Week Six Preview: Eaglecrest at Grandview
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League play has officially kicked off, with big-time games slated for this week. The Centennial League is considered to be one of the tougher conferences in the state, making the contest between Eaglecrest (5-0) and Grandview (4-1) worth the anticipation.…
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Continue ReadingLeague play has officially kicked off, with big-time games slated for this week.
The Centennial League is considered to be one of the tougher conferences in the state, making the contest between Eaglecrest (5-0) and Grandview (4-1) worth the anticipation. The undefeated Eaglecrest Raptors will challenge the Grandview Wolves at 7 o’clock tonight.
Both teams have quarterbacks who have been outstanding through the first half of the season. Grandview’s Liam Szarka Liam Szarka 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Grandview | 2024 State CO (2024) is the dual-threat Air Force commit who has scored 13 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. So far, he has averaged 225 passing yards and 34 rushing yards a game. Eaglecrest QB Joe Steiner (2025) has put up similar number for the Raptors, averaging 185 yards through the air and 26 yards on the ground with a total of 12 passing touchdowns and two rushing.
Quarterbacks who put up numbers like Szarka and Steiner have receiving targets who are threats to the defense’s secondary. Grandview receivers Xavier Neto Xavier Neto 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Grandview | 2025 State CO (2025) and Nate Denton (2024) have seen a hefty share of targets this season. Nieto has four touchdowns and an average of 70 receiving yards a game, while Denton has an average of 75 yards a game and three receiving touchdowns.
Logan Ryan (2024) and Zavion Gamble (2025) have led the Eaglecrest receiving core up to this point. Ryan has racked up five receiving touchdowns and averaged 71 yards a game, while Gamble has averaged 64 yards a game with a total of three touchdowns.
Raptors running back Josh Wiley (2025) enters the contest with two rushing touchdowns and an average of 79 yards a game, while Donavon Vernon Donavon Vernon 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Grandview | 2025 State CO (2025) has averaged 52 yards per game with five touchdowns.
Each team has a dynamic offense, putting immense pressure on the defensive units. Eaglecrest has arguably one of the best secondaries in the state, featuring Cam Chapa Cam Chapa 6'0" | DB Eaglecrest | 2024 State CO (2024), Cory Jackson Cory Jackson 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Eaglecrest | 2024 State CO (2024), and Cameron Bell (2026). Chapa is a safety with three interceptions, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Jackson is a lockdown corner with eight pass breakups and one interception on limited targets. Bell may be young, but he has done an outstanding job as a cornerback so far, tallying eight pass breakups and two picks.
Grandview has a talented secondary as well, especially with Brandon Kahre Brandon Kahre 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Grandview | 2025 State CO (2025), who has stacked up 52 total tackles and five pass breakups. However, the focus for this game will be on the defense’s ability to apply pressure in the backfield. Nkongolo Wa-Kalonji Nkongolo Wa-Kalonji 6'4" | 185 lbs | DL Grandview | 2024 State CO (2024) is a highly-touted defensive lineman who has racked up 52 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks. Joining Wa-kalonji is Marcus Nesbitt (2025), a defensive lineman with 26 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and one sack.
On paper, this match will be played by two similarly matched teams with a lot of college talent on both rosters, making it a game worthy of excitement.