Arvada West’s Isaiah Ocana (20) and Chase Dixon (11) celebrate a Wildcat touchdown Friday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Arvada West sophomore quarterback Johnny Krutsch might very well be a symbol of what the present and future holds for the Wildcats’ football program.
A-West (4-1 record) ran its current winning streak to four games with a 41-14 victory over Class 4A’s Standley Lake on Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. Krutsch led the way with an impressive first half as the Wildcats jumped out to a 27-0 lead at halftime. Krutsch was 18-for-23 passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns after two quarters.
“He is a unique individual. To be 15 years old and be doing what he is doing in a varsity game. It’s pretty special to have a kid like that who has been thrown into the fire as a freshman,” A-West coach Brad Pyatt said of Krutsch who started his freshman year. “He has gotten better and better. He has done an amazing job and I’m really excited about the future with him.”
Krutsch completed his fourth touchdown pass — 42-yard connection to senior Trevor Lepke — midway through the third quarter to go over the 300-yard mark against Standley Lake. He finished 23-for-30 passing for 334 yards and four touchdowns.
“With the defense Standley Lake runs we felt like we could pass on them,” Krutsch said. “We wanted to spread it out a lot, get it to everyone and get a lot of yards tonight.”
A-West sophomore Isaiah Ocana was the Wildcats’ leading receiver with 10 catches for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Chase Dixon added five catches for 99 yards.
Arvada West junior Jack Boyer (98) puts pressure on Standley Lake quarterback Jake Foutz (15). (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Senior Joey Perez was the workhorse on the ground with nearly 20 carries and had A-West’s final touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Tony Cass had a 25-yard touchdown run on A-West’s opening drive as the Wildcats jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.
“I’m just proud for the boys. They are getting some success. I’ve told them from Day 1 that we are going to grind it out,” Pyatt said. “I’m proud of these seniors. They have stuck it out for two years and now their hard work is paying off this third season.”
A-West has already reached the win total — four — it had over the past two seasons combined.
“This is a start of a new A-West,” Krutsch said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The Wildcats are still very young, but the non-league wins early this year should benefit A-West as it heading into conference play next week.
“I’m excited to see what we can do in league,” said A-West senior James Gould, who had a trio of sacks on Standley Lake quarterback Jake Foutz. “These wins have built up our confidence.”
The Wildcats host Rangeview at noon Oct. 8 at NAAC in the 5A Mt. Wilson League opener. A-West then faces area-rival Ralston Valley at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at NAAC. A-West and Ralston Valley are actually the only two 5A Jeffco schools in the same league as the start of the new waterfall league system begins.
The Gators (3-2) had their three-game winning steak come to an end. Standley Lake did manage a pair of touchdowns in the second half against A-West. Foutz had an 8-yard touchdown pass to senior Beck Halbiesen and senior Landon Warriner broke off an 82-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
Standley Lake kicks off its league play at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at NAAC against Thornton. The 4A Mountain League opener is also the Gators’ homecoming game.
Arvada West sophomore Tony Cass (2) breaks out of a tackle attempt by Standley Lake’s Zach Johnstone (62) during the Wildcats’ 41-14 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)