The long wait is over, as Friday Night Lights have arrived in Aurora and around Colorado.
Those games will be sandwiched between Thursday and Saturday games — one of the realities of the struggles with a shortage of officials — but city teams will finally get the chance to showcase their offseason preparation.
It will be a new-look season for sure around the city, especially with significant turnover in the head coaching ranks, as six of the 11 programs have new leadership. Add that to the graduation of some significant talent and realignment and it should make for a fascinating season on the turf.
Here’s a brief look at each Aurora team ahead of the kickoff Week 1 Aug. 25:
AURORA CENTRAL
Coach Chris Kelly’s Trojans come in off a 2021 season that saw them go 8-3 and qualify for the Class 4A state playoffs. Aurora Central has a significant amount of veteran talent — including the most explosive backfield in town with seniors Cai’Reis Curby and Simeon Veasley — plus quarterback Nico Portillo behind an experienced line and a variety of skill players that should contribute significantly. Aurora Central’s opponents went 45-56 in 2021.
Aurora Central’s schedule breakdown, here
CHEROKEE TRAIL
Justin Jajczyk takes over as head coach, but it should be a smooth transition as he served as the offensive coordinator under former coach Joe Johnson. Jajczyk helped the Cougars field one of the state’s most explosive offenses last season and will try to do so again with a largely new cast aside from holdover Noah Greer. Cherokee Trail expects to have a strong defense led by Kalib Davis and Kadin Porter. The Cougars have a daunting schedule as their opponents went 76-44 last season.
Cherokee Trail’s schedule breakdown, here
EAGLECREST
Mike Schmitt returns to the sidelines after he departed after the 2017 season in which he led the Raptors to the 5A state title game. Eaglecrest went 1-9 last season, but could get back on track quickly under Schmitt. Line play has long been a strength for the Raptors, but there has been heavy turnover on those units, including the graduation of two Division I players, so several varsity newcomers will counted on. Senior running back Diego Cearns is likely to reprise his role as a major offensive weapon, while junior safety Cam Chapa is the team’s returning tackler and also intercepted four passes. Eaglecrest’s opponents went 59-53 in 2021.
Eaglecrest’s schedule breakdown, here
GATEWAY
Rico McCoy is now at the helm and looks to turn things around for the Olys, who were winless in 2021. McCoy — who played four years of Division I football at Tennessee and most recently coached in college — came in from out of state and so did his offensive coordinator and will attempt to spark Gateway against a group of opponents that went 37-65 in 2021.
Gateway schedule breakdown, here
GRANDVIEW
The Wolves made the deepest run of an Aurora team in 2021 when they advanced to the 5A semifinals in Tom Doherty’s first year as head coach. Grandview lost a significant amount of talent on both sides of the ball to graduation, but expect to feature a ferocious defense led by a high-energy line, linebackers Max Kibbee and Preston Emken and safety Gibby Leafgreen, while Liam Szarka is back under center in an offense that will need new weapons to emerge. University of Washington commit Zach Henning keys an offensive line that should again be a strength. The Wolves face a group of opponents that went 67-48 last season.
Grandview schedule breakdown, here
HINKLEY
Dennis York takes over the program after the tragic death of coach T.C. Newland just before the new year. The Thunderbirds — winless in 2021 — face teams that went 40-60 in 2021. Hinkley was young last season and will be young again, but York expects to get good play from his lines. Senior Tatum Starks should be an impact player on both sides, while his play at quarterback will be key as last season’s starter (Wondame Davis Jr.) transferred.
Hinkley schedule breakdown, here
OVERLAND
Kyle Reese’s Trailblazers went 5-5 last season and could improve on that with a schedule of teams that went a combined 33-70 in 2021 ahead. Overland lost some key pieces to graduation, but a bevy of skill players — including sophomore quarterback Andre Veasley and senior wide receiver Komari Owens — should be a boon. Reese notes a lot of new starters this season, especially from the sophomore class.
Overland schedule breakdown, here
RANGEVIEW
Chris Dixon takes over the head job following Mike Holmes, who coached the team in two seasons in one calendar year, which was made possible the coronavirus pandemic. Rangeview ran the ball well last season and should do so again with holdovers Armani Patterson and DJ Collins, both seniors. The Raiders face a group of opponents that went 52-54 in 2021.
Rangeview schedule breakdown, here
REGIS JESUIT
Danny Filleman, Aurora’s long-tenured coach as he goes into his eighth season, led the Raiders to an 8-4 record last season and 5A playoff berth. To get there again, Regis Jesuit must get through a schedule of teams that went a whopping 92-34 in 2021. The return of senior Exander Carroll at quarterback is major for Regis Jesuit, while tight end Andrew Metzger committed to the University of Colorado in the offseason. Senior Hayden Moore returns to key the Raiders’ pass rush.
Regis Jesuit schedule breakdown, here
SMOKY HILL
Brandon Alconcel takes over in the place of Tom Thenell, who headed to the college coach ranks (Colorado Mesa University) after an impressive stint with the Buffaloes, who went 4-7 and made the 5A playoffs last season. Quarterback Tyliq Bowers has all five offensive line starters back in front of him and more than half the defense is back as well, giving Smoky Hill a chance for some cohesion in the early going, even as they adjust to Alconcel and his staff. The Buffaloes’ foes went 64-50 in 2021.
Smoky Hill schedule breakdown, here
VISTA PEAK
DaVaughn Thornton Sr.’s Bison won seven games and made the 4A playoffs last season. Tone-setters Ezekiel Taylor, a senior, and junior Nathan Hunholz hope to match or better that this season as Vista PEAK plays a schedule of opponents that finished 54-55 last season. The Bison won the Big Boyz War competition over the summer and should field a line that can get push, especially on the offensive side.
Vista PEAK schedule breakdown, here
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
