Week 3 Review: Cherry Creek Bruins vs Chatfield Chargers

A look at the five best performances from this ranked, nonconference matchup.   Review   Like many of the previous pieces that I've written about games in Week 3, the battle between the top-ranked Cherry Creek Bruins and the 15th ranked Chatfield Chargers was one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the weekend - with most expecting a back-and-forth contest from two highly ranked programs. How the game actually played out, however, couldn't have been more disconcerting to those hoping for a slug-fest. The Chargers would strike first on their opening possession, driving the ball down the field and kicking a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead while keeping the Bruins offense scoreless exiting the quarter. Those would be the only points that Chatfield could muster until late in the 4th quarter while Cherry Creek, however, would hum right along for the next three quarters - scoring an unbelievable four touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to take a decisive 27-3 lead into halftime. Coming out of the locker room at the half, Cherry Creek would put the game in cruise-control, adding one more touchdown to make the score 34-3 entering the 4th quarter. The Chatfield offense would add two more scores in the 4th quarter but the Bruins lead at that point was far too insurmountable to overcome, with the final score showing a 34-17 Cherry Creek victory when the clock hit zero. Despite this contest being substantially lopsided, there were still players on both teams who had strong performances. With that being said though, here are the five players who I felt had the strongest games last Friday.   Players of the Week   [player_tooltip player_id='259298' first='Jordan' last='Herron'], Cherry Creek Bruins (RB)(Sr.)(2) – Herron was the heartbeat of the Bruins offense last Friday, seemingly carrying the unit for most of the game while the passing attack struggled to get going. Cherry Creek would lean heavily on Herron and the Chargers defense would fail to slow him down as he accounted for 103 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown on 14 carries (7.4 YPC). Turning to the film of Herron's night against Chatfield, you can see he is a highly explosive runner that can quickly hit top gear if given enough space. Great balance and lateral agility allow him to be an extremely elusive runner in the open field that is very difficult to tackle in 1-on-1 situations. Displays good vision on runs in between the tackles, showing good patience when working to find daylight and exploding through the running lane when it opens. Deceptively powerful runner despite his smaller stature, showing good lower body strength and balance at the point-of-attack when making contact with a defender. Shows exceptional ability as a receiver, displaying good route running ability and consistent hands when asked to make tough catches in traffic. Versatile weapon on offense that can be dangerous out of the backfield or lined up out wide, presenting a tough matchup for 2nd and 3rd level defenders in pass coverage, consistently being able to create separation against them. Shows good top-end foot speed, consistently out running slower 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Herron is currently rated the number 2 RB and the number 26 player overall for the class of 2024, with that rating being more than well-deserved. If Herron can continue to carry a heavy load for the offense, there might not be anybody that can slow down their ground game.   Avery Deweese, Chatfield Chargers (LB)(Sr.)(47) – Deweese had an all-around fantastic game for Chatfield, contributing in every phase of the defense. Deweese might not have put up world-beating numbers but his impact goes well beyond the stat sheet as he registered 5 tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a pass deflection with those numbers not truly reflecting his value for the Chargers defense. Turning to the tape of Deweese's performance against the Cherry Creek offense, he immediately stands out as an extremely high motor player that relentlessly pursues the ball carrier. Smart, disciplined LB that understands his responsibilities, run fits, and while playing aggressive doesn't get caught over-pursuing the ball carrier, consistently maintaining the edge well. Shows consistently sound form at the point-of-attack when making contact with the ball carrier, getting his head across the core, wrapping up, and driving his legs through contact. Shows good first step explosiveness when coming out of his stance and crashing downhill towards the line of scrimmage. Shows a good ability to stack-and-shed the opposing blocker when working towards the ball carrier. Deweese isn't currently generating any recruiting buzz in the class of 2024 but, either way, is a tremendously talented player that will be a key piece of the Chatfield defense that will look to rebound next week.   Reed Narva, Chatfield Chargers (LB/DB)(Jr.)(24) – Much like his teammate in the 2nd level of the defense, Narva had a well-rounded performance for the Chatfield defense. Narva had as sound of a game that you could hope for from a defender as he accounted for 7 tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a pass deflection with the box score not truly reflecting Narva's importance to the Chargers defense. When you look at the film of Narva's night against the Bruins, you can see that he is an extremely high motor player that relentlessly pursues the play, even when the play is well down field. Highly intelligent outside backer that understands his role and doesn't stretch beyond his responsibilities while also displaying a tremendous understanding of his run fits and gap responsibilities. Shows consistently sound form at the point-of-contact when attacking the ball carrier, showing good form when making a tackle – getting his head across the core, wrapping up, and driving through contact with the ball carrier. Shows great first step explosiveness when coming out of his stance and coming downhill towards the line of scrimmage in run support. Shows excellent ability in pass coverage whether he's being asked to run with TEs and RBs in man coverage or drop into zone coverage, he is extremely difficult to get past as a receiver lined up against him. Narva is currently unranked on recruiting boards for the class of 2025, which is starting to be more and more surprising with each strong performance he has. Regardless, Narva is an exceptional player that will continue to be an anchor for the Chatfield defense this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='232189' first='Aiden' last='Knapke'], Cherry Creek Bruins (DB)(Jr.)(0) - Knapke might have had the most all-around dominant performance of any defender in this game, contributing in every way possible defensively. Knapke made his presence felt the whole game against the Chargers offense as he registered an impressive 9 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, a sack, a pass deflection, and an interception - which is an insane line for a DB. Watching the film of Knapke's night against the Chatfield offense, you can see he displays an uncanny knack for finding the football, whether dropping into pass coverage or coming up in run support. Highly intelligent, extremely athletic and versatile chess piece of a player that lined up in multiple positions in the defensive backfield depending on the formation; having experience lining up as a deep safety, in the box, and in the slot at nickel. Very physical and extremely aggressive tackler that brings plenty of force to the point-of-contact with the ball carrier. Shows consistently good form when making a tackle (head across the core, wrap-up, driving legs through contact), consistently stopping the ball carrier's progress as soon as contact is made. Displays a good understanding of his gap responsibilities when coming up to make his run fits. Displays the ability to play at a high-level at every position in the defensive backfield but is truly elite when asked to play a deep middle role as a safety. Knapke is currently the number 1 ranked DB and the number 2 player overall for the class of 2025, which isn't surprising at all to see given his combination of traits and production. As the Bruins pursue another state title this season, Knapke will be an integral piece of the Cherry Creek defense.   Luke Owen, Cherry Creek Bruins (LB)(Sr.)(11) - While Owen might not have put up the gaudy numbers of his teammate, he made plays for the Cherry Creek defense when they mattered the most. Owen might have made the biggest difference of any defender in this game despite the box score not reflecting it as he accounted for 4 tackles, a pass deflection, and a massive interception returned for a touchdown that would flip the momentum of the game. When you watch Owen's performance against Chatfield on tape, you can see he shows a good combination of technique and strength with his hand placement when attacking opposing blockers, consistently neutralizing their hands with counter-moves quickly - allowing him to quickly stack-and-shed the blocker. Highly physical backer that brings plenty of force to the point-of-contact with the opposing blocker or ball carrier. Good first step out of his stance when coming up in run support allows him to quickly fill his run fits. Displays a white-hot high motor on every play, consistently pursuing the play downfield and playing through the whistle. A combination of deceptive top-end foot speed and exceptional intelligence allow him to be a lock-down defender when dropping into pass coverage. Versatile 2nd level player that has experience lining up as a 3-4 edge defender and a 4-3 drop back LB. Owen isn't currently ranked on any recruiting boards for the class of 2024 but don't let the rankings fool you; Owen is a very talented player that will be look to close out his career as a Bruin with a third-straight 5A state title.

A look at the five best performances from this ranked, nonconference matchup.