HIGHLANDS RANCH — There is no truth to the rumor that Montrose has shed its western-slope status.
It just seems that way.
The Indians had little trouble Saturday afternoon handling Rock Canyon 37-7 at Shea Stadium in Class 4A nonleague play on their third trip in four weeks to the east side of the Rocky Mountains.
“I don’t know who has done that,” Indians coach Todd Casebier said.
In improving to 5-1, the Indians, ranked No. 8 in The Denver Post/9News 4A poll, were home last week against defending 4A champion Pueblo West after having made the 5 1/2-hour trip — twice — to the metropolitan area for games against Adams City and Golden.
The Indians have won the road games by an aggregate 133-16, and Casebier said “we did get to play a lot of kids in each of them,” but appeared ready to stay on their side of the hills for the stretch run of the regular season.
Another oddity — they haven’t played a league game. They open at home next weekend against Central (Grand Junction) in the Southwestern League.
On Saturday, the Indians were thorough. Their fronts were stout and active against the Jaguars (3-3), they created turnovers in the Rock Canyon end and their trademark rushing game of playing keep-away and consuming time was on display. Jordan Passehl ran for 120 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a reception.
Sophomore quarterback Nathan Robertson, who stepped in after Zero Week when starter Kirk English suffered a hand injury that has kept him relegated to defense, got the ball to appropriate rushers and threw three touchdown passes when the Jags’ defense was stacked in the box.
“I’m getting used to everything,” Robertson said.
Conversely, the inexperienced Jags struggled on a windy afternoon and never seriously challenged.
“(The Indians) are good at what they do, and we’re a young team,” said Jags coach Tom Lynch, whose team also experienced penalty trouble.
Montrose 10 14 13 0 — 37
Rock Canyon 0 7 0 0 — 7
M — Berry 3 run (Hedrick kick). M — FG Hedrick 29. M — Hedrick 33 pass from Robertson (Hedrick kick). M — Passehl 28 pass from Robertson (Hedrick kick). RC — Krietemeier 30 pass from Sandlin (Albershardt failed). M — Passehl 2 run (kick failed). M — Alexander 3 pass from Robertson (Hedrick kick).
