Broomfield senior running back Jose Fraire summed up the preseason sentiments of many of the Eagles, particularly his classmates.
“If there are people who doubt us, we’re more than ready to prove them wrong,” Fraire said during August camp.
Broomfield graduated 28 seniors off of last year’s Class 4A state semifinal squad, including its 1,900-yard rusher, quarterback, electric kick returner and various other playmakers.
Add to that the fact that this year’s senior class numbers only 14, and it seemed only reasonable that the Eagles might be headed for a bit of a rebuilding year.
But heading into a Week 3 clash with second-ranked Monarch (2-0) on Friday — the BoCoPreps.com game of the week — the No. 6 Eagles (2-0) have proven they’re not settling for a lesser role in the race for 4A supremacy.
Despite all the losses, the Eagles did return eight or nine starters. And all they’ve done so far is knock off a pair of 5A foes in Fruita-Monument and cross-town rival Legacy, the latter of which was a 38-23 road triumph and the first win in the series for the Eagles.
“It’s not like the cupboard was bare, and I think there is a little bit of resentment by the senior class,” Broomfield coach Gary Davies said this week. “They play with an edge to them, and I think that’s part of it. They have a little attitude about them.”
The Eagles will need that edge again this week.
The experienced Coyotes bring in plenty of motivation of their own after getting drubbed 42-19 by Broomfield last season in the renewal of the teams’ rivalry following a four-year layoff.
“It was tough to swallow in a lot of ways,” MHS coach Phil Bravo said. “We got out-coached. We got outplayed. And we got out-hustled.”
A young MHS group last season responded to the loss by winning its final nine regular season games. In fact he Coyotes’ only loss since came in the state playoffs to Longmont.
Bravo said his team didn’t so much gain a chip on its shoulder from the loss as it did an awakening. Broomfield laid out the roadmap to the level the Coyotes wanted to reach.
With a host of players back this season, Bravo feels his team is still benefiting from the humbling by Broomfield, and has hit the ground running this season.
“Where last year we were teaching and installing, we’re in the refining stages at this time this year,” Bravo said. “That really helps.”
Broomfield leads the all-time series with Monarch 5-4, but the Eagles enter this week’s matchup dealing with some injury issues — including that of running back Ryan McCulley, whose status is week to week after spraining a knee against Legacy. But the Eagles also return Fraire, who along with other Eagles missed the first two weeks for disciplinary reasons.
Both teams are excited for the atmosphere Friday’s game figures to produce at Broomfield’s Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium. The Eagles played in front of a packed house at Legacy’s North Stadium last week, and they’re planning on the same on their home turf this week with nearby Coyote fans expected to make the short drive for the game.
“It’s good to have these kinds of games,” Davies said. “Our little stadium will be packed to the gills for sure.”
Greeley Central (0-3)
at Niwot (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Everly-Montgomery Field.
Last week: Niwot 29, Skyline 19; Air Academy 37, Greeley Central 19.
Quick hits: Niwot would be trying for a 3-0 record here if not for having to vacate its Week 1 win over Adams City for using an ineligible transfer. The Cougars, struggling the past couple of years, appear to be headed in the right direction once again.
Lindenstein’s line: Niwot by 5.
Conifer (1-1)
at Holy Family (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Mike G. Gabriel Field.
Last week: Holy Family 20, Erie 7; Conifer 42, Centaurus 20.
Quick hits: Holy Family and its balanced attack was able to outgun one high-powered rushing attack last week and will be tasked with doing the same against Conifer.
Lindenstein’s line: Holy Family by 11.
Silver Creek (1-1)
at Northridge (0-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., District 6 Stadium.
Last week: Silver Creek 42, Frederick 12; Roosevelt 52, Northridge 0.
Quick hits: Northridge has allowed 76 points in two games. Class 3A No. 6 Silver Creek brings in one of the most prolific passers in the state.
Lindenstein’s line: Silver Creek by 32.
Smoky Hill (1-1)
at Boulder (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Recht Field.
Last week: Boulder 34, Loveland 15; Smoky Hill 49, Hinkley 21.
Quick hits: Boulder’s Demetrius Kennedy is the top rusher in the area at 164 yards per game, and he’ll go head to head with Smoky’s RJ Banks, who has put up 161 per outing. The former Centennial League matchup will likely come down to who controls the ball best.
Lindenstein’s line: Boulder by 22.
Fairview (2-0)
at Mountain Vista (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Shea Stadium.
Last week: Fairview 28, Rangeview 6; Pomona 37, Mountain Vista 20.
Quick hits: Call it the Senior Bowl. Fairview has 32. Vista has 34. Vista rolled Fairview at Recht last season with a physical style that the Knights will have to match if they want to turn the tables this time around.
Lindenstein’s line: Mountain Vista by 7.
Monarch (2-0)
at Broomfield (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium.
Last week: Monarch 21, Greeley West 7; Broomfield 38, Legacy 23.
Quick hits: Dealing with injuries and coming off of another rivalry game, can 4A No. 6 Broomfield get primed for this one? The Eagles will have to. No. 2 Monarch no doubt remembers last year’s rout and will be looking to get payback with an experienced group. It’s the BoCoPreps.com game of the week.
Lindenstein’s line: Broomfield by 3.
Wheat Ridge (1-1)
at Longmont (3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Everly-Montgomery Field.
Last week: Longmont 41, Standley Lake 6; Castle View 28, Wheat Ridge 13.
Quick hits: Longmont has throttled its three foes by a combined 131-28. Perhaps, most importantly, the 4A third-ranked Trojans’ defense appears to be a step up from the one that gave up 60 points in this match-up last year. Wheat Ridge is ranked eighth.
Lindenstein’s line: Longmont by 12.
Faith Christian (1-1)
at Centaurus (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Warrior Stadium.
Last week: Conifer 42, Centaurus 20; Brush 16, Faith Christian 6.
Quick hits: Centaurus faces the task of stopping 2A No. 7 Faith’s run-pass combo of Oran Tool and Alex Buchmann. Faith defensive end Derek McCartney is the nephew of Fairview coach Tom McCartney and brother of former FHS QB T.C. McCartney.
Lindenstein’s line: Faith Christian by 10.
Fort Morgan (1-1)
at Erie (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Holy Family 20, Erie 7; Fort Morgan 27, Mountain View 21.
Quick hits: Erie had its chances to win last week but penalties and turnovers proved too much to overcome. Take care of the ball and the Tigers should be able to get back on track this week.
Lindenstein’s line: Erie by 6.
Skyline (0-2)
at Windsor (2-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Niwot 29, Skyline 19; Windsor 21, Palmer Ridge 7.
Quick hits: Skyline has gotten its offense rolling at times so far with quarterback Garret Angstead leading the way. The Falcons’ defense will have to improve to top an experienced 3A No. 4 Windsor group that is especially formidable up front.
Lindenstein’s line: Windsor by 21.
Yuma (1-1)
at Lyons (1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Jett Johnson Field.
Last week: Lyons 50, Estes Park 6; Hayden 30, Yuma 15.
Quick hits: Yuma has struggled early while breaking in a new West Coast offense, while Lyons got its ground game racing last week. Quarterback Jordan Melani and back Jayse Long have combined for 200 yards per outing.
Lindenstein’s line: Lyons by 16.
Nederland (0-2) at
Denver Christian (0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Last week: Lutheran 49, Nederland 0; Manual 29, Denver Christian 28.
Quick hits: Nederland faces its third Metro South League opponent in a row and a chance to get back in the win column. The Panthers, who have scored just six points so far, will need to get the offense going though to do it.
Lindenstein’s line: Nederland by 3.
