Week Four Preview: Cherry Creek at Arvada West
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Week four will kick off with some big games slated for tomorrow. As the teams inch closer toward league play, some of the nonconference games have featured playoff-caliber teams, and tomorrow will be no different. This article will look at…
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Continue ReadingWeek four will kick off with some big games slated for tomorrow.
As the teams inch closer toward league play, some of the nonconference games have featured playoff-caliber teams, and tomorrow will be no different.
This article will look at Thursday’s matchup between the Cherry Creek Bruins and the Arvada West Wildcats while providing a few names from each team that should be on the prospect radar.
Cherry Creek at Arvada West | 4:00 P.M.
The reigning 5A state champions will travel to Avarda West as the Bruins will challenge the Wildcats in a match between two undefeated teams. Cherry Creek is coming off an impressive win over Chatfield, while Arvada West won a shootout against Horizon.
When these teams met last year, Cherry Creek was able to comfortably handle business against an Arvada West team that committed to a pass-heavy game plan. This year, the Wildcats will have two talented rushers at their disposal as they look to try and knock off the top team in the state.
Cherry Creek Bruins
The Bruins have a rotation of three running backs who have accumulated a little over 500 yards and nine of Cherry Creek’s 11 rushing touchdowns. Jordan Herron Jordan Herron 5'10" | 155 lbs | ATH Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 RB), CJ Johnson (2024 RB), and Jayden Fox Jayden Fox ATH Cherry Creek | 2026 CO (2026 RB) are players with talents that translate to the next level.
Brady Vodicka Brady Vodicka 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Cherry Creek | 2026 CO (2026 QB) has 28 completions on 42 attempts for 352 yards and three touchdowns with two rushing scores. Dawson Johnson Dawson Johnson 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 WR) and Maxwell Lovett Maxwell Lovett 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Cherry Creek | 2026 CO (2026 WR) have a combined 254 yards, with Lovett tallying all three of the team’s receiving touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jake Howell (2024 LB) and Keegan Perea Keegan Perea 6'2" | 235 lbs | DL Cherry Creek | 2025 State CO (2025 DE) lead the team in tackles, each totaling at least 20, and Pera adding a sack to those numbers. The secondary features Eli Martinez Eli Martinez 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 S), Kiyon Johnston Kiyon Johnston DB Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 CB), Damian McKiever Damian McKiever 5'10" | DB Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 CB), and Aiden Knapke Aiden Knapke 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Cherry Creek | 2025 State CO (2025 S).
Martinez and Knapke have 15 tackles a piece, while Knapke, Martinez, and Johnston each have one of the team’s five interceptions.
Arvada West Wildcats
The Wildcats have one of the more dangerous running back duos in the state, Jaiden Green Jaiden Green RB Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026) and Adrian Symalla Adrian Symalla 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026). Green has racked up 452 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries, while Symalla has totaled 414 yards and six touchdowns on 54 carries with a single reception that went for a 34-yard score.
Logan Duhachek Logan Duhachek 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026 QB) has completed 29 of his 51 attempts for 402 yards and four touchdowns. Duhachek’s go-to targets are Ayden Garcia (2026 WR) and Noah Meurer Noah Meurer 5'11" | 150 lbs | ATH Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026 WR), who have 17 receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns between the two receivers.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tegan Schantz Tegan Schantz 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Arvada West | 2024 State CO (2024 LB) and Jaxon Pyatt Jaxon Pyatt 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026 LB) lead the team in tackles with a combined 43 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble that are almost shared evenly between the duo. Vincent Vigil (2025 DE) has a total of 19 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery, adding strength and disruption to the first level of the defense.
The secondary features Atticus Tillman Atticus Tillman 6'1" | ATH Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026 CB/FS) and Jaiden Nichols Jaiden Nichols RB Arvada West | 2026 CO (2026 CB), who have 15 tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions between the two defensive backs.