AURORA | Just past the midway point of the 2026 season, no Aurora area prep football teams remain undefeated after Eaglecrest’s loss in Week 6.
The Raptors went down to longtime rival Grandview 14-6 Sept. 24 at Legacy Stadium in yet another memorable chapter in the series between the two schools located just two miles away from each other.
Including the results of that showdown, Aurora area teams finished a combined 4-7, as Cherokee Trail, Gateway and Regis Jesuit joined Grandview in the Week 6 winners circle.
Coach Tom Doherty’s Wolves suffered their first loss of the season the previous week — a 10-6 defeat at the hands of upstart Northfield — but responded by halting the unbeaten start for Eaglecrest in a defensive battle.
Grandview (5-1 overall, 2-1 in Centennial League play) scored a touchdown on both sides of the football as junior Lander Wise connected with junior Ryne Tripp for the first score of the game, while senior Taitum Lucas Thompson provided what turned out to be the winning points with a 53-yard pick-six in the late stages of the third quarter.
Coach Jesse German’s Raptors (5-1, 2-1) got two field goals from senior Trey Patton — of 27 and 23 yards — but were held 11 points below their previous season low of 17 in a Week 3 road win at Erie. Twice, Grandview senior Zach Johnston came up with interceptions, including one on a fake punt attempt in the second half.
On the opposite end of the spectrum as far as scoring was the Sept. 25 contest at Legacy Stadium between Cherokee Trail and Mullen.
Coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cougars (4-2 overall, 1-2 in Centennial League) averaged 36 points per game in their first four contests and nearly matched that in a 35-28 victory, which was highlighted by a big connection between junior quarterback Bryson Peterson and senior wide receiver Jordan Mitchell.
The elusive Mitchell racked up 271 yards receiving and four touchdowns, including a 37-yard score with just 37 seconds remaining in regulation that held up as the winning points. Peterson’s five-touchdown night (which came with 385 yards passing) also included a score to junior Evan Smith.
Gateway picked up its fifth win of the season with a 19-7 win over Northglenn Sept. 25 at Five-Star Stadium in Thornton.
The Olys (5-1, 2-0 in 4A Metro 7 League) haven’t reached that number in the win column since 2021 when Gateway played in the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, but got there on the strength of a strong defensive performance, which included interceptions from Nolan Vazquez and Luis Grajeda.
Coach Rashad Mason’s Gateway team also scored twice in the air with the connection of seniors Westin Rayburn and Forrest Clemmons.
Regis Jesuit evened its record at 3-3 and improved to 2-1 in the 5A Southern League in the wake of a 23-15 road win over Pine Creek. Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders got a pair of touchdown passes from junior Luke Rubley, who found junior Colt Jones and senior Will Anzures with his scoring strikes.
Senior Joe Pron added a rushing touchdown and Charlie Wolpert was good on his field goal attempt for Regis Jesuit.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
