After-Action Report: #4 Grandview at #1 Cherry Creek

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were big games scheduled for the tenth week of the season. Both ranked matchups ended in upsets, ultimately altering playoff brackets heading into the first round of the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This article will briefly examine Friday's attended game from last week and a few standout players from the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>#5 Grandview (8-2) at #1 Cherry Creek (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Final Score: 24-21 Grandview</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday night's matchup between the Grandview Wolves and the Cherry Creek Bruins turned out to be one of the more exciting games of the season, ending with the Wolves upsetting the Bruins late in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game began with a 60-plus-yard run by Cherry Creek's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22757' first='Carlson' last='Tann']</strong> (2023 RB) on the first play from scrimmage, giving the appearance that the Bruins were potentially going to run away with the game. Grandview immediately responded with a long touchdown drive, foreshadowing the trouble they would give the reigning state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the charge for the Wolves was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] </strong>(2024 QB), who was able to get things down with his arm and legs. He scored a rushing touchdown on Grandview's opening drive and the game's final touchdown that gave the Wolves the lead with less than four minutes in the game. In addition to Szarka's two touchdown runs, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495439' first='Donavon' last='Vernon']</strong> (2025 RB) punched in a rushing touchdown to end the first half, and <strong>Kyle Chavez</strong> (2024 K) kicked a field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Following the successful field goal, Grandview booted a pooch kick that was muffed by Cherry Creek and recovered by the Wolves, leading to Szarka's final score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What gave Grandview the edge over Cherry Creek was their ability to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Outside of the opening play, the Bruins struggled to get their run game going against a well-defended box led by inside linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495445' first='Max' last='Kibbee']</strong> (2023) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495447' first='Preston' last='Emken']</strong> (2024).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherry Creek struggled to get things going offensively after the opening touchdown by Tann until a successful drive halfway through the second quarter that resulted in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62212' first='Arion' last='Boyd']</strong> (2023 RB) scoring on a touchdown run. Both defenses avoided giving up touchdowns in the third quarter, with Cherry Creek being the first to score at the beginning of the fourth quarter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212239' first='Brady' last='Vodicka']</strong> (2026 QB) scored on a quarterback keeper within the first minute of the final quarter, but that would be the last time the Bruins would reach the end zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Cherry Creek was able to lean on their defensive front led by Oregon commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62241' first='Blake' last='Purchase']</strong> (2023 EDGE), Iowa commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150256' first='Chase' last='Brackney']</strong> (2023 DT), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='376559' first='Javion' last='Smith-Combs']</strong> (2023 DE). Kansas commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62213' first='Logan' last='Brantley'] </strong>(2023 LB/SS) was the do-all player for the Bruins' defense. His ability to play at every level of the field showed just how invaluable he is to the team. Unfortunately, Cherry Creek's high-powered defense was unable to stop Szarka and Grandview's offensive line, especially with the struggles the Bruins' offense faced in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Other Standout Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247228' first='Gibson' last='Leafgreen']</strong> | Grandview | 2023 DB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495454' first='Delano' last='Jefferson']</strong> | Grandview | 2023 DL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149330' first='Mulumba' last='Wa-kalonji']</strong> | Grandview | 2023 OLB/DE<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495453' first='Nkongolo' last='Wa-Kalonji']</strong> | Grandview | 2024 DE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22761' first='Ismael' last='Cisse']</strong> | Cherry Creek | 2023 WR<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150073' first='Ezran' last='Rice']</strong> | Cherry Creek | 2023 DL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150149' first='Taki' last='Dadiotis']</strong> | Cherry Creek | 2023 OL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251220' first='Angelo' last='Petrides']</strong> | Cherry Creek | 2024 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Looking Ahead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grandview's win over Cherry Creek elevated their rank from eighth to fourth, giving them a first-round bye for the playoffs. Cherry Creek remains the number one-ranked team and the favorite to win a state title for the fourth year in a row, but the state's Goliath is looking less giant after being taken down by the Wolves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CHSAA/status/1586752420520120321?s=20u0026t=naZI8bvd6eE99p4N7pFeHw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CHSAA/status/1586752420520120321?s=20u0026t=naZI8bvd6eE99p4N7pFeHw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->