Top 2A Games of Week One
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The season is just weeks away, bringing a sense of eagerness to programs and the fans as time approaches. The first set of games has some heavy-hitting matchups slated for late August, many of which are highly anticipated. This article…
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Continue ReadingThe season is just weeks away, bringing a sense of eagerness to programs and the fans as time approaches. The first set of games has some heavy-hitting matchups slated for late August, many of which are highly anticipated.
This article will briefly preview three of the most intriguing games of the first week in the 2A classification.
Friday, August 18th
Basalt at Summit (3A)
The Basalt Longhorns had an undefeated season last fall before falling in the quarterfinals to Eaton, the 2A state champs. The Summit Tigers were a 3A team playoff team last year that fell in the first round to Fredrick.
The Longhorns graduated a lot of their role players, giving more opportunities to Noah Johnston (2024 QB/LB), Paul Schenck (2024 DL/RB), Mav Dombrowksi (2024 LB/TE), Will Daniel (2025 DE), and Will Tarallo (2026 WR). The Tigers were heavy with seniors last fall but will return guys like Jackson Archambault Jackson Archambault 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Summit | 2024 CO (2024 WR), Ben Elam (2024 RB), and Emilio Jain (2024 WR).
Friday, August 25th
Elizabeth at D’Evelyn
The Elizabeth Cardinals are a talented squad that reached the first round of the playoffs and are expected to return a good amount of their starters. The D’Evelyn Jaguars are another talented team that reached the first round of the playoffs. The Jaguars fell 38-24 to the Cardinals in last season’s opener, undoubtedly emphasizing this game for both programs.
Elizabeth will return Cooper Connelley Cooper Connelley 6'3" | 175 lbs | RB Elizabeth | 2024 State CO (2024 RB), Ethan Stone (2024 WR), Cash Randle (2024 WR), Jackson Zander (2024 LB), and Wes Noe (2025 LB). D’Evelyn will be led by Bradley Fuller Bradley Fuller 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR D'Evelyn | 2024 State CO (2024 WR), Sambo Heng (2024 RB/LB), Russell Balcer (2024 WR), Carter Larsen (2024 OL/DL), and Kafui B. Fiadonu Kafui B. Fiadonu 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL D'Evelyn | 2025 State CO (2025 DL).
Saturday, August 26th
The Classical Academy at Eaton
The Classical Academy Titans made a deep run during last fall’s postseason before falling to Delta in the semifinals by seven points. Eaton went on to win its third-consecutive state title after losing the season opener to the Titans by three points. Knowing how close these teams were to having a rematch in the state championship game makes this season’s opener a 2A game to circle.
The Titans graduated a hefty amount of seniors but have Michael Wu (2024 RB/TE), Campbell Gaw (2024 LB), Jaren Texer (2024 WR/DB), Andrew Brown (2025 QB), and Riley Romine (2025 RB/LB) to lead the charge. Eaton graduated a decent number of seniors but return guys like De Angelo Rosa (2024 RB/LB), Zack Maske (2024 LB), Benson Hood (2024 DB), Gunnar Clary Gunnar Clary 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL Eaton | 2025 State CO (2025 DE/OLB), and Connor Davey (2025 RB).