GREENWOOD VILLAGE | The Wagon Wheel has rolled in reverse.
The traveling trophy that goes to the winner of the annual regular season contest between longtime rivals Smoky Hill and Overland went to the Buffaloes, who suffered through a year absence without it, but got it back for the seventh time in the past eight seasons with a 56-0 Week 1 victory Friday night at Stutler Bowl.
Senior Michael Amohfrimpong and junior Shawn Lanre-Ahmed rushed for two touchdowns apiece for coach Brandon Alconcel’s Smoky Hill team, which completely flipped the result from 2024, when Overland rolled to a 40-0 victory.
The Buffaloes’ offensive line dominated as they scored 20 more points than they had in all games combined last season (36 during an 0-10 campaign) and snapped a 17-game losing streak that stretched back to a 7-0 win against the Trailblazers on Sept. 9, 2023, in another Wagon Wheel matchup.
Joseph Cooks and Markus Greene also rushed for scores, while Eduardo Rodarte caught a touchdown pass from Jayden Hopkins in Smoky Hill’s offensive outburst, which represented its most points since Sept. 15, 2012, in a 56-0 win over Aurora Central.
For good measure, the Buffaloes also scored defensively when Marcel Santiago returned an interception for a touchdown.
Coach Tony Lindsay Jr.’s Overland team experienced a tremendous amount of turnover via graduation and transfer following a 2024 season in which it won the 5A Metro League championship. The Trailblazers could not overcome a variety of turnovers and penalties.
Overland plays host to Vista PEAK Prep (1-1) at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4, while Smoky Hill travels to play at Douglas County at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
SMOKY HILL 56, OVERLAND 0
Score by quarters:
Overland 0 0 0 0 — 0
Smoky Hill 14 28 7 7 — 56
