The Ralston Valley Mustangs (12-0) will look to push their winning streak to 13 games as they go up against the Cherry Creek Bruins (9-3) in one Class 5A semifinal game.

Ralston Valley will be hosting Cherry Creek tonight, 7:00 PM, at the NAAC.

Both teams bring powerful offenses to the gridiron. Two strong running games will clash as Cherry Creek brings Milo Hall along with them. Hall is averaging 8.4 yards per carry and has a total of 1,808 yards and 24 touchdowns on the season.

Ralston Valley’s number one ranked offense is led by senior, Wyoming commit Andrew Wingard, who comes into the semifinals with a blistering average of 9.1 yards per carry and 1,603 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season.

In addition to Wingard, Kyle Rush, Dalton Pribble, Noah Wells, and Anthony Falbo all bring dangerous running ability to the field, giving coach Matt Loyd a versatile group of players to drive it down the field.

Senior quarterbacks Chase Heffley and Cooper Loyd will be looking down the field for senior Collin Root, who in the the battle of the unbeatens last week caught two touchdowns to seal a blowout victory over Fairview.

Junior Tanner Hauptman has also been a favorite target for Heffley and Loyd.

“To beat Creek, it’s going to take what we practice and preach every week,” Hauptman said. “Like coach always tells us, it will take 11 guys on offense doing their jobs. And on defense we need everyone to be flying to the ball and making tackles.”

Cherry Creek plays in the tough Centennial League, and was the first Colorado team in 28 games to beat Valor Christian, who this week goes up against Grandview in the other semifinal game.

The Bruins are coached by the renowned Dave Logan, who has led teams to 18 playoffs, and won six state championships in his 20 years of coaching in Colorado.

No one has been able to stop the Mustangs powerhouse offense, or gotten past the number one ranked defense in the state.

The Bruins will definitely try.

“If we all do our jobs,” said Hauptman, “we are one tough team to beat.”

Between the Tackles:
Kickoff: Tonight, 7 p.m., North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC)
Records: Ralston Valley, 12-0; Cherry Creek, 9-3
Last Week: Ralston Valley defeated Fairview, 71-29, behind Andrew Wingard’s six touchdowns; Cherry Creek defeated Regis, 49-21, as running back Milo Hall rushed for 150 yards and three TDs. D.J. Luke added three touchdowns and 73 rushing yards for the Bruins…This will be the first-ever meeting between RV and Cherry Creek, although the schools have scrimmaged in the past…Wingard and Cherry Creek wide receiver Joseph Parker will be college teammates as both have committed to playing at the University of Wyoming…The Mustangs are riding a 12-game win streak, while the Bruins, since an Oct. 10 loss to Grandview, have strung together five straight victories…While the Mustangs are one of two undefeated 5A teams left remaining in the big-school playoff bracket, Cherry Creek athletic director Jason Wilkins tweeted out, “Creek has not lost on the road in over two years.”