WHERE
Warrior Stadium, Centaurus High School, 10300 S. Boulder Road, Lafayette
WHERE THE TEAMS STAND
Cherokee Trail Cougars (1-0) vs. Monarch Coyotes (1-0), ranked No. 6 in The Denver Post/9News Class 4A poll, in Skyline League play.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Early perusal of the classification’s overall depth continues, as will speculation that the league title is at stake and we’re only in Week 2 and the Skyline opener. That’s how much respect five-time defending league champion Monarch gets – its matchup against the next-best projected team is generally deemed a league title bout – by not losing a Skyline game since 2001.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The rest of 4A as we know it may be getting one last head-to-head look at these two programs unless there’s a postseason meeting in November or December. Realignment looms and Cherokee Trail will definitely move up in 2008 to 5A; Monarch, which has flirted with surpassing the current 1,661 5A cutoff, isn’t expected to change, even with 5A dropping its minimum to 1,641 for the next two-year cycle.
KEY MATCHUP
There is no misunderstanding – Monarch’s double-wing offense, which usually dictates the pace, will get as many blockers to the point of attack as possible for its rushers. Last week, in a 16-0 victory over 5A Eaglecrest, the Coyotes were 0-of-2 passing, but ran for 345 yards, 209 by Cale Soole. Cherokee Trail defenders Jordan Bible, Beau Schneider and Patrick Wilson must lead a charge to stop one of Colorado’s most consistent rushing machines.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Not long ago, Cherokee Trail sat alone by Aurora Reservoir, but is now being surrounded by ever-going development. The Cougars are 18-15 overall since beginning in 2004, including 0-2 in the playoffs. As for Louisville’s Monarch, which beat Cherokee Trail 30-14 last season, it owns a 30-game league winning streak and won 38 of 41 Skyline games since leaving the old Prairie League after 1999. The Coyotes are annual classification challengers and have not had a losing season since beginning play in 1998.
COACH SPEAK
“You have to maintain the line of scrimmage against (the Coyotes) and they will be at the point of attack with multiple blockers. On top of that, their blockers are really good.”
– Monte Thelen, Cherokee Trail coach
“(The Cougars) are big, they’ve put time in the weight room, they’re well-coached and sophisticated. We have to try to neutralize their passing game.”
– Phil Bravo, Monarch coach
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, it referenced an incorrect mascot for the Cherokee Trail Cougars.
