Friday Pick ‘Em (September 10, 2021)

Week 2 was a much better week for us as we went 3 for 3 on picks. A 5-game slate of #ArkValleyFootball is coming your way this weekend, so let’s dig right in. Here’s this week’s Friday Pick ‘Em

Friday Pick ‘Em

Record: 5-4

Last Week: 3-0

6-Man

Walsh Eagles (1-1) @ Cheraw Wolverines (1-1)

Series (Since 2004): Walsh 5-2

Last Game: 10/23/2020 Cheraw 54-24

Last Week: Walsh defeated Cotopaxi 24-18, Cheraw defeated Mountain Valley 55-18

Players to Watch: Leyton Jones (Sophomore, Walsh), Tim Provost (Freshmen, Cheraw)

Prediction: Cheraw is riding high coming into this game, Walsh…the same. Both with big wins last week to get back to .500, but in this one its all Wolverines. Cheraw 52-34.

 

8-Man

#8 Fowler Grizzlies (1-0) @ Akron Rams (2-0)

Series (Since 2004): Akron 5-3

Last Game: 9/13/2019 Fowler 52-6

Last Week: Akron defeated #9 Holly 36-30

Players to Watch: Erick Hernandez (Junior, Fowler), Ryan McCaffrey (Sophomore, Akron)

Prediction: Perennial playoff teams meet once again, Akron comes in off an upset win while Fowler had two weeks to prepare. It’s going to be a slugfest. Fowler 35-28

 

LAs Animas Trojans (0-1) @ Sargent Farmers (1-1)

Series (Since 2004): Sargent 5-1

Last Game: 9/11/2009 Lost 28-8

Last Week: Las Animas lost to Swink 52-14, Sargent defeated Springfield 24-18

Players to Watch: Caden Morlan (Senior, Las Animas), Tyler Chapman (Freshmen, Sargent)

Prediction: 12 years to the date and these two teams meet again. Last time was in the 11-man ranks, now its 8-man. Small town homecoming action coming your way. Sargent rolls 45-7

 

1A

Rocky Ford Meloneers (0-1) @ Rye Thunderbolts (1-1)

Series (Since 2004): Rye 8-5

Last Game: 9/20/2019

Last Week: Rye lost to #8 Holyoke 41-9

Players to Watch: Luis Sarmiento (Senior, Rocky Ford), Dylan Hurne (Sophomore, Rye)

Prediction: A rivalry renewed. Rocky Ford has two weeks to prepare, but Rye is always solid. Thunderbolts 28-7.

 

2A

Alamosa Mean Moose (1-1) @ La Junta Tigers (1-1)

Series (Since 2004): La Junta 9-3

Last Game: 10/30/2020 La Junta 42-12

Last Week: Alamosa defeated 1A Monte Vista 32-14, La Junta defeated Pagosa Springs 46-0

Players to Watch: Kasey Jones (Junior, Alamosa), Luke Garner (Sophomore, La Junta)

Prediction: For the past 11 years these teams have met (twice in 2015). La Junta has the upper hand in the series, and they have the upper hand in this game. Tigers 35-7

Friday Pick ‘Em (September 3, 2021)

Week 1 was not our week for picks as we went 2-4. But a new week means a new round of picks. Here is this weeks Friday Pick ‘Em.

Friday Pick ‘Em

Record: 2-4

6-Man

Cheraw Wolverines (0-1) @ Mountain Valley indians (1-0)

Series (Since 2004): Tied 1-1

Last Game: 8/31/2019 Cheraw 28-7

Last Week: Cheraw lost to #8 Idalia 66-12, Mountain Valley defeated North Park 21-14

Players to Watch: Cade Phillips (Junior, Cheraw), Tristan Martinez (Senior, Mountain Valley)

Prediction: Cheraw had a tough time stopping the run against Idalia last week, while Mountain Valley narrowly got by North Park. First road game of the year for the Wolverines goes down as a victory as they bounce back 58-26.

 

8-Man

Swink Lions (0-1) @ Las ANimas Trojans (0-0)

Series (Since 2004): Tied 1-1

Last Game: 9/22/2017 Swink 56-14

Last Week: Swink lost to #6 Holly 42-28

Players to Watch: Hunter Bauserman (Sophomore, Swink), Caden Morlan (Senior, Las Animas)

Prediction: Swink had a rough one last week, meanwhile Las Animas did not have a game. Lions have the upperhand all night in this one. Swink 54-12.

2A

LA Junta Tigers (0-1) @ PAgosa SPrings Pirates (0-1)

Series (Since 2004): La Junta 3-1

Last Game: 11/6/2020 Pagosa Springs 35-13

Last Week: La Junta lost to Pueblo County 24-7, Pagosa Springs lost to 3A #2 Durango 58-0

Players to Watch: Jeremiah Martinez (Junior, La Junta), Gavin Lindahl (Sophomore, Pagosa Springs)

Prediction: The Tigers have been successful in the past against Pagosa, except for last year. This year the Tigers get back on track. La Junta 35-12

Friday Pick ‘Em (August 27, 2021)

It’s finally here, opening night for the 2021 high school football season. After a year of, we’ll call it different, we’re back to fall football here in the Arkansas Valley. Some great games are on tap for tonight for 6 of our coverage area teams. And with another Friday night comes another Friday Pick ‘Em, so let’s get to it

Friday Pick ’em

Record: 0-0

6-Man

#8 Idalia Wolves @  #6 Cheraw Wolverines

Oh boy, we got a treat tonight, right off the bat a Top-10 matchup in 6-Man. The Wolverines are coming off a 4-2 season last year, that saw them miss the playoffs under the format used. The Wolverines will once again look to Junior Cade Phillips and Junior Braeden Harris to carry the offensive load. The two combined for 726 yards on the ground a year ago. Defensively Cheraw will rely mainly on Harris. Idalia comes off a 2-2 record in 2020, key offensive returners for them are Junior QB Eduardo Estrada (465 yards through the air) and Senior Yahir Enriquez (287 yards rushing). Defensively it’s going to be a combined effort from Estrada (39 tackles) and Sophomore Kagen Hoyda (38 tackles). Look for a good one to be going down in Cheraw tonight.

PREDICTION: This one is going to come down to who has the ball last, Wolverines over the Wolves 58-50.

 

8-MAn

Sargent Farmers @ #9 Fowler Grizzlies

Fowler comes off an undefeated regular season before losing to Merino 22-6 in the 8-Man quarterfinals. The Grizzly offense will look different this year as they lost their leading rusher and quarterback to graduation. The offense will be ran by Sophomore Gage Gottbeheut and they’ll rely heavily on the legs of Junior Erick Hernandez. On the defensive side Fowler will be looking for someone to step up as their leading tackler was also lost to graduation. Sargent comes into 2021 off a 1-4 season. Junior Burke Temple will lead the offense for Sargent and he’ll have a new running back behind him as the Farmers lost their three leading rushers. The defense will be led by Junior Wyatt Cross and Senior Connor Holmes.

PREDICTION: Fowler, at home? You’d be crazy not to take them. Grizzlies all night, 46-6.

 

Swink Lions @ #6 Holly Wildcats

The Lions come in off a great 5-1 campaign in 2020, narrowly missing the playoffs. They’ll look once again to Hunter Bauserman to lead the offense, and hope to find someone to replace Matthew Mendoza after he rushed for over 1,000 yards last year. The defensive side returns the two leading tacklers for Swink as it’s Senior Clay Roweth (96 tackles) and Junior Ben Miner (64 tackles). Holly on the other hand comes in off a 2-3 season, which makes you wonder how they’re ranked above Swink. Dakota Eaton (1,035 yards passing) returns under center for the Wildcats for a Senior campaign. Also returning is leading rusher Senior Eli Ramos (265 yards rushing). On the defensive side of the ball, it will be Ramos (38 tackles) teaming with fellow Senior Donovan Pecina (32 tackles).

PREDICTION: Swink is coming off a great season, while Holly had a rough one. It’s a shootout in Holly. Swink 36-30.

 

Crowley COunty Chargers @ #2 Sanford Indians

An early season test for the Chargers as they’ll travel down south to play Sanford. Crowley is coming off a 3-2 season and a defeat to defending State Champion Sedgwick County in the 8-Man Quarterfinals. Senior Tach Brewer comes back under center for CC. The Chargers will have to find someone to replace Adam Schultz as the leading rusher. Defensively it’s going to be a Senior effort between Brewer (27 tackles) and Brandon Geringer (30 tackles). Sanford comes off an apperance in the State Championship game, and they look to make it back. Senior Josh Holman looks to lead them there at Quarterback. While Senior Kelton Gartrell looks to repeat what he did last year by rushing for over 1,000 yards. The defense will be led by Holman and Gartrell as they combined for 179 tackles a year ago.

PREDICTION: The Chargers have a tough time down in the Valley, Sanford runs away with it 52-12.

 

1A

Monte Vista Pirates @ ROcky Ford Meloneers

Rocky Ford comes in off a 1-5 season, but to the Meloneers credit they faced off with 3 perennial playoff teams in a row to begin the year. Shaun Gonzalez comes back as a Senior to lead the offense. Rocky Ford will look to improve on their running game from a year ago. The defensive side of the ball will be led by Junior Dezmon Reyes. Monte Vista comes off a 5-2 season and a playoff appearance. The Pirates will turn to Senior Colton Mellott to run the offense and he’ll have a solid back field behind him. The defense will turn to a Sophomore in Jack Noonan (55 tackles)

 

PREDICTION: You got to be crazy if you think I’m picking against Rocky Ford in this one. Meloneers 35-14

 

2A

La Junta Tigers @ Pueblo COunty Hornets

The Tigers are heading into Coach Drew Sisson’s second season after a 2-3 record in 2020.The 2A Tri-Peaks league is back together as one of the best leagues in 2A Football. La Junta will rely on the leadership of Sophomore Luke Garner under center. Anthony Torres comes in as a Senior to lead the rushing attack for the Tigers. It will be Garner on the defensive side for LJ. Pueblo County comes in after a 3-2 Record and plays in the 3A South Central with the other Pueblo schools. The Hornet offense is led by a new quarterback this year after losing theirs to graduation. The rushing attack will play a pivotal role for PC, but just like at QB they’ll have to find their running back. Not much different on the defensive side, as they will look for someone to step up to fill the void of the Seniors they lost from last year.

 

PREDICTION: An early season test for the Tigers but they come out on top, La Junta 35-12.