Chad Ellis (4), Jimmy Fate (6) and Berthoud football have a big game this week against Erie. (Jan Dowker/Berthoud Surveyor)
BERTHOUD — There are defining games throughout the season and this week, Erie hosting Berthoud could prove to be one of those games for each program.
Both teams experienced “firsts” last week: No. 9 Berthoud gave up its first points of the season to Niwot with five seconds remaining in their 42-6 win. Erie, meanwhile, suffered its first set back in a tough 10-7 overtime loss to Mead.
The Spartans enter Week 5 undefeated (4-0) and Erie is just one game back at 3-1. Neither team can afford a loss as each of their schedules gets tougher as they move through difficult league play.
At present, three of the state’s ranked Class 3A teams call the Northern League home — in addition to Berthoud, No. 6 Holy Family and No. 8 Roosevelt. Erie was also in the top ten until the Mead loss.
Both the Tigers and Spartans have new head coaches this year, who installed new schemes and have relatively young and inexperienced rosters. Erie returned just five lettermen and Berthoud had only four seniors with any significant varsity playing experience.
Erie’s new coach Chris Summers changed Tiger stripes moving over from Holy Family, where he was the offensive coordinator. Longtime Spartans defensive coordinator Troy Diffendaffer has taken over the reins at Berthoud. Both coaches have enjoyed early-season success, while completely retooling their respective programs.
The Tigers rely on seniors Elijah Roper and B.J. Jensen, who play both ways as running backs and as a linebacker (Roper) and defensive back (Jensen). Roper has the size and strength at 6-foot-2, 210 pounts to be a force on both sides of the line of scrimmage and averages nearly seven yards (6.8) per carry rushing the ball.
Jensen is Erie’s leading rusher with 328 yards, as well as their top receiver at 110 yards, and he complements Roper’s power with quick feet and explosiveness, making the duo a serious offensive threat.
Another Erie senior who has become a prominent player in 2014 is linebacker Triston Berringer who leads the team in tackles with 25. He has been an integral part of a defense that has only given up 50 points this season, which is the seventh-fewest in 3A.
The Spartans are led by 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback Cody Braesch. The junior has the third-best quarterback rating in 3A (125.0) and has thrown 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Berthoud’s offense has been able to spread the ball around in the air with five different receivers with over 100 yards this season. Junior Jackson Hall leads the receiving corps with 308 yards on 13 catches. Hall is second in 3A in receiving touchdowns with six and averages 23.6 yards per reception. In total, the Spartans are averaging more than 44 points per game.
But defense may be Bethoud’s greatest strength. Jimmy Fate, the current 138-pound 4A state wrestling champion, is the team’s leading tackler (22 tackles). Through four games, the Spartans have given up only a lone touchdown and they stand at 179 points scored with six points against.
This is a great matchup for both teams to see where they stand at this juncture of the season. Erie’s defense has been stout all year, holding opponents to less than 13 points per game and the Berthoud offense has been prolific.
The midway point in the season only represents halfway through a schedule, but this key 2014 test will be a huge stepping stone and barometer for these two 3A programs.