November 11th 2024.
The game was truly a masterpiece, perfectly capturing the impressive execution of the Regis Jesuit Raiders' offensive strategy during Sunday's afternoon showdown. The players were in perfect sync, working together to achieve their goal of securing a win. It was a first-and-10 play, with freshman quarterback Luke Rubley leading the charge. He handed the ball off to sophomore running back Joe Pron, who then tossed it back to Rubley. With a quick glance, Rubley spotted senior Peyton Lindell making a break behind the opposing team's defense. He launched a perfect pass, and Lindell caught it effortlessly, scoring a 55-yard flea-flicker touchdown that left the crowd in awe. With only 2 minutes and 29 seconds left in the first quarter, the Raiders were already ahead 21-0. From that point on, it was smooth sailing for the No. 12 ranked Raiders, who went on to claim a decisive 45-14 victory over the No. 21 ranked Eaglecrest team in the first round of the Class 5A state football playoffs.
Rubley, who had a stellar performance, completing 16 of 21 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, was thrilled with the team's overall performance. "We were really clicking on offense today, and I feel like we are improving with every game we play," he stated with enthusiasm. "As the season progresses, we are starting to put all the pieces together." A perfect example of this was the flea-flicker play, which the team had been working on all week. "It was our big trick play," Rubley revealed. "We had max protection, and Peyton did an amazing job of disguising his block. I was under a bit of pressure from the right side, but I spotted him running free and just went for it."
The Raiders, who now have a record of 6-5, will advance to the second round where they will face off against No. 5 ranked Valor Christian on Saturday at Valor. It will be a tough matchup, as the Eagles previously defeated the Raiders 17-0 in their season opener. However, the team is determined to continue their upward trajectory, and head coach Danny Filleman is confident in his young team's ability to rise to the challenge. "Each week, we are getting better and better, and it's incredible to see a freshman leading the charge," Filleman shared. "Throughout the season, we have seen tremendous growth from our players, especially our young running backs and receivers. They have been improving week after week." Filleman is excited to see how his team will fare against Valor, as he believes they are a completely different team now compared to when they first faced off. "We have come a long way, but they have too. It's going to be a great game," he added.
While the Raiders were firing on all cylinders from the very beginning, the same could not be said for the Raptors, who struggled to find their footing and never had a chance to get into the game. Their offense, which lost three fumbles and gave up a pick-six, simply could not keep up with the Raiders' dominance. It was a rough day for the No. 21 ranked team, who suffered their third consecutive loss in the first round of the state playoffs. On the very first play of the game, things went downhill for the Raptors, as their senior quarterback Joe Steiner threw a 5-yard pass to junior wide receiver Quincy Clayton, who was immediately tackled and fumbled the ball, handing it over to Regis at the Raptors' 19-yard line. The Raiders quickly capitalized on the turnover, with Benjamin Bacon scoring a 19-yard touchdown on the next play.
The Raptors' offense continued to struggle throughout the game, and their fate was sealed in the first quarter when a backward pass hit the ground and was recovered by Regis' senior middle linebacker Kai Shelton at the Raptors' 26-yard line. This set up Pron's 4-yard touchdown run, extending the Raiders' lead to 14-0. Unfortunately, Pron injured his leg in the third quarter and was unable to return to the game. Coach Filleman was unsure of the extent of the injury and whether Pron would be able to play in their upcoming game against Valor.
One of the key factors in the Raiders' dominant performance was their control of the offensive and defensive lines. They were able to overpower the Raptors, allowing Bacon and Pron to make big gains and giving Rubley plenty of time to make his passes. Rubley's most impressive pass came in the third quarter when he threw a perfect ball to Lindell in the corner of the end zone, resulting in a 28-0 lead for the Raiders with 11:08 left in the half. The Raiders' other scores came from a 32-yard pass to senior tight-end Grayson McPherson, a 34-yard interception return by sophomore Cade Filleman, and a 46-yard field goal by junior Jack Manthey. Manthey's field goal was a sight to behold and would have been good from well over 50 yards.
The Raptors managed to find some success in the fourth quarter, scoring twice with two massive pass plays. Steiner connected with senior Burke Withycombe for an 82-yard touchdown and later with Clayton for a 78-yard pass. Despite these late-game touchdowns, Coach Filleman was pleased with his team's performance, especially their ability to collect four turnovers. "We have a tradition of practicing turnovers every Tuesday, and today, we were able to see it pay off," Filleman shared with pride. "For us to go far in the playoffs, we need to be able to create turnovers, and we took a big step forward today." Looking ahead, the Raiders will continue to work hard and strive for success in the next round of the playoffs. Want to stay updated on all the latest sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all the latest analysis on Denver's teams.
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