No. 8 Chaparral (9-2) at No. 1 Mullen (11-0)
Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
Can you say rematch? Mullen won 35-0 in Week 1. Of course, both teams have come a long way since early September. . . . The host Mustangs haven’t lost since Week 9 of 2008 (to Grandview). Since then, they have won two championships, 30 games in succession and owned 5A. . . . Mullen also won three straight titles from 1978-80 in 3A (in a 4A system), with the 1979 crown shared in a 22-22 tie with Broomfield. . . . Senior running back Adonis Ameen-Moore has 714 career carries and 75 touchdowns. . . . The Mustangs’ Cyler Miles began with an interception on the first play from scrimmage against Chaparral. He has yet to throw another. . . . The Wolverines went 3-2 while senior quarterback Andrew Loudenback was forced to sit out the first half of the season because of a transfer at the beginning of his junior year. Since Week 6, coach John Vogt said, “We’ve been a different team.” . . . Over six games, Loudenback has 15 touchdown passes and three interceptions. . . . Jordan Serena has caught 11 scoring passes, and Christian Gann, who was the Wolverines’ QB the first five games, has returned to receiver and hauled in five scoring passes.
No. 21 Grandview (7-4) vs. No. 4 Rangeview (11-0)
Aurora Public Schools Stadium, Friday, 6 p.m.
These two came about when Aurora decided to move toward Kansas. For years, Rangeview was viewed as the new jewel of Aurora Public Schools; Grandview was key as the Cherry Creek School District continued to get in on the suburban-sprawl fun. . . . The joke’s on you — who out there figured either Grandview or Rangeview would be in the state semifinals? . . . At one point, the Wolves were 3-4. . . . Grandview linebacker Eddie Yarbrough has been stellar, heading a defense that has been up to recent program standards. . . . Offense remains the thing for the Wolves, as in, can they generate enough of it? Quarterback Jordan Schlehuber says “Yes!” He has five scoring passes in the postseason. . . . Predictably, the Raiders’ three front-liners (Jaleel Awini, Jonathon Mathews and John Tidwell) have been terrific. However, Rangeview’s depth and line play have also improved, additional factors in its success. . . . The Raiders may have been relegated by design to one of the two “also-ran” leagues in the latest two-year alignment, but they won the East Metro in a walk and have impressed all viewers. Speed in the playoffs is always a plus.
No. 2 Regis Jesuit (11-0) at No. 10. Grand Junction (10-1)
Stocker Stadium, Friday, 6 p.m.
Not everyone is a fan of rotating quarterbacks or putting them in randomly. But it works for the visiting Raiders. Luke Longfield and Eystin Salum have been seeing considerable time, and the two teamed up again in a 49-21 whipping of Arapahoe in the second round. . . . Leading tackler Michael O’Dwyer ran for a late touchdown the past week. . . . Unsung? Two-time basketball champion Drew Dyer passed on football a year ago to concentrate on getting a scholarship but came to his senses, returned to football and has been a large contributor as a two-way end. . . . Grand Junction owns the Western Slope’s only two big-school playoff victories in 17 seasons. . . . Over two playoff games, Jerreon Dennis has 251 yards rushing and five touchdowns. . . . The Tigers have won 10 consecutive games. . . . Toughness, almost always a trait of teams from the left side of the state, is there for Grand Junction. Through eight postseason quarters, Tigers linemen have won more battles than they’ve lost, and the offensive side has permitted QB Sean Rubalcaba (2,706 yards of offense and a hand in 28 touchdowns) to showcase his all-around skills.
No. 3 Ralston Valley (11-0) vs. No. 6 Cherokee Trail (10-1)
Legacy Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
So much for prognosticating; neither team made The Denver Post/9News preseason top 10. . . . Ralston Valley remains high on the interest scale with an undefeated showing so far in its first season in 5A. Here’s more interesting information — 15 different Mustangs had a rushing attempt in a 54-6 victory over Westminster in the first round. . . . Leading rusher Reilly Hauptman ran for 140 yards and all four touchdowns in a 28-7 victory over Bear Creek last week. . . . Defense? The Mustangs have permitted a combined 20 points over their past three games. . . . Cherokee Trail has won eight games in a row. . . . There’s no secret who will be the focus for the Cougars — Thomas Singleton has rushed and passed for nearly 2,000 yards, with 21 touchdowns. . . . After getting shut out by Mullen in Week 3, the Cougars recorded four shutouts in succession and had a span of zero points allowed in 18 straight quarters over six games. They have permitted only 20 points in two postseason games. . . . The Cougars are 23-10 since joining 5A in 2008. In 2007, their final season in 4A, they lost 6-0 to Monarch in the semifinals.
