AURORA | Week 3 of the prep football season came with just two victories for Aurora teams, while the only previously unbeaten team went down to defeat.
Vista PEAK Prep won a lopsided contest on the opening night of the week, while Gateway came away with a dramatic victory in a local Friday Nights Lights matchup, while eight other programs will head into Week 4 attempting to stop a losing streak.
On the other hand, the Bison own the area’s only current winning streak, which now stands at two after their 49-0 rout of Lakewood Sept. 12 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. Coach Mike Campbell’s Vista PEAK Prep team (2-1) came in after a two-point win against Overland, but piled up 28 points in the opening quarter alone and invoked the running clock mercy rule in the second quarter.
Senior Larry Mosley had a lot to do with it, as he had an epic stretch in the opening quarter in which he caught a touchdown pass from senior Carson Campbell, then returned an interception and fumble for scores in a span of just over a minute. Tyrone Smiley also rushed for a touchdown and Canaan Barthlow threw one to Joseph McCullers.
Gateway dropped its first two games of the season, but got in the win column for coach Rashad Mason with an 8-7 victory against district rival Aurora Central Sept. 13.
Sophomore quarterback Westin Rayburn fired a 23-yard touchdown pass sophomore Jeramiah Stark — who had worked open up the left sideline — and then dove into the end zone on a keeper for a go-ahead 2-point conversion for the Olys (1-2).
Coach Chris Kelly’s Aurora Central team (1-2) took a first quarter lead on a pass from Darian Fitzgerald (who got the ball on an end around) to Tayvion Simmons-Adams, who made a finger tip catch in the end zone. The Trojans got 310 yards of total offense from quarterback Markell Perkins, but couldn’t overcome some key turnovers and penalties.
Eaglecrest clashed with Chatfield in a matinee Sept. 13 at Jeffco Stadium in a matchup of teams that were off to 2-0 starts. The Raptors departed the battle 2-1, however, as the Chargers mounted a late drive that produced a go-ahead touchdown with 24.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
Quarterback Joe Steiner rushed for two touchdowns and threw a scoring pass to Logan Robitaille, while Ramadje Owens set up a score with an interception and also caught a 2-point conversion pass from Burke Withycombe for coach Jesse German’s team.
Two Aurora programs that qualified for the Class 5A state playoffs last season and met each other in the second round — Grandview and Regis Jesuit — dropped to 0-3.
The Wolves played their third straight close contest to open the season and ended up on the short end of a one-score game in every one. This time, coach Tom Doherty’s Grandview team fell to Legacy 34-27 Sept. 13 at North Stadium despite Blitz McCarty’s two touchdowns and a scoring pass to Xay Neto. Caleb Llamas racked up 121 yards rushing and also found the end zone on the ground.
Regis Jesuit returned to play in Colorado after a trip to Arizona to encounter powerhouse Cherry Creek in a Sept. 12 contest at Stutler Bowl that it dropped 42-0. Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders got on the scoreboard for the first time on a touchdown pass from Luke Rubley to Jace Filleman.
Rangeview got rushing touchdowns from Tyson Tuck and Gyannie Estrada in a 41-21 road loss to Westminster Sept. 13, which puts coach Chris Dixon’s team at 1-2. That’s the same record held by coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cherokee Trail team, which dropped a 42-0 Homecoming contest to undefeated Mountain Vista Sept. 13 at Legacy Stadium, as well as coach Tony Lindsay Sr.’s Overland team after a 34-14 loss to Fountain-Fort Carson Sept. 14 at Stutler Bowl.
Interceptions led to both scores for the Trailblazers, who got an interception return for a touchdown by Isaiah Zackery, while Dejay Davenport’s pick turned into Matthew Jimenez-Solis’ 1-yard sneak.
Smoky Hill remains looking for its first win, as coach Brandon Alconcel’s team fell to Douglas County 43-0 Sept. 13 at Stutler Bowl.
Hinkley (0-2) did not play in Week 3.
