Colorado’s new high school sports alignments every two years haven’t always proved to make sense or become popular. But once in a while, they work for certain schools.
Consider it a rivalry born in 2010 between Chaparral and Regis Jesuit, which will meet again in a Class 5A Continental League opener Friday night at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker. The Denver Post game of the week between top-10 teams is a big league game and gives both programs another shot at each other after a physical get-together in 2010.
Regis Jesuit coach Mark Nolan is all for it.
“It’s become kind of a local rivalry here,” he said.
And with common ground — Chaparral’s three losses a year ago on the way to the quarterfinals were to Mullen (twice) and Nolan’s Raiders. Regis Jesuit, which made it to the final, including a hard-fought 28-14 decision over the Wolverines, lost only to Mullen.
In 2011, Parker’s Chaparral (3-1) has fallen to Mullen. The Raiders (2-2) have dropped close games to defending 4A champion Valor Christian and 5A No. 3 Pomona.
“We’ve all lost to pretty darned good teams,” Wolverines coach John Vogt said.
For No. 7 Chaparral, Vogt called running back Chris Page (637 yards, eight touchdowns) “under the radar” but effective behind a big front that includes Auburn pledge Shane Callahan. Max Kuhns has five touchdown passes, and the Wolverines have benefited from heady play by Gavin McHenry and Andrew McReynolds.
No. 8 Regis Jesuit lost a strong core of seniors from a year ago and has been operating without Eystin Salum, now a senior who a year ago rotated at quarterback and was effective. He broke an ankle in summer basketball but is near a return.
“Eystin has been cleared,” Nolan said. “Without sounding too much like Bill Belichick, it’s kind of a day-to-day thing.”
Jake Leathers (eight scoring tosses) and Dylan Conner (14 receptions, 20.1-yard average) have been handling the load.
Player to watch this week: Regis Jesuit RB Jordan Jungers
Consistency? Jungers understands its meaning and implements it. A year ago he helped Regis Jesuit to the Class 5A title game, rushing for 1,553 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Now a senior, Jungers is at it again with 385 yards rushing and six touchdowns through four games.
Since the beginning of the 2010 season, the 5-foot-8, 185-pounder has rushed for at least 72 yards in 16 of 18 games. Jungers also has nine games of at least 100 yards rushing. And he has scored touchdowns in 15 of 18 games, a primary option in a balanced attack.
“He’s a dependable runner,” RJ coach Mark Nolan said. “He’ll get the tough yards for us. He has a knack for yards after contact.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
