Each season introduces a new set of players, here is a look at some names known and names to know for the 2011 season.
2013 Longmont quarterback Forrest Wetterstrom is running the Trojan offense on high octane. During a demanding week that saw Longmont defeat 5A Arvada West on Monday and rival Skyline on Friday, Wetterstrom was the vanguard of an offense that posted 47 and 43 points. During the wins, Wetterstrom was frighteningly efficient completing 70% of his passes with four TDs and no interceptions. On the ground, Wetterstrom averaged over five yards a carry and scored two times. Potentially most important was Wetterstrom’s ball distribution. In the two games Wetterstrom found six different receivers with a variety of long and short passes. If this offensive versatility continues Longmont could become a threat to win the Northern and make a 4A playoff run.
As impressive as Wetterstrom’s work has been this past week potentially the most impressive Longmont player was kicker Miles Bergner. Monday night in a game with Arvada West and Nebraska commit Paul Thurston, DI prospect Austin Hendrickson and the talented Wetterstrom, all my reporter could talk about was Bergner’s kicking. On 15 kickoffs this season Bergner has had 14 touchbacks. Also he is 100% on extra points. In the wild world of high school special teams play this type of consistency makes the difference between wins and losses.
Over the past few years the basis of the Denver East offense has been a run game highlighted by talented backs. This season East still boast talented ball carriers in 2013’s Shahid Hoover and 2012’s Isaiah Hendrix but now the Angels can go to the air due to the big arm of 2013 QB Kadeem Hendrix as well as the talents of receivers Justin Holden and Dalton Berridge. Holden, a big receiver gaining DI attention, is no surprise, but Berridge, a 6-5 tight end with the ability to work from different spots on the field, is a player currently under the radar. In Friday night’s win over Eaglecrest Berridge caught four balls for 94 yards and score.
In a article posted early Sunday I sang the praises of Grand Junction QB Sean Rubalcaba and rightfully so, the senior signal caller is one of Colorado’s best and will soon be playing on Saturdays. As good as Rubalcaba is, his teammate Jerreon Dennis may be the best player on the Grand Junction squad and one of the best all around players in Colorado. The 6-1 195 pound RB/LB is constantly in the thick of the physical action on both sides of the ball, but this does not stop his motor or hunger. In an old school performance that players from back in the day would be proud of Dennis posted 190 rush yards on offense to go with eight tackles and a sack on defense in the Tiger’S Friday road win over Highlands Ranch. Just writing those numbers made me tired.
D’Evelyn QB Caleb Flack is one of Colorado’s best and if healthy he has the ability to make an assault on the Colorado record book, but after and injury, Flack had to relinquish leadership of the offense to 6-1 junior backup Cody Marvel. Undaunted, Marvel threw for five scores and over 270 yards in a win over Conifer. Helping Marvel transition was the work of talented All-State receiver Matt Menard. Menard snagged eight catches for an average of 22 yards a catch on the way to three scores.
Oh Brother, the Columbine run game will once again be nasty especially with the big play work of brothers Cameron and Bernard McDondle. Cameron, an All-State performer and one of 2012’s best, combined with Bernard, a sophomore, for over 150 rush yards and three scores during a 48-14 win over Thomas Jefferson. Most frightening was the over 12 yards a carry the duo posted. Add in big runs from quarterback Michael Burns and back Noah Thompson and get ready to watch the Rebels run once again this season.