Four weeks ago, teams such as Broomfield and Frederick appeared destined for disappointing seasons, particularly by the standards established by both programs.
Yet as the adage goes, it’s not now you start, but how you finish.
By virtue of impressive three-game winning streaks, both the Eagles and the Warriors have moved into playoff contention in Class 4A, with Broomfield on deck for one of the most intriguing matchups in the classification Friday afternoon against 4A No. 3 Standley Lake at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Boasting a young team that was unproven on paper, the Eagles stumbled out of the gate with consecutive narrow losses to 5A programs, including a seven-point decision against current 5A No. 8 Pomona and a four-point loss against cross-town rival Legacy. The Eagles, however, have rebounded with three consecutive wins, outscoring those opponents by an average of about 30 points while also picking up a victory against a ranked Denver South squad.
The surge has moved Broomfield to No. 17 in the season’s first wild card points list released earlier this week, and the Eagles’ playoff fortunes likely will sail or sink with a three-game stretch that begins Friday against the Gators and continues the following two weeks against Montbello and Monarch.
The Class 3A Frederick Warriors have put together a similar profile, opening with a five-point loss at current 3A No. 9 Elizabeth before suffering a seven-point loss at home against a Pueblo East squad that was ranked at the time.
Since then, though, Frederick also has won three consecutive games as its youthful offense has begun to catch up to the club’s stingy defense. The Warriors smothered the well-respected running attack of Erie last week, and they should have a less-stressful affair against Centaurus on Friday before preparing for a trip to Holy Family that may ultimately determine the 3A Northern League crown.
Other marquee matchups this week include 4A No. 2 Monarch visiting No. 9 Montbello on Saturday morning; Holy Family visiting an Erie squad eager for a signature win; Skyline hoping to repeat its 2012 upset of Silver Creek; And Lyons hosting a 1A Metro League showdown against Platte Canyon Saturday night at Everly-Montgomery Field.
THURSDAY’S GAME
Fairview (5-0, 2-0 5A North Metro League) at Legacy (2-4, 0-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., 1st Bank Field (Formerly North Stadium).
Last week: Fairview defeated Arvada West 41-21; Legacy lost to Pomona 35-21.
Quick hits: The Knight have risen to No. 2 in the weekly CHSAA 5A state poll behind an offense that is averaging 48 points a game … Fairview QB Anders Hill has taken advantage of an array of athletic receivers that includes Sam Martin (state-leading 44 receptions and 809 yards) and Cameron Frazier (30 receptions, 447 yards, 8 TD’s) … Fairview also has displayed an improved rushing attack led by junior Jason Harvey (85.8 yards per game) … Legacy’s offense has struggled since losing RB Taten Petersian and two linemen to suspensions, but sophomore QB Matt Lynch showed improvement against 5A No. 8 Pomona last week, going 15 for 29 for 170 yards with two TD’s.
Rooney’s read: Fairview by 20.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Holy Family (4-1, 1-0 3A Northern League) at Erie (3-2, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Mead High School.
Last week: Holy Family defeated Thomas Jefferson 29-6; Erie lost 21-7 at Frederick.
Quick hits: This battle of Tigers pits a Holy Family squad that has scored at least 39 points in each of its four wins against an Erie club attempting to bounce back from two losses in its last three games against quality competition from Mead and Frederick … Erie’s vaunted rushing attack was averaging 344.5 yards a game before managing just 136 last week at Frederick … A win by Holy Family would set up a huge showdown, potentially for the 3A Northern League crown, next week at home against Frederick.
Rooney’s read: Holy Family by 10.
Mead (5-0, 1-0 3A Tri-Valley League) at Northridge (3-3, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Last week: Mead defeated Berthoud 42-20; Northridge lost 63-25 against Silver Creek.
Quick hits: The upstart Mead Mavericks are 5-0 for the first time and are averaging 45.6 points a game … Mead QB Griffin Nelson is putting up video game numbers with a .652 completion percentage (45 for 69), 870 passing yards, and 17 TD passes with only one interception … Mavericks RB Kyle Couch is averaging 11 yards a carry and has posted 467 rushing yards and six TD’s in the past three games.
Rooney’s read: Mead by 12.
Broomfield (3-2, 1-0 4A Mountain League) at Standley Lake (6-0, 1-0)
Kickoff: 4 p.m., North Area Athletic Complex.
Last week: Standley Lake defeated Montbello 31-21; Broomfield defeated George Washington 47-7.
Quick hits: Surging Broomfield can make a huge statement in this matchup against the 4A No. 3 Gators … The Eagles have won three consecutive games but faces a make-or-break stretch with consecutive games against ranked teams from Standley Lake, Montbello, and Monarch … Broomfield RB Noah Tripp has come on strong with 253 rushing yards and four TD’s in the past two games … Broomfield essentially is ranked 11th in 4A as the leader of the “others receiving votes” category … Standley Lake QB Jacob Naranjo has completed 52 of 90 passes for 920 yards and 12 TD’s with only two interceptions.
Rooney’s read: Standley Lake by 6.
Greeley Central (2-4, 1-2 4A Northern League) at Niwot (2-3, 1-2)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m., Frederick High School.
Last week: Greeley Central lost 42-0 against Windsor; Niwot lost 49-8 at Mountain View.
Quick hits: Niwot has surrendered 97 points while losing its past two games … The Cougars have struggled to develop another consistent offensive threat outside senior QB Bryan Meek, who has thrown for 414 yards while accounting for 182 of Niwot’s 296 rushing yards … Greeley Central quarterbacks have thrown four interceptions in 61 attempts, but the Wildcats are averaging a solid 147.3 yards a game on the ground.
Rooney’s read: Niwot by 4.
Arvada West (3-3, 1-1 5A North Metro League) at Boulder (1-4, 0-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Recht Field.
Last week: Arvada West lost 41-21 at Fairview; Boulder lost to 47-7 against Ralston Valley.
Quick hits: The struggling Panthers have lost four consecutive games and have scored a total of 21 points in the past three games … Boulder lost one of its bright spots with a knee injury to RB Todd Jones. QB Levi Chandler filled in during last week’s loss against Ralston Valley, managing just 29 yards on 15 carries … The Panthers’ other bona fide offensive weapon, senior WR River Addison, has recorded 324 yards and three TD’s on 16 receptions.
Rooney’s read: Arvada West by 14.
Skyline (2-3, 0-1 3A Tri-Valley League) at Silver Creek (4-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Everly-Montgomery Field.
Last week: Skyline lost 48-14 at Roosevelt; Silver Creek won 63-25 against Northridge.
Quick hits: The 3A No. 4-ranked Raptors have payback in mind after Skyline scored an upset win against Silver Creek in 2012 … Silver Creek responded to having its No. 1 ranking taken away following a loss at Frederick two weeks ago by putting up a season-high 63 points last week … QB Garret Angstead is Skyline’s catalyst, but he will be looking to bounce back from a three-interception performance last week … Angstead was the hero of last year’s upset win against Silver Creek, throwing for 207 yards and three TD’s and adding 85 rushing yards and another TD.
Rooney’s read: Silver Creek by 16.
Frederick (3-2, 1-0 3A Northern League) at Centaurus (1-4, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m.; Warrior Stadium.
Last week: Frederick defeated Erie 21-7; Centaurus defeated Denver North 40-8.
Quick hits: Surging Frederick has recorded three consecutive wins going into this battle of the Warriors … Frederick’s sturdy, opportunistic defense has recorded five sacks, nine interceptions, a blocked punt and two fumble recoveries … QB Michael Broz, who doubles as a defensive back, has grabbed four of those interceptions … Centaurus picked up its first win last week behind a defense that held Denver North to 92 toal yards while forcing three interceptions.
Rooney’s read: Frederick by 18.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Monarch (4-1, 1-0 4A Mountain League) at Montbello (5-1, 0-1)
Kickoff: 11 a.m., Evie Dennis Sports Complex.
Last week: Monarch defeated Golden 55-0; Montbello lost to 31-21 at Standley Lake.
Quick hits: 4A No. 2 Monarch rebounded from its loss against current No. 1 Montrose with a thrashing of Golden last week … The Jay MacIntyre-Ethan Marks led offense of Monarch is averaging 46.2 points a game … No. 9-ranked Montbello threw three interceptions and surrendered five sacks in last week’s loss against No. 3 Standley Lake … Warriors QB AJ Thompson has thrown for 1,006 yards and 13 TD’s while adding another 279 yards and seven TD’s on the ground.
Rooney’s read: Monarch by 10.
Longmont (4-1, 3-0 4A Northern League) at Greeley West (0-6, 0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., District 6 Stadium.
Last week: Longmont defeated Thompson Valley 38-14; Greeley West lost to Loveland 35-7.
Quick hits: Longmont has recorded four straight wins to move up to No. 7 in 4A …. While junior QB Cling Sigg and sophomore RB Eli Sullivan remain the focal points of the Trojans’ attack, senior Drake Greeott has developed into a potent third option. Greeott has accounted for 327 rushing yards, 126 receiving yards, and eight total TD’s … Longmont’s defense has surrendered only 14 points in each of the past two games and has produced six turnovers in five games … Sigg has not thrown an interception in 73 attempts … Struggling Greeley West has scored only 10 points in its past two games.
Rooney’s read: Longmont by 17.
Platte Canyon (5-1, 3-1 1A Metro League) at Lyons (5-0, 3-0)
Kickoff: 6 p.m., Everly-Montgomery Field.
Last week: Platte Canyon defeated Jefferson 20-0; Lyons defeated Nederland 21-0.
Quick hits: Lyons will face a stern challenge from a Platte Canyon squad that has posted three consecutive shutout victories … The Class 1A No. 10 Lions’ defense has been stingy as well, posting a shutout last week at Nederland and surrendering an average of 9.2 points a game … The Lions’ Trent Paulsen has gained 301 of his 371 rushing yards in the past three games … Platte Canyon has attempted only 21 passes all season but has rushed for 1,871 yards behind Gary Rhoads (695 yards), Hank Bode (456) and Colton Hawk (330).
Rooney’s read: Platte Canyon by 3.
Front Range Christian (2-4, 2-2 1A Metro League) at Nederland (0-5, 0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Last week: Front Range Christian defeated Denver Christian 59-8; Nederland lost to Lyons 21-0.
Quick hits: Nederland continues to struggle on offense and has scored just 18 points in five games, a slate that includes three shutouts … The Panthers are averaging under 200 yards a game and have committed 17 turnovers … Front Range Christian is averaging 231.3 rushing yards a game.
Rooney’s read: Front Range Christian by 10.
Longmont Christian (2-3, 1-1 I25 League) at Belleview Christian (0-5, 0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m., STEM Launch School.
Last week: Longmont Christian defeated Gilpin County 46-28; Belleview Christian lost 44-36 against Justice.
Quick hits: Longmont Christian QB Cade Martin went 12 for 16 for 199 yards in last week’s win against Gilpin County. The Warriors also accumulated 282 rushing yards … Belleview Christian senior RB Jared Brown is averaging eight yards per carry.
Rooney’s read: Longmont Christian by 14.
Justice (1-3, 1-1 I25 League ) at Rocky Mountain Lutheran (4-2, 2-0)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Last week: Justice defeated Belleview Christian 44-36; Rocky Mountain Lutheran defeated Belleview Christian 38-6..
Quick hits: Justice ended a seven-game losing streak with last week’s win against Belleview Christian … The Phoenix end the regular season next week against Longmont Christian … Rocky Mountain Lutheran is producing more than 300 yards a game.
Rooney’s read: Rocky Mountain Lutheran by 12.
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