After-Action Report: Horizon at Arvada West

The first night of week three is in the books, and it is time to look back at one of the match-ups from Thursday night. This after-action report will correlate with the game I attended.   This particular article will look at Thursday's game between Horizon and Arvada West.   Horizon at Arvada West | Thursday, September 8, 2022   Final Score 35-13 Arvada West   The questions coming into this game were focused on whether or not Horizon's offensive line get a push on the front, and if the defense be able to stop Arvada West's passing attack. The Hawks did just that through the first quarter, but the Wildcats were able to turn the tides with a handful of big plays that allowed them to run away with the game.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneCO/status/1568061550509924354?s=20&t=vIYNX8GOM0WBCurn2LbzRw </div></figure>   Arvada West moves to 2-1 and will face the reigning state champions, Cherry Creek (1-1), next Friday. Horizon falls to 0-3 as they look to bounce back against Fairview (2-0) next Thursday.   Top Arvada West Standouts   Arvada West sophomore Tate Deal (RB/DB/ATH) had an outstanding performance and was arguably the most impactful player in the game. He returned a punt for a 67-yard touchdown in the second quarter and broke a big touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Defensively, Deal did a solid job at keeping Horizon's talented receivers underneath his coverage to avoid getting beat deep for a score.   Andrew Martinez (2023) is the leading receiver for the Wildcats, who finished the game with two touchdown receptions. The 6-foot-4 wideout showed quickness off the line and a powerful stride that enabled him to get past the defender and gain separation. Martinez showed that he is an ideal target in one-on-one situations, making him a must-know senior prospect.   Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='218213' first='Ethan' last='Cook'] had a solid showing in the game. After a rocky first quarter, Cook was able to immediately capitalize on the first interception by scoring a rushing touchdown to put the Wildcats on the board in the second quarter. His two touchdown passes to Martinez were money throws that were well-timed and placed in a spot that allowed his receiver to run underneath the ball. Cook had more than a few solid pass connections that would have likely resulted in touchdowns if it were not for a speedy member of the opposing secondary.   Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1326155' first='Vincent' last='Vigil'] (2025) put on an impressive performance as an edge player for the Wildcats. He was a disruptive force all game, snagging the first interception that set up the offense in the red zone and consistently applying pressure in the backfield. Vigil looked as if he truly enjoyed being an absolute menace on the field, which is something all defensive coaches love. This young prospect is one to watch.   Top Horizon Standouts   Jace Garner (2024 TE/WR) was one of the more impressive offensive players because of his size and physicality. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 200lbs, Garner proved to be a reliable target for his QB because of his catch radius and consistently reliable hands. Garner delivered devastating hits as a blocker that allowed the ball carrier to gain a few more yards on the run. It is not uncommon for big tight ends to be converted into offensive tackles, but Garner was an athletic tackle who slimmed down and converted to TE, a decision that should result in him landing on a few college radars soon.   Senior running back Elijah Velasquez-Hinojos is an explosive runner with shifty cuts. He scored the first points in the game on a short touchdown reception in the first quarter. His ability to fit in as a passing target and his slippery playing style make him a solid option for a change-of-pace RB. Tidus Xiong (2024 RB) is more of a power back with strong running abilities. He keeps his legs moving through contact, making him a tough player to bring down. Xiong is an impressive runner with sleeper potential, which should earn him a spot on college radars.   Senior two-way athlete [player_tooltip player_id='150170' first='Landen' last='Loomis'] (WR/DB/P) rarely came off the field during the game. Defensively, Loomis was lined up at safety and stopped more than a few plays from reaching the endzone as the last man. His opponents respected his talents as a receiver because of the coverage he was seeing. When he was not being bracketed, he saw soft coverage underneath, making it difficult for him to get open deep quickly enough for the ball to come out. Despite facing heavy coverage, Loomis made a couple of spectacular catches during the game, solidifying his status as a next-level sleeper.    Even though [player_tooltip player_id='232155' first='Alex' last='Birch'] (2025 QB) did not have his best game, there were plenty of moments where he showcased highlight-worthy talents. He made the defense pay whenever they sent four or fewer on the pass rush. His ability to scramble and keep the play alive was just as impressive as his ability to keep his eyes downfield and throw strikes while on the run. Birch has serious potential of being a dominant QB with a well-rounded skillset.   Other names to know   Xavier Stanley | Horizon | 2023 WR/DB Aden Guenther | Arvada West | 2023 DB [player_tooltip player_id='376789' first='Brady' last='Witherspoon'] | Arvada West | 2023 WR [player_tooltip player_id='388114' first='Lucas' last='Wilt'] | Horizon | 2024 WR/QB Chase Greene | Horizon | 2023 DE/OLB Jaiden Green | Arvada West | 2026 RB/DB

The first night of week three is in the books, and it is time to look back at one of the match-ups from Thursday night. This after-action report will correlate with the game I attended.