CLASS 5A: Semifinals
(6) Douglas County (10-2) at (2) Mullen (12-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium
What’s up? The past two times they met, it was terrific — Douglas County beat Mullen 35-13 for the 2005 5A title, the Huskies’ first in 109 years, and the Mustangs won at Douglas County in the 2006 semifinals, a 41-38 triple-overtime thriller and benchmark, big-school game. Good news from Huskies land: “I think we’re peaking at the right time and am so proud of our seniors,” coach Jeff Ketron said. Seems the older players had to adjust some attitudes after a selfish start. Douglas County has won six games in a row and is getting complete production. Running back Jose Astorga has 10 touchdowns in three playoff victories and is coming off a 214-yard rushing performance against Thomas Jefferson. The Huskies are on a three-year roll of 34-5, 10-1 in the playoffs. On defense, end Nick Hernon and back Tyler Jackson are about as good of a 1-2 punch as there is. Ketron on the Mustangs: “On the offensive line, they’re better, I like what they’re doing with their running backs — they rotate guys who are effective in their own way — and they’re well-coached. They sit there and find out what the defense gives them, then they take it. It’s why they’re good.” Mullen is in at least the semifinals for the fifth consecutive year under coach Dave Logan, who has made it 10 times in his 15-year career. Logan on the Huskies: “They’re a very talented team, well-coached, and it has kind of been a trademark of the Douglas County teams recently. We have great respect for the job Jeff and his staff does. They’re well-coached and good on defense, and that’s the truth.” The Mustangs, bidding for their fourth consecutive title game, held Legacy to less than 200 yards of offense last week in the quarterfinals. Mullen’s offensive line has three starters from a year ago, including Nebraska-bound tackle Bryce Givens, and they have been the focal point of its offense along with running backs by committee, notably freshman Adonis Ameen Moore (1,040 yards and a team-leading 16 touchdowns). Josh Ford has 10 touchdowns and Ryan Heagle has been versatile. Timmy Tancik, has been productive and efficient with only three interceptions. Senior linebacker Cameron Friend and sophomore defensive end Nduka Onyeali brought lots of heat last week.
What’s next? Bring the generators and extra batteries. It will be about power. “(The Huskies) are going to test our ability to hold up physically and we have to be ready to answer,” Logan said. Finesse will be replaced by rock-’em, sock-’em play.
(9) Bear Creek (10-2) at (5) Grandview (10-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Legacy Stadium
What’s up? They had a two-year, nonleague thing from 2002-03, with Grandview winning both games by an aggregate 70-13. The visiting Bears were crushed 56-20 by Columbine in the final week of the regular season to lose the South Metro League title, but were marvelous with a 19-point fourth quarter last week to unseat the defending champions 31-28. Say what you will about smallish sophomore quarterback Zach Thenell, son of head coach Tom, but include the following: He’s tough, understands the offense, knows where to go with the ball and has 33 touchdown passes. Said Coach Thenell: “Our kids never give. It doesn’t matter what they’re up against, they don’t care.” Junior Tommy Flanagan leads the Bears in rushing (1,327 yards) and receiving (51 receptions, 861 yards). What’s better, the fact the Bears, who may start as many as 11 sophomores, sucked it up across their defensive front against Columbine last week or that their skill corps also includes the likes of Dajuan Mack (65 receptions), Casey Mills (53 receptions) and Lucas Lockett (1,064 yards rushing and receiving)? Bear Creek has been in two title games under Thenell, losing in 1997 and 2000. The Wolves began 1-2 and didn’t win a game in Colorado until Week 4. Said coach John Schultz: “In (nonleague and the Centennial opener), we thought we were pretty good, then got popped in the mouth.” Once things, including attitude, were corrected, it’s no coincidence Grandview won nine games in a row. Grandview is in its second semifinals appearance and is in search of its first finale. Senior Bo Bolen has run for 25 touchdowns, thrown for one and caught another. Richie Hitz has settled in at quarterback and Schultz said last week’s 43-23 decision of Heritage was his team’s most balanced offensive effort. Defensively, Grandview is feared. Nose guard Cody Gilmore is its weight-bearing beam, but overall athleticism is good, secondary can run with any receiver and pursuit sideline-to-sideline may be unmatched.
What’s next? Bears, coming off an emotional high, need to guard against mental lag. They’ll also need to run the ball to keep the Wolves honest. Grandview would do well to relax and keep its tremendous roll on target.
Neil H. Devlin
CLASS 4A: Semifinals
(5) Palisade (10-2) at (1) Falcon (12-0)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Falcon Stadium
What’s up? It’s the perfect showdown between greenhorn and graybeard. Everything is new for the Falcons, whose long-suffering program hadn’t seen the postseason since 1992 and never won a playoff game — until now. Catch running back Keenen Ballage if you can. The second-leading rusher in 3A this season with 2,231 yards, he won the 4A state title in the 100-meter dash last season in track. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, haven’t missed the playoffs since 1999 and have won five 3A state championships since 1994, most recently in 2003. Always a power ground team, Aaron Wagler and Zach Adair have more than 2,000 combined rushing yards, but quarterback Jake Appling has helped balance the offense.
What’s next? Falcon this season has knocked off such traditional powerhouses as Florence, Rifle and Alamosa, as well as Pueblo County, one of the other semifinalists and last season’s runner- up. What’s another one?
(3) Pueblo County (11-1) at (10) Berthoud (10-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Max Marr Stadium
What’s up? After posting a 2-8 record in 2005 — a good year by comparison to when coach Jeff Wilson took over in 2000 — the Hornets have gone 22-4 since and were one game shy of the school’s first football title last season. There are no secrets to Pueblo County’s fierce and straight-ahead mentality; the offense grinds out nearly 300 yards a game on the ground, and the defense lives to hit. In the first round, the Spartans ended a 21-year hex with a come-from- behind road victory against Elizabeth. They looked more comfortable beating Sterling in the quarterfinals. It’s all about momentum on offense and stingy defense for Berthoud, which doesn’t put up big numbers but knows how to win the close games.
What’s next? Remembering 2006: Berthoud was perfect in the regular season, only to be forced out in the first round again. The Hornets ran into a once-in-a-generation offensive juggernaut in Alamosa in the title game. Each side is wondering if 2007 is the year.
Brady Delander
CLASS 3A: Semifinals
(4) Cherokee Trail (12-0) at (9) Monarch (11-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Warrior Stadium, Centaurus
What’s up? If you love nasty defense that can and will make plays, throw on your Steve Atwater jersey and get to Lafayette. When these teams met in Week 2, the Cougars won 19-7, thanks in part to a 98-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Antoine Jones — one of three defensive scores in the game. Can the Cougars keep the Coyotes in check again? That will be the key to this game. In 11 victories this season, Monarch is averaging 51.6 points per game and has six shutouts. The Cougars, your Skyline League champions, averaged 41 points in the regular season and gave up fewer than three per game, thanks to eight shutouts. In two playoff games, the Cougars have averaged just 12.5 points. Monarch has suffered no such power outage — the Coyotes have scored 90 points in the playoffs and knocked off top-seeded Ralston Valley. Playing without all-state quarterback Gabe Walsh (torn ACL) shouldn’t be that big of a factor for the Cougars. Walsh threw for just 23 yards in that Week 2 victory. This game will be played almost exclusively between the tackles, with one big play possibly tipping the scales like it did on Sept. 7.
What’s next? The Coyotes envisioned playing in more state championship games since last winning in 2002, and being this close should bode well. The Cougars? The baseball team already made history, why not the football squad?
(6) Pueblo West (10-2) at (2) Broomfield (12-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium
What’s up? While running back Ryland Snow has the gaudy numbers and clearly is Broomfield’s engine, the Eagles will keep you honest. Quarterback Ted MacDonald is accurate and comfortable coming off a bootleg and throwing on the run. He hides the ball extremely well, too, which causes a defense to have visibility problems, considering Broomfield’s big offensive line. Then there is fullback Chip Rollert, a hulking mound of power who runs the draw with a vengeance and can catch the ball. The Cyclones will bring a heavy dose of running back Joe Torres and a whole mess of their physical defense, which has been the tipping point for them in two surprising playoff victories. Pueblo West’s passing game has been quiet by design — although, if forced, quarterback Chaz Vaughn can wing it. He has good targets, including Ryan Wormington. Here’s a sight and sound that should happen often: Snow getting past his line and meeting up with Cyclones linebacker Tony Chavarria. Cringe and enjoy.
What’s next? Broomfield, which lost in the 2001 final, hasn’t won a state football title since 1984. Pueblo West has just two state titles in the young school’s history and both were in softball.
Brian Forbes
