CLASS 5A FOOTBALL SEMIFINAL MATCHUP
NO. 2 VALOR CHRISTIAN (9-3) VS. NO. 1 GRANDVIEW (12-0)
1 p.m., Nov. 22, Legacy Stadium
BREAKDOWN: Grandview and Valor Christian became Centennial League rivals this season due to realignment, but the two programs have three games of history between them, though all have taken place during the regular season. The Wolves own a 2-1 advantage over the Eagles in the all-time series thanks to a 28-19 victory in 2010 and a 24-21 win when the teams met in this season’s regular season finale on Oct. 24, with both victories coming at Legacy Stadium, site of the semifinal matchup. Playing on its home field, Valor Christian posted a decisive 45-17 victory over Grandview in 2011. …Coach John Schultz’s Grandview program is 1-3 all-time in the 5A semifinals, posting a victory over Bear Creek in 2007 on its way to winning the 5A state championship, while suffering losses to Douglas County in 2005 and back-to-back to Mullen and Columbine in 2010 and 2011. …Coach Rod Sherman’s Valor Christian program is 25-0 all-time in the postseason in 3A, 4A and 5A classifications with a single state championship in 3A (2009), back-to-back 4A crowns in 2010 and 2011 and wins in the 5A championship game in each of the past two seasons. … VALOR CHRISTIAN: The Eagles blasted top-seeded Pomona 56-34 in the quarterfinals and ripped past Mountain Vista 44-0 in the second round and Horizon 48-12 in the opening round. …Sophomore QB Dylan McCaffrey has passed for 2,043 yards and 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions, with junior WR Ben Waters (539 yards, 7 TDs) and senior WR Eric Lee (380 yards, 3 TDs) his main targets. …Senior RB Stone Watson ran for 77 yards and a pair of scores against Grandview in the first meeting and has 605 yards rushing and five TDs on the season. Five other Valor Christian ballcarriers have amassed more than 100 yards this season. …Defensively, the Eagles can get to the quarterback, with senior DE Brandon Biggs leading with the way with 5.5 sacks and senior LB Bubba Watkins at 4.5, as well as ranking third on the team with 70 tackles. Senior DB Brian Dawkins Jr. and Lee have each nabbed four of the Eagles’ 14 interceptions. …If the game comes down to a field goal attempt, Valor Christian junior PK Jarred Kendziorski has made just 6 of his 12 attempts on the season with a long of 41 yards. …GRANDVIEW: The Wolves fell behind early, but rallied past Fountain-Fort Carson 28-7 in the quarterfinals, while they previously handled Lakewood (40-0) and Brighton (51-0). …Senior RB Chukwuma Obinnah played just two plays against Fountain-Fort Carson before leaving with a hip injury, but he hopes to be healthy enough to run against Valor Christian, who he gashed for 111 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting. He has 1,494 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season. RB Ben Marshall (145 yards, touchdown) and RB Austin Quarles (57 yards, touchdowns) filled in well in the quarterfinals. Senior QB Cody Summers was efficient in the first game against Valor Christian and has taken care of the ball, as he’s thrown 13 touchdown passes against just two interceptions with 896 total yards through the air, while he’s second on the team in rushing with 602 yards and 10 scores. Senior WR Brandon Brooks leads the team with 346 yards and 6 TDs, while senior TE Morgan Smith is a big target and caught one of his two touchdowns on the season in the quarterfinals. …Playmaking senior DB Cameron Knight had an interception and 11 tackles against Valor Christian in the first meeting and has five picks for the season to go with a team-leading 66 tackles. Senior DE Tilmon Gash leads a sack-happy Grandview defense with 8.5 sacks, while junior LB DeAndre Shorts has eight to his credit. The Wolves force turnovers, as they’ve recovered 32 fumbles and made nine interceptions on the season. …WINNER GETS: The Valor Christian/Grandview winner advances to the 5A state championship game, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High — home of the Denver Broncos — to play Cherry Creek, which posted a 27-15 victory over Ralston Valley in the other semifinal on Nov. 21. Grandview defeated Cherry Creek during Centennial League play, while the Bruins beat Valor Christian.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
After reviewing the controversial Touchdown turned Touchback in yesterdays Grandview Valor game, even the Channel 9 Sportscaster has a hard time understanding how that was not a Grandview Touchdown. If there’s an obscure CHSAA rule that legitimately justifies this reversal of the called Touchdown, so be it, let’s see it with a full explanation. Otherwise this was a serious mistake, that should be addressed. Seeing how the final score was 14-7 it could have been a totally different outcome. It’s one thing getting beat fair and square, which may have happened; but losing to not just a bad call but actually having the reffs call the touchdown, having the score go up on the board and having it reversed, should be oficially explained. The young men who beat both “State” teams in the regular season and will carry this with them the rest of their lives deserve better. Don’t they??