In Attendance: Thursday’s Season Opener

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A brand new season kicking off in less than 24 hours making the timing perfect for introducing a new series that will provide a brief informal preview of the games I will be attending each week and who to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With this being week one of the 2022-23 season, each game will get an in-depth preview of the match-up and what makes it intriguing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>Denver South at Skyline | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 7:00 P.M.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denver South will be traveling up to challenge Skyline in what will be one of the more interesting 4A games in terms of prospect performances and overall team talent.<br>Denver South is coming off a 9-3 season (4-1 in league) that ended in the second round of the playoffs to a tough Montrose team. Skyline finished 6-5 on the season (3-2 in league), falling to Bear Creek in the first round.<br>Each team has a top five senior quarterback and both offenses are loaded with phenomenal playmakers with game-changing talents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Denver South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denver South will return one of last year's more dynamic QB/WR duos in the state with seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150187' first='Joseph' last='Capra']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242109' first='Rashad' last='Caldwell']</strong>. Capra is the third-ranked 2023 QB, while Caldwell holds the second-ranked WR spot. Two additional offensive members to note are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150169' first='Jake' last='Perruccio']</strong> (2023 WR) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251267' first='Chevelle' last='Early']</strong> (2024 RB). Perruccio has the potential of shining this year as another receiving option for Capra, especially with Caldwell being an opponent of interest for defensive secondaires. Early is a tough runner who is on pace to have a breakout season by bringing strong running abilities to the high-powered passing attack of the Ravens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denver South will have seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150209' first='Jonah' last='Buerk']</strong> (MLB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150159' first='Jamaire' last='Smith']</strong> (DT) applying pressure on the first two levels of the defense. <strong>Damajae Wells</strong> is a senior athlete who will shine on both sides of the ball but will be leaned on heavily as a corner, often matched against the other team's number one receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Other Ravens to note</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221081' first='Braeden' last='Fitz'] </strong>| 2023 OLB/TE<br><strong>Orlando Guevara</strong> | 2024 RB/CB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Skyline</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After missing the first half of his junior season, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22741' first='Kaiden' last='Box']</strong> (5th-ranked QB) is determined to lead Skyline's offensive attack as the Falcons look to establish themselves as a serious contender in the 4A classification. Fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62236' first='Logan' last='Miller']</strong> showed outstanding playmaking abilities during both preseason scrimmages, showing that he is eager to steal the spotlight this season. Senior receivers <strong>Logan Trosper</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='376601' first='Landon' last='Troupe']</strong> will be two additional targets for Box to spread the ball out this season, each capable of exploiting secondaries that may attempt to bracket Miller.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skyline senior middle linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247206' first='Maddox' last='Leggett']</strong> is expected to be the core leader for the defense this season. Leggett is arguably one of the more overlooked interior linebackers in the state. He and fellow seniors <strong>Francisco Aranday</strong> (DL) and <strong>Evan King</strong> (CB) look to help keep the ball in their offense's hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Other Falcons to note</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dilan Bridwell</strong> | 2024 WR/DB<br><strong>Johnathan Canar</strong> | 2024 WR/DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>Pregame Perceptions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will likely boil down to whichever defense can hold their offensive counterparts. Capra is an absolute playmaker as a dual-threat QB who holds a handful of offers, while Box is one of the best pure-passers in the state who has yet to receive his first offer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell has quite the reputation for being one of the more dominant receivers in the state, landing multiple Division I offers. I expect to see Miller come out with a chip on his shoulder as he looks to prove that his name should be circled on college recruiting boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both QBs have the potential to lead their potent offenses and make this game a shootout, which is why I believe the deciding factor to be one of the defenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leggett is a highly talented backer with an advanced understanding of the game, making him a key player for Skyline's defense. For Denver South, eyes will be on that defensive front to see if Smith and company can control the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Other notable Thursday night matchups</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are more than a few games kicking off tomorrow worthy of watching. Here is a look at my top five runner-up games and a name to know from each team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Thomas Jefferson at Pomona | 6:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247221' first='Dedrick' last='Payne']</strong> - Thomas Jefferson - 2023 DL/OL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146049' first='Marcus' last='Talbert Jr']</strong> - Pomona - 2024 RB/CB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Loveland at Fossil Ridge | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62223' first='Garrett' last='Harstad'] </strong>- Loveland - 2023 QB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150189' first='Tyler' last='Kubat'] </strong>- Fossil Ridge - 2023 QB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Poudre at Rock Canyon | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150208' first='Jordan' last='Niesent']</strong> - Poudre - 2023 RB/WR<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22765' first='DeAndre' last='Horn']</strong> - Rock Canyon - 2023 TE/LB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Douglas County at Horizon | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='143646' first='Jake' last='Stonebraker']</strong> - Douglas County - ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150170' first='Landen' last='Loomis'] </strong>- Horizon - 2023 WR/DB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Legacy at Arapahoe | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381201' first='Omari' last='Bursey']</strong> - Legacy - 2024 LB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247223' first='Sterling' last='DeCosta']</strong> - Arapahoe - 2023 FS/WR</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->