(Zach Marburger/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — Ranked sixth in the latest CHSAAnow.com’s Class 5A football rankings and coming off two straight wins, Regis Jesuit continued to look impressive Friday night with a 44-14 win over Denver South.
Denver South, currently sixth in CHSAAnow.com’s 4A rankings, certainly came out with a bang. Senior Surae Poole staked the Rebels to an early lead when he took the opening kickoff 93-yards to the house, and for the first twelve seconds of the game, it looked like something special was brewing at Lou Kellogg Stadium.
But the Raiders, and head coach Mark Nolan, stuck to the game-plan.
“On the kickoff we just hung the ball down the middle, didn’t cover very well, didn’t leverage the ball, and gave up a cheap score,” said Nolan after the game. “After that obviously our kids played very well, played assignment football. I’m really proud of them for doing that.”
A solid drive netted a field goal to narrow the lead at the end of the first, and in the second quarter the Raiders took over. Led by junior running back Alec Barnes and senior quarterback Matt Houghtaling, Regis matched Denver South’s explosive start with some big plays of their own.
Houghtaling kicked things off with a 26-yard touchdown scramble early in the second to give the Rebels a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. After a Denver South failed fourth down conversion gave the Raiders excellent field positon Barnes plunged into the end-zone from one yard out to extend the lead.
Barnes finished the night with 107 all-purpose yards to go along with his two touchdowns.
“We’ve got so many weapons and our play-calling is so good. We got so many opportunities and they put us in such a great position,” said Barnes. “Without our o-line — our o-line is the best in the state. Running behind them makes it a whole lot easier.”
Heading into the half, Houghtaling would make it 24-7 in favor of the Raiders with a 67-yard touchdown scramble. He finished the night with 94 rushing yards on just six carries.
(Zach Marburger/CHSAANow.com)
Denver South did have an opportunity just before halftime, when a fumbled punt return set the Rebels up deep in Regis territory with less than a minute in second quarter. But like much of the night, the Rebels rushing attack couldn’t make any headway against a stout Raiders’ front four.
“They just play with a lion’s heart,” said Nolan of his team’s defensive line. “Those guys are the strength of our defense, and in a lot of ways the strength of our team. They just come off the ball and they just love making plays in the backfield.”
After Barnes opened the second half with a 34-year touchdown run to make the score 31-7 in favor of Regis, Denver South, down big, went to the air. But the Rebels’ passing attack failed to find any traction down the field, as the Raiders forced Rebels quarterback Isiah Singleton scramble or settle for screen passes most of the night.
Outside of a 64-yard completion to senior Michael Johnson late in the fourth quarter that led to Denver South’s second and final touchdown, Regis was able to hold the Rebel’s playmakers in check.
“Our guys did a great job of open-field tackling,” said Nolan. “We didn’t always make the initial tackle, but the second and third guy were there, and made plays, and got it done.”
Able to coast to a 44-14 win, their third straight, Houghtaling feels like his team is starting to hit their stride.
“It’s a good win, especially coming off Cherokee Trail last week. It was a good win for us. We’re sitting at 3-1, feels good for us right now, especially heading into conference play.”
Barnes, for his part, saw some room for improvement, but agreed with his quarterback that the Raiders are coming together.
“Keep putting in hard work. Getting the offense a little more balanced, get the passing game a little more developed,” said Barnes when asked what was next. “Just keeping it rolling now will be good.”
Regis will be on the road next Thursday taking on Rock Canyon, while Denver South will welcome Pueblo South at All-City Stadium on Saturday.