AURORA | The city’s two teams of Raiders each wrapped up league football championships in their season finales Thursday.
Both Regis Jesuit and Rangeview won their games in decisive fashion, securing the titles in the Continental and Aurora leagues, respectively.
At Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch, Regis Jesuit — ranked No. 3 in the latest CHSAANow.com Class 5A coaches/media poll — hammered Highlands Ranch in a game hastened along in the second half by the running clock mercy rule.
Rangeview had a fourth consecutive league championship in its sites, but its game at Aurora Public Schools Stadium had more urgency given visiting Denver East had a chance to take the Aurora League title with a victory.
Unlike last season, when the Raiders had to beat the Angels 38-35 in a shootout, coach Dave Gonzales’ Rangeview team took command early as Devonte Wheaton returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
Wheaton also had a 62-yard punt return for a score in the second quarter and senior quarterback Darien Odegard rushed for the first of two touchdowns to give the Raiders a 23-10 advantage at halftime.
Odegard ran for another score and threw a TD pass to Arealous Hughes and Kietrich Griffin broke of a 64-yard touuchdown run as Rangeview scored 20 unanswered points in the second half.
RANGEVIEW 43, DENVER EAST 10
Score by quarters:
Denver East 3 7 0 0 — 10
Rangeview 7 16 13 7 — 43
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel.