Buena Vista quarterback Caleb Graff has lit up opposing defenses this season, throwing for 1,851 yards and six times as many touchdowns as interceptions.
Staring him down from the secondary in the Class 2A semifinals on Saturday will be Kent Denver’s Ian Ferrell, who grabbed two interceptions and delivered a bone-rattling hit last week against Brush.
Graff versus Ferrell has the makings of quite a showdown, but Kent Denver coach Scott Yates sees plenty of potentially explosive matchups.
“The thing that is formidable about Buena Vista is their running game is very effective as well,” said Yates, who has guided the Sun Devils (9-2) to two undefeated state championship seasons and 14 league titles in his 24 years as head coach. “We knew we had to stop the run with Brush; this week, we have to stop both the run and the pass.”
Buena Vista (11-0), which last won a title in 1999, has a few poisons to pick from. There is Graff, who has completed 70 percent of his passes, and then there are backs Jake Fickle and Vance Ray. That may sound like a country music duo, but the only boot-stomping these two do is the kind that racks up yardage – a combined 1,770 this season.
Reverse the field, and the Demons’ defense will feel the fire. Kent Denver quarterback Will Deevy likes to throw to Ferrell, Matt Kelsic and Jacques Kindle, and running back Brendon Henderson exhibited his game-breaking ability with a 53-yard touchdown run last week.
Kent Denver is one of three teams from the Metro League still playing, a sign the 2A title runs through the city like it used to run through teams that make up the Patriot League.
The Metro owns the past three state titles, but from 1994 to 2000 current Patriot teams won six of eight championships, with Burlington taking four.
“As the pendulum has swung, our league is very stout,” Yates said. “I’m sure it will swing the other way one of these days.”
CLASS 2A SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
Faith Christian (11-0) at Holy Family (8-3)
Faith Christian is the defending 2A champion, and Holy Family won it all in 2002. One of them will get a chance to do it again this season.
The undefeated Eagles have been the talk of the classification, outscoring opponents 523-60 and showing little sign of weakness. Dustin Albright averages 11 yards every time he runs the ball, and Tom Payne, Jeremy Lewis and quarterback Tyler Funk all have rushed for more than 500 yards.
“We have to stop Albright. He is a pretty good running back,” Holy Family coach Mike Gabriel said. “But that whole offense is pretty … good. The thing about Faith is their ball control. They don’t let your offense touch the ball.”
Faith Christian beat the Tigers 42-14 in the last game of the regular season, but can’t overlook Holy Family. Backs Pat Chappell, Koehler Anderson and Tim Stockhausen have ground out the bulk of the team’s nearly 4,000 yards of total offense this season.
“Our line has to keep those two running backs out of the next level,” Faith Christian coach Blair Hubbard said. “They are dangerous to go the distance when they get free.”
Kent Denver (9-2) at Buena Vista (11-0)
Buena Vista ended a three-year run of first-round exits from the playoffs last week and Kent Denver is as deep into the playoffs as it has been since last winning a state title in 1991.
No team got within 16 points of the Demons this season until Platte Canyon forced Buena Vista to rally in the fourth quarter for a 15-14 victory in the first round. The Sun Devils lost big to Faith Christian early in the season and lost a close one to Denver Christian a few games later, but have been on a roll since.
Kent Denver forced six turnovers last week, and quarterback Will Deevy has a lot of options when he drops back to pass.
“We do have deep threats at receiver as well as possession guys, and the backs can catch the ball well out of the backfield,” Kent Denver coach Scott Yates said. “But we have to be able to move the ball and keep (Buena Vista’s) potent offense off the field.”
