City football teams finished with a combined 6-5 record in the penultimate week of the regular season, which included some notable results.
Two victories in particular stood out as Cherokee Trail found a way to knock off rival Grandview, while Regis Jesuit took down Legend in an anticipated league clash to join Eaglecrest, Gateway, Overland and Vista PEAK Prep in the winners circle.
Full Aurora Week 9 prep football scoreboard and highlights, here
Cherokee Trail — plagued with adversity and beset with injuries for the first portion of the season — called from deficits twice in the second half for a 23-21 victory that was decided on senior Miles Philson’s 36-yard field goal with just two seconds left in regulation on Oct. 20 at Legacy Stadium.
Tyson Smith — who threw for 200 yards and a touchdown — engineered the final scoring drive as coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cougars (who also got a rushing score from Noah Collins) picked up their first Centennial League win in four tries and moved to 4-5 overall and 1-3 in league play. Grandview got a touchdown run from Liam Szarka to close the first half and two touchdown passes from him in the second half to take a 21-14 lead, but coach Tom Doherty’s team didn’t score again to fall to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Regis Jesuit battled rival Legend Oct. 19 at EchoPark Stadium and dealt the Titans a 27-10 defeat to improve to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in Southern League play. Lawson Douglas’ 64-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second half was pivotal for coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders, who got a rushing touchdown from Anthony Medina along with a passing connection for a score from Peyton Lindell to JoJo Hernandez.
Eaglecrest upped its overall record to 7-2 and evened it at 2-2 in Centennial League play with a 55-14 victory over Smoky Hill Oct. 19 at Legacy Stadium. Coach Mike Schmitt’s Raptors scored in double figures in three of the four quarters with help from quarterback Joe Steiner, threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Xavier Waldron scored via rush and reception and Josh Wiley and Sterling Dufour had TDs on the ground. Logan Ryan and Kota Becker both had 100-plus yards receiving and each caught touchdown passes.
Coach Brandon Alconcel’s Buffaloes (1-8, 0-4) — who reached double figures for the first time — got a touchdown pass from Zion Brake to Damarian Ramsey as well as a short touchdown run by Aaron Ball.
Overland improved to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the Metro North conference with a 41-10 road win against Mountain Range in a game that included touchdown runs of 40 and 12 yards for running back Jarrius Ward. Defensively, coach Kyle Reese’s Trailblazers got a fumble recovery and interception from Avante Hendrix and a fumble recovery from Zion Smith.
The top offensive performance of the week went to Vista PEAK Prep, which roared to a 67-0 non-league win over Hinkley Oct. 20 at APS Stadium. Canaan Barthlow threw three touchdown passes, Marcel Evans Jr. rushed for two scores and threw for a touchdown and Larry Mosley caught two passes (both for scores) for coach DaVaughn Thornton Sr.’s Bison, who moved to 3-6 overall. Coach Dennis York’s Thunder, meanwhile, went to 0-9 overall.
Gateway got another monster game from Knyle Serrell — who racked up a whopping 331 all-purpose yards to go with two rushing touchdowns and an interception on defense — in a 24-17 road win at Palmer. Michael Washington had 113 yards rushing and a touchdown for coach Rashad Mason’s Olys (3-6, 3-2 in 4A I-25), who have tripled last season’s win total of one with one game remaining.
Rangeview suffered a 60-30 defeat to Brighton Oct. 19 at APS Stadium, but got 319 yards of offense (208 passing, 111 rushing) from Jah Alexander, who rushed for three touchdowns and threw for one to Kevin Prosser. Coach Chris Dixon’s Raiders are 1-8 overall and 0-4 in the Front Range South conference.
Aurora Central stands at 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the 4A Metro 2 league following a 54-0 loss to Heritage Oct. 19 at Littleton Public Schools Stadium. Coach Chris Kelly’s Trojans got 138 yards of total offense (109 passing, 29 rushing) from Christopher Perkins IV as well as 68 yards receiving from Ka’Mari May.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
