With two contests down, conference pictures have started to become clearer for prep football teams around Aurora.
Week 7 proved to be twice as a good as the week before for area programs, who finished a combined 4-7 after a 2-9 debut week in league competition.
Aurora Central, Eaglecrest, Grandview and Rangeview all picked up victories that could provide needed momentum at the appropriate time of the season.
Eaglecrest remains alone atop the win column for Aurora area teams as its total swelled to six (against just one loss) with a 27-14 win over Cherokee Trail Oct. 10 at Legacy Stadium in a game in which it excelled in all phases.
Coach Jesse German’s Raptors (one of only two teams that stand 2-0 in Centennial League play) picked up their sixth win of the season in seven contests with help from a punt return touchdown from senior Cameron Bell as well as an interception return score from senior Zane Jackson. That complimented a lunging touchdown run by senior Josiah Assibey, while sophomore Julian Trujillo added a pair of field goals.
Both touchdowns for coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cherokee Trail team (2-5, 0-2) came via the connection of sophomore quarterback Bryson Peterson and sophomore Rayshon Stanley. Senior Logan Posey rushed for 121 yards as well for the Cougars.
NEXT UP: Eaglecrest has an Oct. 16 contest at Cherry Creek (7-0, 2-0), while Cherokee Trail has a 7 p.m. Oct. 17 game against Grandview (4-3, 1-1) at Legacy Stadium.
Next in the win column among Aurora area programs Aurora Central and Rangeview, who both have five to their credit.
On Oct. 11 at APS Stadium, Rangeview took a lead into halftime against Horizon on a 40-yard Caleb Granger field goal and expanded on it with two more scores in the fourth quarter of a 24-7 win Oct. 11 at APS Stadium.
Senior quarterback Tyson Tuck accounted for 213 yards of total offense (145 rushing, 68 passing) and had two rushing touchdowns and senior Kemariahe Brown had 47-yard touchdown run for coach Chris Lopez’s team, which improved to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in the Front Range South League.
NEXT UP: Rangeview plays host to Legacy (3-4, 1-1) at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at APS Stadium.
Aurora Central won for the fourth time in its past five games and improved to 5-2 on the season (1-1 in the 4A Denver Metro League) with a 17-8 defeat of George Washington Oct. 9 at APS Stadium.
Juniors Markell Perkins and Julian Harris each rushed for touchdowns in the opening quarter to give coach Chris Kelly’s Trojans some breathing room, which they extended in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard field goal by senior Anthony Cecena before the Patriots got on the scoreboard in the closing minutes.
NEXT UP: Aurora Central goes to All-City Stadium in Denver to play Thomas Jefferson (3-4, 1-1) at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.
Grandview got a huge first-quarter performance from senior running back Chris Blanks and went on to a 40-6 Centennial League win over Smoky Hill Oct. 9 at Legacy Stadium.
Blanks scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter and added another in the second quarter in a contest in which he had 115 yards rushing for coach Tom Doherty’s Wolves (4-3 overall, 1-1 in Centennial League). Senior Blitz McCarty had a touchdown pass to junior Jaxson Flores to round out the scoring for Grandview, which converted 2-point conversions after all five of its touchdowns.
Senior Jayden Hopkins got into the end zone in the third quarter for the lone touchdown for coach Brandon Alconcel’s Smoky Hill team, which is 2-5 overall and 0-2 in league play.
NEXT UP: Grandview heads to Legacy Stadium to play Cherokee Trail (2-5, 0-2) at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, the same date and time when Smoky Hill plays host to Arapahoe (3-4, 1-1) at Stutler Bowl.
Regis Jesuit had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 24-17 road loss at Fountain-Fort Carson Oct. 9. Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders (3-4 overall, 1-1 in 5A Southern League) saw an early double-digit lead get away in a game that was tied at halftime and saw the host Trojans get the lone score of the second half. Sophomore Luke Rubley threw a touchdown pass to junior Logan Singer, sophomore Colt Jones took back an interception for a touchdown and senior Jack Manthey knocked through a 43-yard field goal to account for Regis Jesuit’ scoring.
NEXT UP: Regis Jesuit heads on the road again, as it plays at Douglas County (4-3, 0-2) at 6 p.m. Oct. 17.
Vista PEAK Prep had its passing offense going on all cylinders in an Oct. 9 visit to Erie, but couldn’t slow the Tigers on defense in a 61-34 Front Range South League loss.
Senior quarterback Canaan Barthlow threw five touchdowns passes — three of more than 60 yards — during a 360-yard outing, while four of those scores went to senior Isaiah Watson, who had 197 yards receiving. Senior Joshua Gallien caught a 66-yard score as well for coach Kyle Reese’s Bison, who fell to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in league play.
NEXT UP: Vista PEAK Prep plays host to Horizon (1-6, 0-2) at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at APS Stadium.
Gateway dropped a 4A I-25 League contest to Centaurus, which took its Oct. 10 visit to APS Stadium by a 51-0 score. Coach Rashad Mason’s Olys have a 2-5 overall record and are 0-2 in league play.
NEXT UP: Gateway has a 7 p.m. Oct. 17 road contest at Silver Creek (7-0, 2-0).
Overland (0-7, 0-2 in 5A Metro North) and Hinkley (0-6, 0-1 in 3A Metro) remain looking for their first victories of the season with losses to Westminster and Kennedy, respectively.
Junior Elijah Hargrove ripped off a 69-yard touchdown run (and had 144 yards for the game) for coach Tony Lindsay Sr.’s Trailblazers’ lone score in a 56-6 loss to the Wolves Oct. 10 at Stutler Bowl, while coach Shawn Barnett’s Thunder were held scoreless in a 70-0 defeat to Kennedy Oct. 11 at APS Stadium.
NEXT UP: Overland pays a 6 p.m. visit to Trailblazer Stadium Oct. 17 to face Lakewood (0-7, 0-2), while Hinkley is at Lutheran (4-2, 1-0) at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
