THORNTON — How good are these Rangeview Raiders?
“I think we’re pretty good,” Raiders senior John Tidwell said. “I think we’re going to kick the (playoff) door down.”
They’ll know more about their chances at extra football on Sunday, when the Class 5A postseason pairings are announced.
Rangeview, which capped its first undefeated regular season (9-0) since 1989 Friday night with a 68-0 spanking of Thornton, won the first-year East Metro League, one of two — the Denver Prep League is the other — in the current two-year alignment designed to keep historically lesser big-school programs within similar competition.
It’s arguable the Raiders, who won the league at 7-0, didn’t belong there, but coach Dave Gonzales quickly pointed to Aurora Public Schools officials who wanted to keep city schools together.
“It was interesting how that worked out. They wanted to keep the integrity of the city,” Gonzales said.
Like everyone else, he’s trying to get a handle on where his team stands heading into the 32-team playoff bracket. Entering the final week, they had defeated only three teams with winning records — Arapahoe, Gateway and Northglenn — among nine foes with an aggregate 29-43 record.
But Gonzales is confident.
“It’s hard to get out there and scout, and you know there are quality teams out there, and you kind of try to picture how you match up,” he said. “All I know is, I know my guys. When it comes to postseason play, you know as well as I do that it comes down to matchups, strength against strength, and I like our chances.”
Rangeview entered the final weekend of the 5A regular season fourth in victory points in the wild-card system, trailing, in order, Mullen, Regis Jesuit and Ralston Valley. It was ahead of such prominent other programs or league champions as Columbine, Cherokee Trail, Chaparral and Fort Collins.
“This is an exceptional year for us,” Gonzales said. “We don’t have the kind of program where we reload every year. We’ve kind of groomed these guys and we knew what was coming for their senior years.”
Color it substantial, notably through quarterback Jaleel Awini and running Jonathon Mathews, and Tidwell, a receiver and defensive back. On Friday, as the Raiders did whatever they wanted, Awini threw for his 17th and 18th touchdowns. Mathews’ two touchdowns upped his season total to 18. Tidwell did his best DeAngelo Hall impression by returning two interceptions for scores.
“And this is the best group of ‘Hogs’ (linemen) we’ve had,” Gonzales said.
Now the Raiders wait for Sunday.
“We’ve done it with class and dignity, and have handled it well,” Gonzales said. “But they know the second season starts next week. It’s nice being 9-0, but they know that’s not it.” Rangeview 27 27 14 0 — 68 Thornton 0 0 0 0 — 0
R — Mathews 6 run (Handy kick). R — Tidwell 48 interception return (Handy kick). R — Schwabe 21 pass from Awini (kick failed). R — Mathews 2 run (Handy kick). R — Awini 45 run (kick failed). R — Hunholz 36 pass from Awini (Handy kick). R — Awini 23 run (Handy kick). R — Tidwell 29 interception return (Handy kick) . R — Sellers 21 run (Handy kick). R — Brown 14 run (Handy kick).
