2016 CLASS 5A STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF MATCHUP
NO. 14 CHEROKEE TRAIL (5-5) VS. NO. 3 VALOR CHRISTIAN (7-3)
At Valor Christian High School, Nov. 11, 7 p.m.
BREAKDOWN: Two former Centennial League members face off when Cherokee Trail (now in the Mount Evans League) travels to play at Valor Christian (now in the Mount Lincoln League) to open the Class 5A state playoffs. The programs have a history in the postseason as they met in the 2012 state championship game and in the 2013 semifinals, with the Eagles winning both matchups. Valor Christian also won both league contests between the two teams in 2014 and 2015 and have outscored Cherokee Trail 101-44 all-time…
VALOR CHRISTIAN (7-3): The Eagles, the defending 5A state champion, dominated the Mount Lincoln League and scored a minimum of 43 points in all five contests. Valor Christian opened the season against two out of state opponents as well as some difficult Colorado teams in Pomona and Mullen…The Eagles are led by senior QB Dylan McCaffrey, a University of Michigan recruit, who has pass for 2,084 yards and 22 touchdowns against just five interceptions on the season, while he is also second on the team in rushing (328 yards) and tied for first with seven rushing touchdowns. Sophomore RB Joshiah Davis also has seven touchdowns on the ground in addition to 575 yards. Senior WR Jack Walley (438 yards, 7 touchdowns) and sophomore WR Luke McCaffrey (410 yards, 4 TDs) lead the way for Valor Christian, which has 10 players with at least one touchdown catch. Senior LB Christian Elliss has racked up 5.5 sacks and ranks third on the team in tackles behind junior LB Matthew Thibault and sophomore LB Ethan Zemla…
CHEROKEE TRAIL (5-5): Dain Mangnall took over as head coach of the Cougars, but the longtime assistant managed to guide the program to its 12th straight appearance in the state playoffs. Cherokee Trail is one of three teams in the postseason with a record of .500 or below, joining 3-7 teams in Bear Creek and Fountain-Fort Carson. The Cougars finished third in the Mount Evans standings behind Pomona and Chaparral with a 3-2 record…Senior RB Brenden Holt has been Cherokee Trail’s most effective offensive weapons with 900 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing and another 217 yards and a score receiving as well. Sophomore RB Dylan James has picked up more of the work in the backfield in recent weeks and has rushed for 399 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore QB Ethan Leisge lost his top target to injury in senior WR KJ Sapp, but still has senior WR Tyler Kruse and Holt with more than 200 yard receiving apiece. Leisge has thrown just 124 passes in 10 games thus far and has 726 yards passing in addition to seven touchdowns. Senior S Josh Zambrano leads the Cougars defense with 70 tackles and is followed by senior LB Max Gonzales with 54, while senior DE Chase King has seven sacks to pace the team.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
