, rivals in the Plains Division, would meet again. Merino is hoping for a repeat trend from last season, when Dayspring Christian won the regular-season meeting and the championship (26-8). Merino won the earlier regular-season game, 34-29, on Oct. 24. The Rams are after their first title since 2005.
"Really, there is no need to trade game tapes because it‘s like playing our own kids," Merino coach John Barber said. "I look for it to be a barnburner and I think anyone’s game. They have (Mike) Moore, and he’s a game changer. Their freshman running back, (Ben) Sanderford, has just excelled down the stretch and now is well groomed."
Merino has been led by a particularly balanced group, and Barber usually defers when asked to mention any standouts, although state coaches point to Bryar DeSanti and Wyatt Barber.
"They have the ability to get along well. It’s not just on the football field, but in just about everything they do here at school and community," coach Barber said.
Dayspring Christian returns to the title game with a roster filled with underclassmen. The Eagles have only four seniors, and they lost senior lineman Jared Ulmer this week to injury. Still, they have quarterback Mike Moore, receiver Wesley Lowes and all-state lineman Tim Wunder ready to go.
"We’re really a sophomore-laden team," Dayspring Christian coach Mick Holmes said. "Losing Jared is a blow going into the championship. I’m really pleased with the way the kids have progressed, and everyone is excited about another trip to the final."
Holmes said Moore has been the catalyst for the Eagles on offense, and likens him to DeSanti. Defensively, Wunder has been the leader.
"(Moore) is like Merino’s Bryar DeSanti, quick and versatile. For us, a key will be stopping DeSanti. He’s small, shifty and hard to tackle."
The biggest surprise this season has been the play of freshman running back Sanderford, whose brother Jared was the consensus player of the year last season.
"The first few games of the season he was a typical puppy dog, nervous and not sure of himself," Holmes said. "But in the course of the season he has really developed. He had a stellar game against Norwood (in the semifinals), rushing 13 times for 195 yards."
Adonis Ameen Moore, Mullen
File photo by Dennis Marpuri
Games of the Week
The other four classifications are at the semifinals stage, and here are the ones we like best:
Class 5A: Arvada West (11-1) at Mullen (12-0), Saturday.
Mullen drilled ThunderRidge 41-7 last week, while Arvada West ousted upstart Regis Jesuit 19-8. Mullen’s defense has been nothing but superb this season, as the Mustangs of coach Dave Logan have given up only 56 points. Against ThunderRidge, the defense allowed just 116 total yards. All-Colorado performer Nduka Onyeali and Beau Martin have helped the cause, with 17 sacks between them. Yet, Arvada West must also contain Mullen’s stellar running back, Adonis Ameen Moore, who has rushed for 1,242 yards.
Ameen Moore’s stats do not lead the state, but then he has spent several quarters on the bench as the Mustangs didn’t need his efforts in the second-half of overwhelming wins. Against ThunderRidge, he rushed 17 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Quarterback Johnny Miller completed only three passes last week, but all were to Rayshon Williams and resulted in TDs. Williams leads the team in receptions with 41 for 692 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s another ‘must-contain’ player for Arvada West.
Of note, Mullen is in the semifinals for the seventh consecutive season. A win would put them in the title game for the fifth time in six years.
Arvada West will counter at quarterback with Gavin Glanz, who has 2,218 yards, 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions this season. Mullen’s defense must not overlook the Wildcats receivers, especially team leader, Justin Castor (29 catches, 526 yards) and six others, all with more than 20 receptions. Included here is running back Issac Fairbairn (25 catches, 395 yards), who also is the team’s leading rusher (905 yards). If the game is close, Castor also is one of the state’s top kickers.
In the other semifinal, Pomona, with Tyler Pace (434 yards rushing the past two weeks), will be at undefeated Fairview. The Knights are after their first title-game appearance since 2001.
Class 4A: Monarch (12-0) at Heritage (11-1), Saturday.
Monarch, coached by Phil Bravo, needed four overtimes to defeat Loveland 37-31 in the quarterfinals, while Heritage, under Mike Griebel, beat Montrose 43-24. Heritage is unbeaten in 4A and has run off 11 consecutive wins after losing its season opener to 5A Columbine, 20-13.
Call this one a toss-up between Monarch, which loves to keep the ball on the ground and eat up the clock, and Heritage, which will try to take advantage of its more balanced attack.
Heritage quarterback Mitch Griebel has been the best player in the classification this season. Griebel, who leads the team in rushing (870 yards, 10 TDs), was an All-Colorado selection last year. He has passed for 1,657 yards and 29 touchdowns. His leading receiver is Shane Opitz (42 catches, 856-yards, 22 touchdowns).
Defensively, Blair Zimmerman (96 tackles) and Marcus Neal (82 stops) have been solid for Heritage. They will have to stop a running game that is tough to adapt to with only one week of preparation. Statistics for the Coyotes are not available, but Ryan Hamlin, Clay Chamberlain and Conner Dunn have been a tough trio to contain.
Hamlin had the winning touchdown in the fourth overtime against Loveland. Defensively, Monarch has allowed only 111 points this season, while scoring 477. The Coyotes are trying to get back into the championship game after having lost in 2007 to Pueblo West.
In the other semifinal, Longmont will be at defending champion Wheat Ridge. Longmont quarterback Jake Johnson, a first-team all-state selection last season, was sensational in the quarterfinals in ousting previously unbeaten Pine Creek. He passed for 417 yards (completing 21-of-29 passes) and three scores, while rushing for 51 yards and two TDs. Kyle Mews has been the top offensive threat for Wheat Ridge.
Class 3A: Steamboat Springs (12-0) at Pueblo Central (12-0), Saturday.
One thing for certain, this classification is guaranteed an undefeated state champion. That’s because the four remaining teams, including Valor Christian and Mountain View, are all 12-0.
Steamboat Springs advanced with a 31-7 victory against a much larger Windsor outfit, while Pueblo Central remained unbeaten after its long trip to Delta for a 34-7 win.
Defensively, Pueblo Central might have the edge as it beat two common opponents by larger margins. The Wildcats beat Palisade 34-0 in the first round, prior to the Delta win. Although it was much earlier in the season, Steamboat Springs defeated Delta, 36-27, and Palisade, 28-21.
Steamboat Springs, behind quarterback Austin Hinder (1,655 yards, 21 touchdowns), has a sizeable advantage in the passing game. But Central also can‘t let him run loose, as the University of California recruit has accumulated 769 yards on the ground and scored 11 touchdowns. Joe Dover, who has rushed for 1,139 yards and has caught 32 passes for 392 yards, also gives the Sailors some extra punch.
Defense will certainly be the key. And even with a small defensive line that averages less than 200 pounds, the Sailors have been superb. Darian Butler, Keenan Starbuck and Carl Steele are mainstays that Central quarterback Max Lerille and running back Keanu Valdez (1,461 yards, 20 touchdowns) want to avoid. That goes double for the Sailors linebacker Mitch Lekarczyk, who has 102 tackles and six sacks.
Lerille was on target against Delta passing for three touchdowns, and he also ran for a fourth touchdown. Still, the Wildcats prefer to get it done on the ground with Valdez, who has rushed for 1,461 yards and 20 TDs.
The Wildcats defense also has been superb this season, especially during the past five games, allowing only five touchdowns in that span. In the other game, Mountain View will be at Valor Christian. Mountain View has outscored its two playoff opponents 79-13, while Valor Christian ensured there will be a new champion by eliminating 2008 winner Glenwood Springs. The Eagles have scored 96 points in two playoff wins.
Class 2A: Platte Canyon (12-0) at Kent Denver (10-2), Saturday.
Kent Denver pulled the classification shocker in the quarterfinals when the Sun Devils knocked off defending champion Olathe. Now, they are seeking a bit of revenge after having lost to Platte Canyon, 21-14, in Week 7. Platte Canyon beat Holy Family 20-14 in the quarterfinals and is seeking its second trip to the championship game in the past three seasons. The Huskies were beaten by Platte Valley, 21-7 in the 2007 title tilt.
These teams like to run the football, and stopping each other’s top running backs should figure prominently in the game plans. Platte Canyon will have to stop Kent Denver’s Tyler Jackson, who has rushed for 2,479 yards (second best total in the state) and scored a whopping 31 touchdowns. He had 151 yards against Olathe.
On the other side, Kent Denver has to put a damper on the Huskies’ 1-2 punch of Mikey Gunkel (1,287 yards, 15 TDs) and Travis Robl (603 yards, four touchdowns). Quarterback Michael Clark and his .630 pass-completion percentage (559 yards, eight TDs) can’t be overlooked.
Defensively, the Sun Devils had allowed only six touchdowns and a field goal in their nine previous games before Olathe. Plattle Canyon has given up just 10 touchdowns in its past eight games.
Top-ranked and undefeated Faith Christian will be the heavy favorites when it plays host to Brush in the other semifinal. The Eagles have allowed only 77 points in 12 games and shut out Aspen 26-0 last week. Brush is the surprise team of the entire postseason. The Beetdiggers (8-4) lost their first four games of the season, but have won eight in a row since, including a 28-0 quarterfinals romp against Platte Valley. Faith Christian beat Brush 36-22 in last season’s quarterfinals.
MaxPreps Colorado editor Gerry Valerio contributed to this report. Follow Valerio on Twitter for Colorado high school sports updates.
