Two late touchdowns made the final scoreboard look close at the end of its Class 5A first round state playoff game Nov. 7, but the Cherokee Trail football team couldn’t help but think what could have been if not for five turnovers.
The Cougars saw the Heritage defense intercept four passes and recover a fumble on a frigid night at Littleton Public Schools Stadium that helped the fourth-seeded Eagles build a 19-0 lead and hold off a late rally by fifth-seeded Cherokee Trail.
Junior quarterback Conner Nantkes bounced back from the spate of turnovers to engineer two touchdown drives late in the final quarter, with senior Quincey Voss rushing for a score and sophomore Dylan James bringing in a touchdown pass with two seconds remaining, but the Cougars’ season came to an end at 5-5.
Full Class 5A state football playoff scores and schedule, here.
• The early National Athletic Letter of Intent signing day came on Nov. 11, and athletes from Eaglecrest, Grandview, Rangeview and Regis Jesuit high schools took advantage. A list of Aurora signees by school, here.
• The Rangeview volleyball team again came up just short of earning a berth in the Class 5A state volleyball tournament, but the Raiders went down fighting at the 5A Region 1 tournament on Nov. 7 at Chatfield. Coach Doug Walker’s EMAC champions — who fell just a few points short of making it to the Denver Coliseum a year ago — won their opening match to set up a showdown with host and top-seeded Chatfield with the state berth on the line. The Chargers held off the Raiders, however, with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 victory. Junior Tyler Speller piled up 15 kills for Rangeview, which had its season end at 18-7. Senior Jackie McBride added nine kills and freshman Lexi Hurtado picked up eight, while senior Kelsie Hurtado had a big match with 25 assists and 20 digs.
• Thought it couldn’t defend its Class 5A state championship, the Overland co-op gymnastics team turned in its best performance of the season on Nov. 6 to place fourth at the 2015 5A state gymnastics meet. Junior McKenna Turbyne qualified for the Nov. 7 individual event finals in three individual events, while teammates Devin Guttman and Natalie Wilson made it in one. State results, Day 1 and Day 2.
• Vista PEAK fell short of qualifying for the Class 3A state football playoffs, but the Bison finished the 2015 season in style and set the program record with its sixth victory. Coach John Sullivan’s team cracked the 50 points barrier for the fourth time in a 54-27 hammering of Elizabeth on Nov. 6 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium to finish the season 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the Colorado 7 standings. Sophomore quarterback Derrick Smashum threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns, four to senior Alex Hawkins (who had 138 yards receiving) and the other to junior Dylan Holt (126 yards receiving). Senior Justin Davis rushed for 144 yards and found the end zone three times.
• Mike Retland and Francisco Aranda rushed for fourth quarter touchdowns as Aurora Central scored the final 12 points of the game for a crucial 20-8 Mountain League football win over Standley Lake on Nov. 5 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. Aranda racked up a team-high 73 yards and scored twice, while senior Taevon Jordan added 63 yards on the ground for the Trojans, who finished the regular season 8-2 and secured a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs. Aurora Central received the No. 12 seed in the 4A postseason, with a trip to play at fifth-seeded Durango in the offing.
• The Overland football team ran into a buzz saw in the first round of the Class 5A state football playoffs, as the eighth-seeded Trailblazers couldn’t slow top-seeded Columbine, which rolled to a 48-13 victory on Nov. 5 at Jeffco Stadium. Chris Jones’ 62-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Ray Rountree put Overland on the scoreboard first, but the Rebels (10-0) scored the next 48 points until Cameron Murray rushed for a fourth quarter score for the Trailblazers, who finished 3-7.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
