AURORA | A capsule preview of the 2025 Class 5A state football 1st round playoff contest between Regis Jesuit and Erie scheduled for Nov. 7, 2025:
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2025 CLASS 5A STATE FOOTBALL FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF GAME
No. 21 Regis Jesuit (4-6) at No. 12 Erie (6-4)
Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m. at Erie High School
BREAKDOWN: Regis Jesuit and Erie meet in the postseason for the first time and likely have never played each other as members of different classifications until last season. …The Raiders appear in the state playoffs for the 19th consecutive season and have won at least one game in three of its last four appearances, though they haven’t advanced past the quarterfinals since a semifinal trip in 2016. Regis Jesuit lost to rival Valor Christian in the second round of the 2024 5A playoffs. …The Tigers won the Class 4A state championship in the 2023 season and moved up to 5A last season, where they qualified for the playoffs and lost to eventual state champion Cherry Creek in the quarterfinals.
REGIS JESUIT: Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders played a roller coaster regular season with three straight losses followed by three straight victories, then alternating wins and losses before two straight defeats to end the regular season. Regis Jesuit’s opponents for the season finished a combined 59-40 and six of nine Colorado foes (No. 1 Cherry Creek, No. 4 Legend, No. 5 Valor Christian, No. 7 Pine Creek, No. 10 Mullen and No. 17 Fountain-Fort Carson) made the postseason (Brophy Prep from Arizona has not finished its regular season) with a 1-5 record against those teams. …The Regis Jesuit offense has put up 27.3 points per game thus far and hasn’t been held to fewer than 10 in a contest. Sophomore QB Luke Rubley has had an outstanding season, as he has thrown for 1,988 yards and 20 touchdowns against just four interceptions, while he’s also crossed the goal line four times with his legs. Rubley has spread the ball around as six receivers have 122 yards or more on the season, though sophomore WR Colt Jones (574 yards, 8 touchdowns) and junior WR Cade Filleman (439 yard,s 6 touchdowns) have been the main targets. Sophomore RB Joe Pron and junior RB Benjamin Bacon have been a quality tandem in the backfield and have racked up a combined 1,071 yards plus 10 touchdowns. …Defensively, Regis Jesuit has allowed 29.5 points per game and surrendered at least 31 points to each of their last three opponents. The Raiders’ strength has been creating turnovers, as they’ve racked up 16 interceptions (including eight for junior S Logan Singer, plus three from Jones, which includes a pick-six) and also recovered five fumbles. Filleman is the team’s leading tackler with 102 stops, followed by Singer (82), Jones and junior LB Will Anzures (69). …Special teams has been strong as well for Regis Jesuit with senior P/PK Jack Manthey averaging 35.6 yards per punt, while he has made six field goals (including a long of 51 yards). Jones and Filleman both have accrued more than 300 yards in returns and Singer returned a punt for a touchdown.
ERIE: Coach Jeff Giger’s Tigers finished the regular season with a victory. Erie’s opponents for the season finished with a combined record of 59-41 and it faced six teams (No. 2 Ralston Valley, No. 3 Mountain Vista, No. 6 (4A) Broomfield, No. 10 Mullen, No. 13 Fort Collins and No. 19 Legacy) that advanced to postseason play with a 2-4 record against those teams. …The Erie offense has generated 33.3 points per game, which was helped by a 67-point outing against Brighton and 61 against Vista PEAK Prep, while it has exhibited good balance with 1,936 yards rushing and 1,663 yards passing. Junior QB Jack Arnold has thrown for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns (against six interceptions), while he is one of three rushers with more than 300 yards (316 with six touchdowns). Senior RB Braylon Toliver has rushed for 783 yards and eight touchdowns, while senior RB Tommy Thiesen has 617 yards and five scores, while a diverse group of pass catches is led by senior WR Owen Collard (274 yards, five touchdowns), senior Lincoln Hageman (252 yards, two touchdowns) and Toliver with 222 yards and three scores. … Defensively, Erie did not shut out any of its opponents and has allowed 27.5 points per game, while it has scored three times via interception returns. Senior Gio Giampietro has nearly half of the Tigers’ 12 sacks with five, senior DB Steven Staff has three interceptions and Hageman is far and away the team’s leading tackler with 104. …On special teams, Erie has blocked four field goals, while junior PK Noah Brisnehan has made three field goals, including a long of 46 yards.
WINNER GETS: The Regis Jesuit-Erie winner advances to the second round, where it will face No. 5 Valor Christian (8-2), which had a first round bye.
