AURORA | Conference play arrived in Week 6 for Aurora football teams, which finished with a combined 3-8 record.
The start of Centennial League play did not derail Eaglecrest’s hot start, as coach Jesse German’s Raptors moved to 5-1 with a 54-14 victory over Smoky Hill on a scorching day at Stutler Bowl Oct. 5. Eaglecrest quarterback Joe Steiner had a massive game with 268 yards passing and five touchdown passes, with one apiece going to Burke Withycome, Brayden Black, Ryan Perez, Clyde Surrell IV and Jack Steiner. Trent Littlejohn rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown and Flynn Latta also scored for coach Brandon Alconcel’s Buffaloes (0-5, 0-1).
Regis Jesuit upped its winning streak to three games in style with a 40-0 Southern League victory over Chaparral Oct. 5 at sundrenched Echo Park Stadium. Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders (3-3, 1-0) got a passing and rushing touchdown from quarterback Luke Rubley, while Joe Pron and Benjamin Bacon got into the end zone on the ground. Cade Filleman hauled in Rubley’s TD pass, while Jack Manthey knocked through a 37-yard field goal to end the first half and made all five of his extra points.
Overland snapped a four-game losing streak with a 34-7 victory against Mountain Range Oct. 4 at Stutler Bowl in a 5A Metro North League opener. Coach Tony Lindsay Sr.’s Trailblazers (2-4, 1-0) got a big play from Mike Kelly — who returned a kickoff for a touchdown —while Angel Chavez, Jarrius Ward, Zyaire Custis and Kylan Jones all rushed for scores.
Vista PEAK Prep — guided by interim head coach Jalin McKinnon after Mike Campbell stepped down — fell back to .500 with a 41-20 loss to Mullen Oct. 4 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. The Bison dropped their 5A Front Range League South opener, as did Rangeview, which lost 49-6 on the road at run-heavy Erie. Coach Chris Dixon’s Raiders are 3-3.
Grandview’s two-game winning streak came to an end Oct. 4 at Legacy Stadium, as coach Tom Doherty’s Wolves dropped a 25-13 Centennial League opener to Arapahoe. Caleb Llamas rushed for a touchdown on the first offensive play of the second half for Grandview (2-4, 0-1) and finished with 117 yards on the ground, while Will Reid knocked through two field goal attempts.
Also 2-4 is Aurora Central, which took a fourth-quarter lead over Montbello Oct. 3 at APS Stadium before it fell 30-18. Coach Chris Kelly’s Trojans (2-4, 0-1 in 4A Denver Metro League) got a touchdown run from Ladarious Willingham in the fourth quarter to take a lead, but allowed the subsequent kickoff to be returned for a score and could not catch up.
Yet another 2-4 program is Cherokee Trail, which took part in the Cherry Creek School District’s Military Appreciation event with its game against Cherry Creek Oct. 4. Tyson Smith threw for 181 yards — 111 to Brian Cusack — but coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cougars were held scoreless for the second time.
Gateway traveled to the Western Slope for a matchup with Grand Junction at Stocker Stadium Oct. 4 in 4A I-25 League play. Coach Rashad Mason’s Olys (1-5, 0-1) got a touchdown pass from Westin Rayburn to Jeramaiah Stark plus a Michael Washington rushing score.
Coach Dennis York’s Hinkley (0-5) team finished up non-league play with a 44-0 home loss to Kent Denver Oct. 5.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
