Greeley West football score victory over crosstown rivals Greeley Central at District 6 Stadium

Greeley West’s Jacob Flores lined up in the defensive field for the first time on Friday night.

The ball-peddling junior had two interceptions on his safe debut to help the Spartans football team to a 14-6 win over Greeley Central at District 6 Stadium.

Flores’ second choice with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter sealed the game for the Spartans, now 0-2 in 4A League 2 and 2-5 on aggregate.

“I saw him (Greeley Central quarterback Zjhonoah Trujillo) back up, the ball went up in the air and I did my job,” Flores said.

Greeley West’s Jacob Flores (12) intercepts a pass intended for Greeley Central’s Dan Santillan (25) late in the fourth quarter during the Greeley West Crosstown Spartans v Greeley Central Wildcats rivalry football match at District Stadium 6 at Greeley on October 7, 2022. Greeley West Spartans beat Greeley Central Wildcats 14-6. (Alex McIntyre/staff photographer)

Greeley West and Greeley Central weren’t the only schools in town in a tight game on Friday night. Class 3A Northridge, the other occupant of the District 6 stadium, needed a fourth-quarter field goal to stay unbeaten after a 9-7 league win over Mountain View in Loveland. The Grizzlies are 6-0 this season.

With Greeley West leading 14-6, Greeley Central (0-2 in 4A League 1 and 1-6 on aggregate) scored a first down on Greeley West’s 35-yard line. After the Spartans touchdown with 2:21 remaining, Greeley Central moved into midfield on a pass interference penalty. The Wildcats drifted into Spartans territory on a 6-yard run from Dan Santillan and a first down pass from Zjhonoah Trujillo to Alfred Gonzales.

When Trujillo again went to Santillan, looking for a near 10 completion – Flores placed himself between the ball and Santillan for the decisive choice.

His first interception came in the first quarter. Flores said the coaches at Greeley West “built me ​​up” to be a versatile player who could go on offense or defense. Hickey said he will continue to use Flores on both sides of the ball. Flores, considering a chance to stay in defense after the two interceptions, laughed and said: “I loved it.”

Greeley Central coach Jeff Priestly said the Wildcats started the game well defensively but struggled offensively, made a few mistakes and couldn’t capitalize on their chances. On Flores’ interception late in the fourth quarter, Priestley said Trujillo was “trying to do something and he kinda forced it.”

Greeley West first-year coach John Hickey said he played Flores to safety because the youngster is a “ball hawk”. Flores is also a wide receiver for the Spartans.

Photos: Greeley West Spartans beat Greeley Central Wildcats 14-6 at District 6 Stadium

“We kept our cool,” Hickey said of the team’s performance. “We had a lot of turnovers to start, but we settled in and the attack kept playing.”

Senior Jose Salas ran for both Greeley West touchdowns, winning the Red Edgerton Memorial Award as the game’s most valuable player.

“It means a lot,” Salas said. “Central beat us last year.”

Greeley Central beat Spartans 32-13 a year ago in a winless season for Greeley West.

Salas’ 6-yard touchdown with 2:21 left capped a long drive and regained the lead after Greeley Central tied the game at 6-6.

Greeley West quarterback Julian Salas, a junior and Jose’s brother, then connected with David Lopez on a two-point chat for the 14-6 lead.

Jose Salas credited his offensive linemen for his success in ball management.

“There were a lot of open gaps,” Salas said. “You could drive a truck through them. It was great. I trust these guys.

Greeley West hosts Windsor at 7 p.m. Friday at District 6 Stadium. Greeley Central travels to Grand Junction Central for a 7 p.m. game on Friday.

Thursday

Volleyball

Bishop Machebeuf 3, Union Colony Prep 2 at Greeley: Union Colony had a 2-1 lead, but the Denver Buffaloes rallied fourth-and-fifth, 25-18, 15-7 to win Game 2A/1A Mile High League. Zaria Ferguson had six aces for Union Colony and Mariah Glasper had 18 kills, two assists and 20 digs.

Northridge 3, Skyline 1 at Longmont: The visiting Grizzlies capped off their 4A/3A Longs Peak game with a 27-25 win in the fourth set.

Frederick 3, Severance 0 at Frederick: The Golden Eagles won Game 4A/3A Longs Peak, 25-7, 27-25, 25-10.

Eaton 3, Timnath 0 to Eaton: Eaton went undefeated in Patriot League 3A/4A (9-0) with the win in straight sets, 25-11, 25-13, 25-14.

Sterling 3, Frontier Academy 0 at Greeley: The Tigers improved to 5-3 in the 3A/4A Patriot League (and 7-6 overall) with a 26-24, 25-19, 25-20 win over Frontier ( 2-7, 8-11).

Longmont 3, Greeley Central 1 at Greeley: Host Wildcats won the first set (25-19), but the Trojans came back to win the next three (25-16, 25-15 and 25-16) in one game 4A NCAA. Greeley Central is 0-4 in the league and 10-8 overall. Central plays at Greeley West, 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Platte Valley 3, Valley 0 at Kersey: Platte Valley won the 3A/4A Patriot League game (25-11, 25-18, 25-16) to improve to 9-1 in the league and 16-4 on aggregate. Karsyn Fetzer had 19 kills for Platte Valley with three aces and 15 digs.

Resurrection Christian 3, Weld Central 0 at Keenesburg: The visiting Cougars swept the Patriotic League 3A/4A game.

Windsor 3, Greeley West 0 at Windsor: Julia Bohlinger had 10 kills for Windsor, Cailyn McCracken added eight, Bohlinger and Kadence Marsh both had four aces and Marsh added nine digs and 20 assists in league 4A Wizards NCAA. Windsor is 3-0 in the league and 13-2 overall.

Prairie 3, Weldon Valley 2 at Weldona: Opponents 1A North Central alternated wins in the first four sets, but the New Raymer Mustangs closed out the match with a 15-11 win in the fifth set. Prairie is 4-3 in the league and 9-9 overall.

Friday

Soccer

Dylan Phipps’ 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the difference for Northridge as the Grizzlies football team went undefeated after a 9-7 win over Mountain View on Friday in Loveland.

The Grizzlies’ win in Game 7 opener of 3A League took Northridge to 6-0 on aggregate and sets up a game between unbeaten league opponents later this week at District 6 Stadium in Greeley.

Northridge hosts Roosevelt at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Roughriders beat Resurrection Christian, 35-20 in the league opener for those schools also Friday night.

Northridge trailed Mountain View (0-1, 1-5) after three quarters. Grizzlies senior guard Isaac Kness rushed for 120 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. Parker Steckel had 10 total tackles with six solo saves.

Braden Asmus and Jayden Marquez intercepted passes for Northridge and Jace Reid picked up a fumble.

Northridge turned the ball over four times with three interceptions and a fumble from quarterback Cooper Rose.

Northridge – 0-0-6-3 — 9

Mountain view – 0-0-7-0 — 7

Roosevelt 35, Resurrection Christian 20 at Johnstown: Roosevelt running backs Ryan Doucette and Xavier Ramirez had 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a League 7 3A win over the Cougars.

The Roughriders had 461 total rushing yards. Doucette rushed for 135 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, and Ramirez rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries and two scores.

Roosevelt is 1-0 in the league and 6-0 on aggregate heading into his championship game on Thursday against undefeated Northridge at Greeley.

Roosevelt quarterback Bronco Hartson had 11 of 16 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Tucker Peterson caught three passes for 90 yards, and Bowie Schmitz (4 catches, 67 yards) and Peyton Zikomski (3-58) both had touchdown receptions.

Eaton 52, Fort Lupton 6 at Fort Lupton: Eaton extended their winning streak to five with another lopsided win in a 2A League 3 game. Eaton is 2-0 in the league and 5-1 overall. Their only loss came in the season opener, 19-16 to Classical Academy on 26 August.

Eaton-7-24-14-7—52

Fort Lupton – 0-0-6-0 — 6

Windsor 42, Skyline 27 at Windsor: Host Wizards beat Skyline 21-6 in the second half to beat the Falcons in a 4A League 1 game. Windsor have won back-to-back games – after a two-game losing streak – and move to 2-0 in the league and 4-3 overall.

Windsor take on Greeley West (0-2 in 4A League 2, 2-5 on aggregate) at 7 p.m. Friday at District 6 Stadium in Greeley.

Horizon – 7-14-0-6 — 27

Windsor – 7-14-7-14 — 42

Highland 2, Sheridan 0 at Ault: The Huskies won the 1A Ligue 6 match on a package from Sheridan. Highland is 2-0 in the league and 2-4 overall. Sheridan is 0-2, 0-6.

Platte Valley 26, Valley 12 at Kersey: The host Vikings and Broncos are both 1-1 in 2A League 1 after Platte Valley win. Platte Valley is 3-3 overall and Valley is 2-4 overall.

Thompson Valley 29, Severance 7 in Severance: The Eagles sent Severance to their third straight loss after the teams’ 3A League Game 7. Thompson Valley (1-0 in the league, 4-2 overall) rushed for 161 yards with four touchdowns — two from Christian Chase (14 carries, 51 yards) and one each from Matthew Phillips (6-4 yards) and Jack Maki (17-92). The severance pay is 0-1 in the league and 2-4 overall.

Volleyball

Dayspring Christian Academy 3, Heritage Christian 1 at Fort Collins: Dayspring won the last three sets 25-18, 25-9, 25-13 to win the non-league match. Dayspring is 7-0 in its High League 2A/1A Mile and 11-8 overall.

Briggsdale 3, Peetz 0 at Peetz: Kayl Klem and Jenna Krise both had 11 kills, Macie Klem had nine, and Krise and Macie Klem had seven digs in the Falcons’ 1A North Central victory. Libby Slinger had 27 assists and five digs for Briggsdale (4-2, 14-4).

Saturday

Soccer

Akron 48, Dayspring Christian Academy 42 in Akron: The Rams earned their first league victory after an 8-way game against Dayspring. Akron is 1-1 in the league and 4-2 overall. Dayspring is 0-2 in the league and 3-3 overall.

Soft ball

Greeley West 16, Monarch 3 at Louisville: The Spartans finished their regular season with a 3-4 4A NCAA record and 13-10 overall after a win over the Coyotes (3-11, 6-17).

Volleyball

Resurrection Christian 2, Fort Morgan 0: The Cougars won the neutral-site tournament game, 25-10, 25-18.

Fort Morgan 2, Powder 0: The Mustangs finished the tournament 2-1 after a straight-set victory over the Impalas. Fort Morgan (2-4 in Longs Peak League and 8-8 overall) beat Mountain Range, 2-0 and lost to Resurrection Christian before meeting Poudre.

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