It will be on Friday night. Early September. Eastern Colorado. Smashmouth football between two traditional powerhouses. Wray at Burlington.
What could be better?
“It should be the usual Wray-Burlington donnybrook,” Burlington coach Glynn Higgs said as The Denver Post’s game of the week visits what should be a crowded Consbruck Field in Class 1A nonleague.
A year ago, these programs split two games. Wray won during the regular season, and the host Cougars took the state title game.
Both were decided by less than a touchdown — a combined 28-27 in favor of Wray — and yes, both teams agreed they had more than enough chances.
“Wray-Burlington usually comes down to turnovers, special teams, a play here or there and tackling,” Eagles coach Levi Kramer said.
And don’t forget rushing attacks and defense, the basis of all small-school play. These guys aren’t going to fill the air with footballs nearly as much as they will take the field and announce that they’re looking to find the toughest guys on the field that night.
Last week, Burlington won 20-9 at Class 2A Lamar for its 12th consecutive victory.
Burlington’s Christian Ramos led the way with 122 yards rushing.
“Our kids have handled their success well,” Higgs said, citing senior leadership.
Meanwhile, Alec Ellis’ two rushing touchdowns lifted the Eagles past Chase County (Neb.), 32-7.
Wray and Burlington are a little beaten up in the early going — Wray’s running back-linebacker Derek Schulz and two-way lineman Coby Buck are questionable — but everyone is aware of the game’s importance.
“They’re Burlington,” Kramer said. “Hopefully, we can step up and match that.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
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TE-LB SHADD WHITMORE
Every small-school football team has a player who exemplifies the toughness of smashmouth play.
In Burlington’s case, it’s Whitmore, a senior who doesn’t leave the field much, which is the way coach Glynn Higgs wants it. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder was the leading tackler on a Cougars team that won last year’s Class 1A state championship and allowed only 130 points in 13 games.
Whitmore, 2010 1A all-state honorable mention by The Denver Post, was big last week in a victory at 2A Lamar and is being asked to be the defensive leader on the way to a possible repeat.
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
