FOOTBALL
GAME OF
THE WEEK
WHO
ThunderRidge (3-0 overall, 1-0 in the Mountain Plains League), ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News Class 4A poll vs. Green Mountain Rams (3-0, 2-0), 4A’s No. 2
WHEN
7 p.m., today
WHERE
Jefferson County Stadium, Sixth Avenue and Kipling Street, Lakewood
WHAT’S AT STAKE
When the two top-ranked squads meet, most of the details are insignificant. How about the league title up for grabs? Yes, it’s early, but most figure it will go through one of these teams, so tonight’s winner has one huge hurdle behind it.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Passing. Historically, these are two running teams but both are looking for balance. It’s a bigger step for the Rams. Since the departure of longtime coach Don McGatlin (now offensive coordinator at South Park) his son and offensive coordinator, Bret, has revamped the offense. ThunderRidge has quarterback Kyle Black and his favorite target, Eric Moats, while the Rams counter with Marc Amos and tight end Jeremy Espinoza. Although you should expect a good battering with the running game, the team that can hit a home run with a well-timed pass could swing the outcome.
KEY MATCHUP
In the trenches, beef against beef, is where tonight’s game will be won or lost. Who can be the most physical and sustain it? This is a matchup of full- sized Division I-A prospects who attack the line of scrimmage like bugs charging into a fan blade. Last season, the Rams beat the Grizzlies 19-17 by stuffing their running game and beating them up inside. The Grizzlies probably will send a heavy dose of bruising fullback Nick Lind, because the status of injured tailback Mike Coffey is in question. The Rams have Amos, fullback Zac Pauga, Kheeland Hicks and X-factor Gailon Greene Jr. Grizzlies senior James Tucker is one of the state’s top linebackers.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
It’s a rubber match. The series is tied 2-2 and dates to 1999, when the Rams crushed the Grizzlies en route to their second state title. ThunderRidge won the next two before Green Mountain eked out last season’s victory.
COACHSPEAK
ThunderRidge’s Joe Johnson
“We’re going to have to commit to play sound run defense. It has got to start there. We’ve done very well against the run on defense, so I hope we can continue that.”
Green Mountain’s Kevin Rice
“The key is not taking a play off. It’s scary. You have to be so tuned in and so locked in to everything. It takes a lot of training to play a team like this.”
ALSO …
Field hockey
There will be a rare Saturday night game, and it should be good – Colorado Academy, last season’s state runner-up, will meet Cherry Creek, a 2004 semifinalist, at the Stutler Bowl, 6:30 p.m.
Boys soccer
A top-10, nonleague matchup in 5A will be Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Aurora. Defending state champion Smoky Hill will host Regis, 1 p.m.
Softball
Jump around town for interesting league play. In the 5A Front Range, Rocky Mountain will be at Horizon today, 4 p.m., the same time for 4A Jeffco’s Conifer at Ralston Valley. Saturday morning’s (10 o’clock) attention will be on 5A Jeffco, where Pomona will visit Arvada West.
Volleyball
Eaton, a 3A power, will be in the Denver area to take on Faith Christian, 6 p.m, Saturday.
COMPILED BY BRIAN FORBES
AND NEIL H. DEVLIN
