There’s one definitive way to gauge the caliber of your classification. Play the best teams you can find in nonleague action.
Florence and Kent Denver will do just that in The Denver Post game of the week Saturday at Justin DeSorrento Memorial Field in Cherry Hills Village.
“Sounds like there’s a bunch of good teams out there; a lot of teams are better,” Florence coach Mark Buderus said of Class 2A.
Said Kent Denver’s Scott Yates: “It’s huge. You need to know what’s out there, and the kids can get an idea of what the competition is throughout the state. It only serves you well.”
Florence (3-0), top-ranked in The Denver Post 2A media poll, has been impressive. The Huskies handled defending 3A champion Elizabeth in Zero Week, crushed Alamosa by 35 points on the road the next week, then toppled defending 2A champion Olathe, which ended the Huskies’ season in the 2010 semifinals, this past week.
Linebacker-fullback Tyler Faoro and quarterback Cody Nichols have been Huskies leaders working behind an experienced offensive line.
“We’re playing hard and flying around better,” Buderus said.
Yates called Florence “polished for this early in the season as evidenced by a lot of its kids returning who have been in the playoffs.”
He wouldn’t mind some of that polish for the No. 3 Sun Devils (2-0). They began with a thrilling, overtime victory over 3A Silver Creek and survived four touchdown passes by quarterback Austin Apodaca, then had what appeared to be bus lag from a four-hour trip to Lamar before winning that game.
“We’re learning about ourselves,” Yates said.
The Sun Devils are still trying to feel good about certain replacements from a year ago, but, as Buderus noted: “Oh, man, they have great skill kids. It makes you sick to watch them. They’re so quick, they’re playmakers.”
Two of those playmakers are receivers Collins Gantz and Bailey Tills, who can make the Huskies nervous on defense.
Buderus said his team “is better than I thought we’d be.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Player to watch
Matt Florence, QB
Kent Denver quarterback Matt Florence will be playing Saturday against Florence the team, so paying attention to the public-address announcer will be a good idea.
In a season-opening victory against Class 3A Silver Creek, he had two passes intercepted, but threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Last week against Lamar, Florence was crucial to operating a decisive rushing attack in a 35-21 victory on the road.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder was the Sun Devils’ quarterback two years ago after Richard Yates went down with a knee injury. Florence returned to play running back last fall before stepping forward to take snaps this year.
“He’s picking things up real well,” Kent Denver coach Scott Yates said. “He played quarterback for us before. He’s a seasoned kid.”
At home Saturday against the Huskies, Florence will be asked to mix his team’s attack in order to keep a savvy defense that is permitting only 10 points per outing from settling in and controlling the game.
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
