AURORA | It was a winning Week 2 for area football teams, which managed a combined 6-5 mark on a slate that included a pair of head-to-head matchups.

Eaglecrest and Grandview surged to 3-0 starts with their respective victories, while Cherokee Trail, Rangeview and Aurora Central picked up their second wins and Regis Jesuit its first as the regular season begins to gain momentum.

Grandview played in Zero Week (which built a bye week into the rest of its schedule) and rolled into its hiatus with a perfect record in the wake of a 45-17 victory over Fountain-Fort Carson Sept. 4 at Legacy Stadium.

Coach Tom Doherty’s Wolves got on the scoreboard with a touchdown midway through the opening quarter on a sneaky keeper by junior quarterback Lander Wise and a short time later upped the lead when Kobe Dahl pounced on a loose ball in the end zone after a bad snap sailed over the head of the Trojans’ punter. Fountain-Fort Carson bounced back with 10 straight points to cut Grandview’s advantage to three points, but the Wolves countered with a long touchdown run from senior Maddox Johnson and junior Q Walker had a 70-yard scoop and score to make it a 28-10 game at halftime.

Zach Johnston continues the Wolves’ streak of points when he took back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. After the Trojans cut into the lead with a touchdown, Wise connected with senior Timothy Arnold III with a scoring pass. Sophomore Jan Pablo Reyes knocked through a 44-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Eaglecrest needed tremendous grit to earn its third victory, as it went on the road for a touch matchup against Erie Sept. 4. Coach Jesse German’s team spotted the Tigers a touchdown before they got on the scoreboard on senior Trey Patton’s 30-yard field goal.

Just prior to halftime, junior quarterback William Brinkman and Eaglecrest took advantage of a short field when it advanced quickly to the red zone and cashed in when Brinkman found junior Clyde Surrell IV in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

A five-yard touchdown pass from junior reserve Cash Conley to senior JayAnthony Green early in the fourth quarter gave the Raptors enough cushion to survive Erie’s second touchdown, which came with less than a minute left in regulation.

Cherokee Trail (2-0) piled up 45 points in its season opener and proved even more prolific Sept. 3 at Legacy Stadium with a 56-8 victory over Smoky Hill (0-2).

Coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cougars got an efficient and explosive effort from junior quarteback Bryson Peterson, who completed four of his seven passing attempts for 100 yards and four touchdowns, while junior reserve Tavian Hughes also threw a touchdown pass.

Junior Evan Smith was on the receiving end of three touchdown passes, while seniors Jordan Mitchell and Jace Garza and also snared one, while junior Owen Newell and senior Dorian Harris rushed for scores and senior Cristian Mbamarah returned a fumble for another touchdown.

Rangeview (2-0) is also off to a big offensive start to the season with a combined total of 98 points in two games, including 44 in a rivalry matchup with Gateway Sept. 3 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium.

With the Anvil traveling trophy at stake again in the first meeting between the programs since 2017, the Raiders retained possession for a ninth straight time with a 44-24 victory. Coach Chris Lopez’s team had a healthy rushing attack that amassed just shy of 300 yards, which included 195 for junior Philemon Mensah, who also scored on the ground along with junior Gavin Garcia (83 yards) and senior Terrance Jones jr. (who scored twice).

Sophomore quarterback Jayden Delatorre and junior Alijah Braddock connected for the lone passing touchdown for Rangeview, which dealt coach Rashad Mason’s Gateway team (2-1) its first defeat. Senior Lyric Wynn rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns for the Olys, who also got a touchdown pass from senior Westin Rayburn to junior Jake Brock.

Aurora Central improved to 2-1 on the season with a well-rounded 50-8 victory against Doherty Sept. 4 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. Coach Chris Kelly’s team got another big game from senior quarterback Markell Perkins, who not only threw four touchdown passes, but also took back an interception for a long score.

Senior Julian Harris got into the end zone via rush and reception, junior Kassius Jackson rushed for a touchdown and junior Elijah Pittman and freshman Christopher Perkins caught scoring passes. Senior La’Darius Willingham put the frosting on the victory with a 68-yard interception return touchdown.

Regis Jesuit bounced back from an opening loss with an out-of-state victory, as the Raiders scored the final 28 points of the game to break out of a third quarter tie and triumph over host Gonzaga Prep 49-28 in Spokane, Washington.

Junior quarterback Luke Rubley filled the air with passes that traveled 319 yards successfully and also went for four touchdowns, which included 244 to junior Colt Jones, who hauled in two scoring passes, while senior Andrew Mihm and junior Theo Shelburn also had touchdown receptions.

Senior Joe Pron racked up 119 yards rushing and scored twice, while the other touchdown came defensively from senior ballhawk Logan Singer, who picked off three passes and scored on one from 45 yards out.

Vista PEAK Prep (0-2) got off to a good start in its quest for its first victory, but came up on the short end of a 22-15 contest against Denver South Sept. 5 at sun-drenched All-City Stadium in Denver.

Senior Derion Breaux had a 123-yard rushing effort, which included a 30-yard touchdown burst that got coach Kyle Reese’s Bison on the scoreboard first. The Ravens (1-1) scored 15 points to finish the half in the lead, however, and boosted the lead to 13 points with a rushing touchdown early in the final quarter. Senior Jazz Jackson got into the end zone for Vista PEAK Prep’s other touchdown.

Overland fell to 0-2 with a 48-6 loss at Vista Ridge Sept. 4 — which included a passing touchdown from junior Bryson Riordan to senior Josiah West — while Hinkley also remains looking for its first win after a 69-0 loss to Kennedy Sept. 5 at All-City Stadium.

Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports

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