AURORA — For the first time since leaving as the coach of Rangeview 12 years ago, Cherokee Trail’s Monte Thelen faced the Raiders. The result? A hard-fought 34-20 nonleague victory at a crowded, sun-baked Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
But don’t read too much into it.
“We are very indebted to Rangeview. It gave me a great opportunity, and it was a great game,” Thelen said. “You have to take your hat off to (Rangeview) Coach (Dave) Gonzales. But listen, all of the Rangeview kids, since they were in kindergarten, Coach Gonzo has been their coach. And he’s a very fine one. And all of the kids at Cherokee Trail since kindergarten or first grade have been at Cherokee Trail, so I don’t want to play too much into it. It’s not about me.”
It was really more about the Cougars’ rushing attack. The No. 7 team in The Associated Press Class 5A poll churned out 431 yards rushing despite talented two-way back and top rusher Izaiah Lotte sitting out with a leg injury suffered in the previous game.
Thelen said his team usually has rotating backs when it has been a statewide threat, and it’s happening again as Arsean Wilbon ran 26 times for 250 yards and four touchdowns, while Kyree Herron had 31 carries for 157 yards and added a touchdown.
Cherokee Trail (3-1) blocked wonderfully at the point of attack, and its rushers took full advantage.
“My teammates gave me the holes. I just capitalized on what they gave me,” Wilbon said.
Gonzales, whose team is 2-2, agreed.
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“They beat the (heck) out of us up front, and that’s how you win football games,” he said. “That’s where games are won and lost.
“We’re real close, and we’ve known that. We’ve been hanging in there, but with a team like that you make a couple of mistakes against them and it can make the difference. We had our opportunities.”
Rangeview would like to have a few series back, but a personal-foul penalty on a fair catch on a punt loomed largest. Instead of sitting on the ball with 1:40 to play before halftime, the Cougars started at their 25-yard line and went for a score.
Herron capped it with a 1-yard dive as Cherokee Trail increased its lead to 21-13.
The Cougars’ defense also had a couple of key sacks late.
“We played well in the second half and fourth quarter,” Thelen said.
Rangeview stayed in it until late despite managing just 189 yards of offense, 66 rushing.
With his team next heading into the vaunted Centennial League, Thelen said, “We’re walking out of here feeling great that we won.”
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
Cherokee Trail 7 14 6 7—34
Rangeview 0 13 7 0—20
CT — Wilbon 54 run (Sullivan kick). R — E. Reed 5 pass from Vincent (kick blocked). R — Vincent 42 run (Thompson kick). CT — Wilbon 3 run (Sullivan kick). CT — Herron 1 run (Sullivan kick). R — Wheaten 75 punt return (Thompson kick). CT — Wilbon 4 run (kick blocked). CT — Wilbon 6 run (Sullivan kick).
