In Attendance: Week Three Games
In this article:
Week three of the season kicks off tomorrow with the hope of being a highlight-worthy week for many of the seniors working on their recruitment. This article will preview the games I attend and the players I watch this week.…
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Continue ReadingWeek three of the season kicks off tomorrow with the hope of being a highlight-worthy week for many of the seniors working on their recruitment.
This article will preview the games I attend and the players I watch this week.
Horizon (0-2) at Arvada West (1-1) | Thursday, September 8, 2022 | 6:00 P.M.
The Wildcats are riding a solid wave following a dominant 56-0 win over Boulder, whereas the Horizon Hawks are looking for their first win after two tough losses.
Arvada West Wildcats
QB Ethan Cook Ethan Cook 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Arvada West | 2023 State CO (2023) has had an impressive beginning to his senior season, throwing for 597 yards and nine touchdowns through the first two games. Cook has a main receiving core of four seniors, three of whom are over 6-foot-1. Brady Witherspoon Brady Witherspoon 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR Arvada West | 2023 State CO (2023 WR) and Andrew Martinez (2023 WR) will enter this game with three touchdowns each on a combined 22 receptions.
Defensively, the Wildcats will look to senior linebackers Charlie Smith Charlie Smith LB Arvada West | 2023 State CO (MLB) and Reece Dixon (OLB) to lead the charge against a talented offense. Smith has recorded a team-high of 20 total tackles, with four being for a loss of yards and one sack, while also forcing two fumbles. Dixon has 14 tackles, one for a loss of yards, and a pass breakup.
The Horizon Hawks
Sophomore QB Alex Birch Alex Birch 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Horizon | 2025 State CO is coming into this game after a rocky start to the season, but his performances suggest that the passing offense is on the verge of finding its spark. Birch has managed to spread the ball around to a few different targets, including Xavier Stanley (2023 WR/DB), Jace Garner (2023 TE), and Elijah Glassford (2024 WR/DB). Senior two-way athlete Landen Loomis Landen Loomis WR Horizon | 2023 State CO (2023 WR/DB) is a pace-pushing who possesses the ability to ignite a fire in his teammates on either side of the ball.
Pregame Perceptions
The Hawks will be heading into a tough matchup as they take on a powerful Wildcat team. Expect Cook and company to air the ball out and test the Horizon secondary as the Wildcats look to continue their highlight-worthy performances.
The Hawks have the potential of turning this one into a shootout if Birch can find an early rhythm with his receivers, but that will depend on whether or not the offensive line can get a push up front.
Other Wildcats to watch
Yency Alvino | 2023 WR
Zion Thomas | 2023 WR
Other Hawks to watch
Matthew Gutierrez | 2024 WR
Northglenn (1-0) at Thornton (1-1) | Friday, September 9, 2022 | 7:00 P.M.
The Thornton Trojans will host the Northglenn Norsemen after pulling off a 32-27 win over Niwot. Unfortunately, Northglenn’s game against Gateway has no official stats or final score, likely due to the game being interrupted by the lightning storms last Friday.
The Northglenn Norsemen
Trevor Dean (2024 QB) had an impressive showing during the season opener, throwing for 187 yards, rushing for 56 yards, and a rushing touchdown. Brian Dykstra Brian Dykstra 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Northglenn | 2023 State CO (2023 WR/DB) and Dimitrius Perea (2024 RB/DB) accumulated 105 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the first game of the season.
Defensively, Brock Bucher (2023 MLB/TE) and Elvio Agagah (2024 SS/OLB) each secured ten tackles, with Bucher also recording a sack and a tackle for loss.
The Thornton Trojans
Through two games, sophomore QB Jose Paredes has thrown for 300 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 94 yards and four touchdowns. Standout senior Isacc Gomez Isacc Gomez WR Thornton | 2023 State CO (WR/DB) has 13 receptions for 188 yards and one touchdown on offense, and 16 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception. Jeremy Powell (2023 RB/DT) has rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown while racking up six tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Senior Aden Lucero-Barraza (DL) has been a force on the defensive front, securing 12 tackles, five tackles for a loss of yards, and two forced fumbles.
Pregame Perceptions
This game will be a contest between two evenly matched teams, making it an interesting one on the schedule. Thornton having a QB who can push the ball downfield gives the team the ability to give its receivers the opportunities to make plays. Northglenn’s offense is capable of airing the ball out and stretching the field. With both rosters having key players going both ways, expect one of the defenses to be the deciding factor in this one, especially the secondaries.
Other Norsemen to watch
Manuel Pocheco Jr | 2023
Eli Stevens | 2026 LB
Other Trojans to watch
Davonte Henderson | 2023 CB
David Williams | 2024 RB
Saturday, September 10, 2022
The decision is still out on which game I will attend on Saturday, but the choice has been narrowed down to three games. Golden (1-1) will face #9 Ponderosa (2-0) at noon, Mead (1-1) will visit Severence (1-1) at 1:00 P.M., and #13 Limon (2-0) will travel to take on #23 Strasburg (2-0) at 7:00 P.M.
Stay tuned to Twitter to find out which game gets chosen.
Other notable Thursday and Friday matchups
There are more than a few games kicking off this week worth watching. Here is a look at my top runner-up games and a name to know from each team.
Cherokee Trail (1-1) at #5 Columbine (2-0) | Thursday at 4:00 P.M.
Noah Greer
Noah
Greer
6'0" | 175 lbs | WR
Cherokee Trail | 2023
State
CO
– Cherokee Trail – 2023 WR
Marquane Taylor
Marquane
Taylor
5'6" | 165 lbs | RB
Columbine | 2023
State
CO
– Columbine – 2023 RB
#15 Broomfield (2-0) at Vista PEAK Prep (1-1) | Thursday at 6:30 P.M.
Kaelan Frey
Kaelan
Frey
6'0" | 180 lbs | WR
Broomfield | 2023
State
CO
– Broomfield – 2023 WR
Calem Moore – Vista PEAK – 2023 WR/DB
Highlands Ranch (1-1) at Eaglecrest (2-0) | Thursday at 6:30 P.M.
Isaac Engle
Isaac
Engle
6'2" | 200 lbs | LB
Highlands Ranch | 2023
State
CO
– Montrose – 2023 LB
Diego Cearns
Diego
Cearns
RB
Eaglecrest | 2023
State
CO
– Eaglecrest – 2023 RB/ATH
Banning Lewis Prep Academy (2-0) at Yuma (2-0) | Thursday at 7:00 P.M.
Ben Early
Ben
Early
6'4" | 200 lbs | TE
Banning Lewis Prep Academy | 2024
State
CO
– Banning Lewis – 2024 TE/LB
Jack Blecha – Yuma – 2023 RB/CB
Fort Collins (1-1) at Windsor (1-1) | Thursday at 7:00 P.M.
Griffin Daknis – Fort Collins – 2023 QB
Garrett Sauer
Garrett
Sauer
6'3" | 210 lbs | QB
Windsor | 2023
State
CO
– Windsor – 2023 QB
#17 Arapahoe (2-0) at #3 Regis Jesuit (1-1) | Friday at 6:30 P.M.
Thomas Farquhar
Thomas
Farquhar
6'2" | 200 lbs | LB
Arapahoe | 2023
State
CO
– Arapahoe – 2023 LB
D’Andre Barnes
D’Andre
Barnes
WR
Regis Jesuit | 2023
State
CO
– Regis Jesuit – 2023 WR
#7 Valor Christian (1-1) at Fairview (2-0) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Brody Bliek
Brody
Bliek
6'3" | 270 lbs | DL
Valor Christian | 2023
State
CO
– Valor Christian – 2023 DL/OL
Rowan Risner
Rowan
Risner
6'2" | 195 lbs | QB
Fairview | 2024
State
CO
– Fairview – 2024 QB
#4 Ralston Valley (1-1) at #2 Grandview (2-0) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Logan Madden – Ralston Valley – 2024 QB
Simon Kibbee
Simon
Kibbee
6'8" | 240 lbs | TE
Grandview | 2023
State
CO
– Grandview – 2023 TE
Vista Ridge (1-1) at #20 Pine Creek (1-1) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Keyshawn Dooley
Keyshawn
Dooley
5'8" | 155 lbs | WR
Vista Ridge | 2023
State
CO
– Vista Rdige – 2023 WR
Ramon Pacheco
Ramon
Pacheco
5'11" | 175 lbs | DB
Pine Creek | 2024
State
CO
– Pine Creek – 2024 CB
#14 Montrose (0-2) at #11 Erie (1-1) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Blake Griffin
Blake
Griffin
5'9" | 195 lbs | RB
Montrose | 2024
State
CO
– Montrose – 2024 RB/LB
Trey Khanna – Erie – 2023 RB/DB
Castle View (1-1) at #8 Legend (2-0) | Friday at 7:00 P.M.
Nathan Schmidt – Castle View – 2023 QB
John Bookhart – Legend – 2023 QB