LAKEWOOD — One of Colorado’s advanced-placement football games is here.
In an opener of the Class 5A Big 8 League, the athleticism, skill and length of contest should be sizable tonight at 7 p.m. when Bear Creek meets Chatfield at Jefferson County Stadium in The Denver Post game of the week.
You may require a late snack — with all of the transition, ability for quick strikes and expected passing attempts.
Bear Creek, ranked No. 4 In The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, will be making its Denver-area debut, having played in Maryland and Grand Junction the first two weeks. However, these are the Bears we have known for nearly two decades: big, strong and full of offense — they have put up 76 points.
Add a wrinkle: Senior quarterback Zach Thenell has 520 yards passing, which isn’t unusual, but has 188 yards rushing, which is.
“I think you guys have underestimated him,” said his father and head coach, Tom Thenell.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by ninth-ranked Chatfield.
“Their offense is as deadly as I’ve seen it,” Chargers coach Bret McGatlin said. “(Zach’s) always been good. He must have worked his butt off in the offseason. That gives them a whole other threat.”
It’s a similar situation at Chatfield, in which the Chargers have enjoyed Wyoming-bound quarterback Sam Stratton throwing for three touchdowns and running for four more, including scoring bursts of 96, 82 and 68 yards in the same game.
Overall, the younger Thenell may have the more seasoned backfield and receivers, such as Lukas Lockett and Armoni Brewington, but Stratton can counter with the likes of Shaw Gifford and Kyle Slavin, a tight end committed to Colorado.
Speed will be on the higher end of the meter, certainly enough to expedite defensive adjustment on the fly.
Other games
Fort Collins (2-0) at Boulder (2-0)
7 p.m. today, Recht Field
The host Panthers are 2-0 for the first time since 2003, the most recent season in which they had a winning record (7-3). Second-year coach Jeff Santee saw his team’s 9-8 eyebrow-raising victory in the opener against Poudre backed up by the past week’s 38-14 thumping of Northglenn. Fort Collins, with Ben Marum, left, averaging nearly 30 yards per catch, has gone the opposite way — the Lambkins dominated Northglenn in Week 1 and followed with a 21-7 taming of Legacy, ordinarily a 5A Front Range League challenger.
Monarch (2-0) at Cherry Creek (1-1)
7 p.m. today, Stutler Bowl, ALT
4A Monarch, well-known for its ground game and also featuring highly athletic defensive end Josh Mitchell, had little trouble with 5A Thomas Jefferson (34-7) before handling a California team in Week 2. The Coyotes are strong across the lines and eat time (of possession) like a parking meter. Meanwhile, 5A Cherry Creek has been getting banged up, notably quarterback Kain Colter, left (torn labrum). He was used as a rusher and receiver last week in a 21-19 setback to Eaglecrest and remains day to day, coach Mike Brookhart said.
Mountain Vista (1-1) at Chaparral (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Stadium
Mountain Vista’s defense figures to be salty enough to keep it competitive in the 5A Southern. More pressing is the offense, which has produced only 26 points in two outings. Much has come from Clarence Graham (323 yards rushing) and Jesse Geary (three rushing touchdowns). More will be needed against Chaparral, which has displayed power and defense, most recently in a shutout of Douglas County. A line bent on coming together has freed Spencer Duran for 352 yards rushing and Andrew Loudenback for 323 passing.
Mullen (3-0) at
Rockhurst Jesuit (2-1)
6:30 p.m. Friday,
Dasta Memorial Stadium,
Kansas City, Mo.
Mullen’s spoonful of reality against the out-of-state Hawklets, who have been mentioned among the nation’s top programs, comes with a bad taste. The Mustangs lost as hosts in 2008. Having waxed three 5A Centennial foes, the numbers are there (122-14 differential in points). Quarterback Jonny Miller, left, has been effective (five touchdown passes) as 21 Mustangs have either thrown, rushed, caught or place-kicked the ball. Two weeks ago, the Hawklets fell 55-27 to Hutchinson, the top-ranked team in Kansas.
Greeley West (2-0)
at Fossil Ridge (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday, French Field
4A’s Northern is unleashing a rugged race. Greeley West, the 2008 state runner-up, has won 14 of its past 16 games. While quarterback Sean Blackmer, left, has been economical (20-of-30, 362 yards, four touchdowns), rusher Steffen Bunting has been on a binge, averaging 9 yards per carry. As for Fossil Ridge, which lost a wild one (41-38) to Windsor in Week 1, a passing attack rarely implemented by the SaberCats produced 231 yards against Skyline. Brennan Salz to Hayden Rowley was good for two long scores.
Longmont (2-0)
at Broomfield (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium
He was suspended for the nonleague opener against East, but Longmont quarterback Jake Johnson, left, returned the past week in a 4A Northern opener. He wasn’t sharp — 3-of-12, 63 yards — but he threw for a touchdown and ran for another in a 16-7 victory against Thompson Valley. If the Trojans get him going, they’re among the Northern favorites. Broomfield, not as senior-heavy as usual, was solid in handling Gateway 35-0 in Week 1, then led top-ranked Greeley West 6-0 before succumbing 28-6.
Conifer (2-0)
at Valor Christian (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
A rousing 35-25 decision of 2008 3A champion Glenwood Springs vaulted Conifer out of the gate. The Lobos burned Skyview by 36 points in their 3A Metro season debut and are aware of suddenly feisty Valor Christian, which surprised D’Evelyn 14-13 in Week 1, then whipped Alameda 48-7. Quarterback Brock Berglund, left, has thrown for 451 yards and three touchdowns as the newer Highlands Ranch school has come up with its first legitimate threat. Valor Christian has its inaugural class of seniors, who number only eight.
Platte Valley (2-0) at Faith Christian (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
This 2A nonleaguer has gained momentum as both programs enter with brisk, impressive credentials. Platte Valley slipped past 3A Roosevelt 7-6, then humbled Denver Christian 52-6. On the other end, Faith Christian hasn’t allowed a point, crushing Eagle Valley and Colorado Springs Christian by a total of 85-0. Platte Valley’s Broncos account for the second-smallest school in the rugged Patriot League. The Eagles are flying behind Micah Twedell (294 yards passing, four touchdowns) and Derek Lapore, left (206 yards).
Burlington (2-0) at Akron (2-0)
7 p.m. Friday
It can’t get much better. A late-summer Friday night in eastern Colorado . . . small-school football between traditional powers . . . towns shutting down and heading to the game. Burlington is fresh from handling rival Wray 27-7 and two weeks from outlasting 2A Lamar. The bigger story is Akron, the three-time defending 1A champion that has won 41 consecutive games. Denver got a peek at the Rams the past week, when they drubbed Lutheran 42-7 with Kendall Monasmith, left, Chance Friedly, Jourdan Hottinger and Byron Guy at the front.
Lyons (2-0) at Lutheran Parker (0-2)
1 p.m. Saturday
In another early-season opportunity to view the higher end of small schools, a well-drilled Lyons squad will invade the metro area in the 1A Metro North. The Lions have yet to be seriously challenged as Ronald Valadez, left, is tops on the team in rushing and passing. Defensively, Lyons has permitted fewer than 10 points eight times since the start of the 2008 season. Newer Lutheran Parker, 5-4 a year ago after moving up from 8-man, has yet to get going, falling twice by a combined 70-22.
