In the high end of an unusually wide-open Class 5A season, it’s time for the Denver area’s northwest side story to be told.
On Friday night at Arvada’s North Area Athletic Complex, the fourth meeting all time between Jefferson County powers Pomona and Ralston Valley will decide the Super 6 League in The Denver Post game of the week. It’ll also go a long way toward further settling late-season shuffling before the 32-team postseason bracket gets released.
Friday’s winner is aware it can land within the top three playoff seeds but knows it will be a by-product of what is turning into an interesting rivalry. Pomona (6-1 overall, 3-0 in league) and ranked No. 5 in The Denver Post 5A media poll, won the first two meetings, but No. 6 Ralston Valley (7-0, 3-0) surprised in its first 5A season a year ago, winning 23-20 on a late field goal.
Let the rivalry blossom.
Pomona coach Jay Madden called the Mustangs “a bunch of good players who tackle well, run to the ball, do their jobs and play the game like it must be played.”
His Panthers, save for a debacle in a loss to 4A Valor Christian in which 13 players sat because of suspension, stand sixth in 5A scoring (233 points) thanks largely to quarterback Alec Feland and running back Dylan Carter. Defensively, other than in their 38-0 loss, the Panthers have permitted only 77 points.
As for Ralston Valley, it was 11-0 a year ago before losing in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs have won 18-of-19 games since entering big-school competition — 16 consecutive in the regular season.
“We know (the Panthers) will give us everything they’ve got,” Mustangs coach Matt Loyd said.
The same now can be stated for Ralston Valley, which historically favors running the ball. However, Loyd’s son, Colton, has added a new wrinkle, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 747 yards.
“We’re a little harder to defend,” the elder Loyd said.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Dylan Carter
There are seats open among Colorado’s elite running backs club. Carter is earning one, possibly in a landslide coming down the stretch.
The 6-foot, 187-pound senior from Pomona has flourished despite a leg injury and not seeing significant action after halftime in a series of one-sided victories.
Carter is one of the few in-state backs who combines the ability to hit it up inside and bounce to the outside for big chunks of yardage. He is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and has rushed for 13 touchdowns.
He ran for four touchdowns and kicked two field goals last week against Fairview.
“He’s the best back of anybody we’ve seen by far,” Panthers coach Jay Madden said.
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
