5A Football: CCSD clubs get 3-3 split last week
District football teams are still a few weeks away from conference play, and continued games against non-conference foes last week.
Eaglecrest remained unbeaten as the Raptors took care of business last Friday, defeating Highlands Ranch at Halftime Help Stadium. The final score was 51-7. Junior quarterback Joe Steiner threw two touchdown passes and piled up 198 yards through the air. Senior defensive back Cam Chapa recovered a Falcon's fumble in the first quarter, and took it 60 yards to the end zone to open the scoring. Junior Josh Wiley also rushed for two touchdowns in the win. Up next, Eaglecrest (3-0) finally plays their first game at home as the Raptors host Rocky Mountain at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Legacy Stadium.
Cherry Creek's record also remained unblemished, as the Bruins defeated Chatfield 34-17 at Jefferson County Stadium on Sept. 8. The Chargers held Creek scoreless after one quarter of play, but the Bruins got it going in the second period. Senior Jordan Herron rushed for a touchdown for Creek’s first points of the evening, and sophomore Jayden Fox rushed for two more scores in the second. Senior Luke Owen got a 40-yard pick-6 as CCHS scored 27 unanswered points before halftime. The Bruins got to the end zone in the third, but the contest was well in hand. Next, Creek (3-0) faces Arvada West at 4 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC).
Grandview fell to 2-1 on the season as they took a tough road loss on Sept. 8, falling to Ralston Valley 30-15 at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Wolves got down 24-0 before scoring late touchdowns, one from sophomore Chris Blanks on the ground, and another from senior quarterback Liam Szarka, who threw a touchdown pass to junior Kyler Vaughn. On Sept. 16, the Wolves host Fruita Monument at 1 p.m. at Legacy Stadium.
Cherokee Trail fell to a tough Columbine team last Friday at Legacy Stadium. The final score was 35-7. Columbine scored three times in the first quarter to take command of the contest early. Juniors Eliot Ming and Jacob Mathenge hooked up for the lone score for the Cougars in the fourth quarter. Next, CTHS takes on Fort Collins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at French Field.
The weekend culminated with the annual Cherry Creek School District Veterans and Military Appreciation game where Smoky Hill defeated Overland 7-0. Also at stake was the Wagon Wheel Trophy, which the Buffaloes retained for the sixth straight season. A Smoky TD pass from junior quarterback Zion Brake to senior Ene Niusulu in the first quarter was all the scoring the Buffs needed to get their first win of the season. Next, Smoky Hill (1-2) hosts Palmer Ridge at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Stutler Bowl. Overland (1-2) hosts Heritage at 4 p.m., also at the Stutler Bowl on Sept. 14.
5A Boys Golf: Cherry Creek wins Centennial title
The Cherry Creek High School boys golf team achieved something last Tuesday at Aurora Hills Golf Course that the program hasn’t seen in 10 years. With their first place team finish at the Centennial League #5 event, the Bruins took home the Centennial League Championship.
“It feels really good,” Head Coach Dustin Neel said. “The credit goes to the players. They put in the work and I’m really proud of how they committed to be the best version of themselves each day. One of our goals going into the season was to win our league and we still have a lot of work to do, but I’m very proud of what we have accomplished so far.”
Coach Neel said the Centennial League has always had a high level of play.
“We have a lot of really good players in our league. Cherokee Trail is a very good team with a lot of young talent. Arapahoe has really owned the Centennial in these last years, so it was pretty cool to see our guys finally get over that hump," he said. Hopefully, we can continue our success.”
The team of junior Andre Dumonteil, seniors Karthik Ashokprabhu and Pratham Parmar, juniors Henry Starr, Dalton Schwartz, and Wyatt Isgrig all combined to win the team title for the first time since 2013.
The Bruins started out finishing second to Cherokee Trail in the league’s first two events, but came in first in league tourneys 3, 4 and 5.
Junior Andre Dumonteil was the top golfer on Creek this season, and won the league individual championship.
5A Regional play begins for the Bruins on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada. The 2023 State Championships will be on Oct. 2-3 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.
Posted 9/12/2023.
