Fairview football coach Tom McCartney said he has plenty to be pleased about when it comes to the accomplishments of his team. To be sure, the Knights have responded well, and then some.
Fairview will take a 9-0 record and the state's No. 2 ranking into the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Knights open against Grand Junction Central (4-5).
“I’m definitely very pleased with our season and definitely pleased with our defense,” said McCartney, who has been at Fairview for 18 seasons. “We didn’t play as well as we wanted last year on D so that was a big focal point. I just believe in the biggest games this year our defense has stepped up when needed.
“Our quarterback play with Ben Schumacher has been extremely steady and consistent and we‘ve been able to run the ball behind Tucker (Tharp),” McCartney added. “So we are definitely proud of them. I guess if I had to answer a question about a surprise, would be the way we’ve played when some key players were out with injuries or with the flu. I’ve been impressed with the team’s grit and perseverance and with what we have been able to accomplish.”
Schumacher, a 6-foot, 185-pounder has passed this season for 1,111 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 763 yards. Tharp responded this season, rushing for 1,071 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns.
“I don’t think any of us were surprised at all with our season,” Tharp said. “We’ve had this mentality the whole year. We’ve stepped up our defense this year, mainly getting more physical. I think learning a second position has been a key for several of us. A lot of our guys have learned to go both ways. We have a lot of depth and that is one of the main things that has helped. Everyone is excited about being 9-0 and we are ready to get this thing going for state.”
Even though the Knights are unbeaten and the Front Range League champions, Tharp, Schumacher and defensive back Ken Bell say the Knights will not look past any opponent.
“That’s for sure,” Schumacher responded. “The biggest game is always the next one. It is just that kind of mentality, one game at a time that has gotten us here. I think a key for me has been confidence in myself and confidence that we can make the plays we need to make and that I can make the decisions I need to make as quarterback. You believe everyone is going to get the job done. You can look a teammate in the eye and know they are going to put it all out there on the field.”
Bell (6-2, 170), a cornerback, has overcome injuries this season and has come back to play a key role on defense. The unit has been stout, as the Knights have given up only 99 points.
“The key here is that we challenged ourselves to play phenomenal defense this year,” Bell said. “We worked hard this summer and heading into the season we did a great job of what we call stressing our A, B, Cs. It is tackling, coverage skills, hitting hard and doing a lot that we have put emphasis on in practice. That is what brings our team together, our pursuit, our wanting to get to the ball.”
Grand Junction Central is coming off a big win, knocking Durango from the ranks of the unbeaten, so Fairview knows the Warriors will be riding high.
“Central got our attention,” McCartney said. “They got one of our (league) teams, Horizon, and shut them out and we didn’t do that. They went toe-to-toe with a Centennial team, Eaglecrest and beat them, and they beat an 8-0 Durango team that was supposed to win their conference. They have size, they are bigger than us and their playmakers are solid. They will be ready to go and we need to be ready to go.”
Bell summed up nicely what the Knights have been able to accomplish so far.
“It has been a while since Fairview has been up here. It is a good feeling, but we are not going to dwell on it. Nine-0 is great, but we are in the postseason and November and December are the months most people remember.”
Top performances last week
Platte Valley’s Jordan Smith ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more to Marcus Walker and Kaleb Arnold to lead the Broncos to a 51-0 victory against University.
Class 5As top-ranked Mullen proved it does not have to win games with a rushing or passing attack. The Mustangs improved to 9-0 thanks to a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rayshon Williams and a 46-yard pass interception by Cole Gilmore. They also got a 4-yard run by Adonis Ameen-Moore in the 21-0 victory against Grandview.
It appears that Overland’s Michael Hall is getting well. In leading the Trailblazers to a 45-14 victory against Eaglecrest, Hall scored four touchdowns on runs of 1, 27 and 58 yards and on a 32-yard pass reception from Michael Bixenmann.
Mitchell’s Mon’Darrius Benson scored five touchdowns while pacing the Marauders to a 40-28 victory against Coronado.
Conifer’s Kalvin Winter scored on three short runs and returned an interception for a fourth touchdown in the Lobos’ 41-0 victory against Arvada.
Returning fumbles for TDs was en vogue last week: D’Evelyn scored on two fumbles in the Jaguars’ 48-12 victory against Alameda. Alec Comito carried one back for a 35-yard score and Luke Stratman’s went for 17-yards; Falcon’s Paul Rotering returned his recovery 68 yards in a 24-12 win against Pueblo County; Palisade’s Kelly Davis returned it 64 yards in a 21-0 victory against Rifle; Zane Jandreau scampered 35 yards in Dayspring Christian’s 77-14 win against Silver State; Hinkley’s Zach Lopez recovered a loose ball in the end zone to lift the Thunderbirds to a 6-0 victory against crosstown rival, Aurora Central. The longest of the week goes to Arapahoe’s Will Ratterman as he traveled 82 yards to help the Warriors defeat Smoky Hill 34-24.
In Dayspring Christian’s win Mike Moore and Ben Sanderford each scored on 55-yard interceptions and Wes Lowe added a third with a 15-yard interception return. Moore also completed his only three pass attempts for TDs
Cheyenne Mountain made use of the big guy in a 40-12 victory against Mesa Ridge. Jon Rossi, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tackle, scored on runs of 3 and 5 yards in the win, his only two carries of the season.
Games of the Week (Regular Season)
Class 4A: Durango (8-1) at Montrose (8-1), Friday.
The Southwestern League title is on the line in this battle and an automatic berth in the 4A playoffs is also at stake. Durango was stunned last week, losing to Grand Junction Central by giving up the winning touchdown with only 2:14 left in the game. If Durango is to rebound, the Demons will have to contain Jordan Passehl, who has rushed for 1,099 yards, and Glayden Berry, who has chipped in with 700 on the ground. Montrose quarterback Nathan Robertson has also been sharp. Defensively, Bryce Gaber of Montrose has been exceptional this season with 107 tackles.
Class 3A: D’Evelyn (8-1) at Valor Christian (9-0), Friday.
This one will decide the Metro League championship. Valor Christian won the first meeting this season, 14-13. D’Evelyn likes to throw the football, and Caleb Flack has been solid this season passing for 2,190-yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Connor Davis (49 catches, 728 yards, 9 TDs) and Mark Neely (37 receptions, 783 yards) have been his main targets. Quarterback Brock Berglund has been solid for Valor Christian, passing for 1,400 yards, 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He’s a double threat, as he also leads the team in rushing with 536 yards.
Class 2A: Faith Christian (9-0) at Erie (8-1), Friday.
A win by Faith Christian locks up the title in the Flatirons League, but a loss could result in a three-way tie for first with Holy Family. Faith Christian beat Holy Family last week, 25-14, while Erie’s lone loss was to the Tigers. Faith Christian has been dynamic on defense this season, as the Eagles have given up only 34 points. They have scored a whopping 389 behind quarterback Micah Twedell, who has passed for 1,144 yards and rushed for 412. Erie loves to run the ball, and Alex Ortega answered the call gaining 1,579 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. Levi Hammett (466 yards) and Billy Liko (447) help keep opposing defenses honest.
For a playoff overview on Class 5A, Class A, Class A 8-Man and Class A 6-Man click here.
