Football: Aspen, Basalt back to work Friday
The Aspen Times
Back to work.
The high school football teams in Aspen and Basalt get back to work Friday night with a pair of key Western Slope League games.
The Aspen Skiers, with no game last week because of the ex-ed break, return to action just in time for the conference opener at 7 p.m. Friday at Aspen School District Stadium against Roaring Fork.
The Basalt Longhorns similarly open the Western Slope League schedule at New Castle against Coal Ridge. The Longhorns are coming off a big 28-7 homecoming victory over Grand Valley last weekend.
The 2-2 Skiers battled injuries with a reduced roster in the two games prior to the week of experiential education.
Several Skiers who missed the 35-0 loss at Cedaredge on Sept. 18 will be back on the field tonight against Roaring Fork (2-2 overall, 0-0).
Aspen opened the season with back-to-back victories over Cortez (29-12) and Grand Valley (12-6) before a 7-6 home loss to Steamboat Springs.
Roaring Fork also opened the season with two consecutive wins. The Rams beat Meeker 16-14 and then topped Grand Valley 41-23.
Roaring Fork then lost 24-0 at Olathe before a 28-7 home loss to Gunnison last weekend. Gunnison is ranked No. 10 in the Class 2A CHSAAnow.com poll.
With both the Skiers and Rams looking for their first conference victory, a large crowd is anticipated for Friday night’s game on the Aspen school campus.
In addition, parking at the school facilities will be reduced today because of the annual College Fair at Aspen High School over the weekend.
Aspen High School athletic director Jay Maher encouraged local fans to use public transportation to the game at Aspen School District Stadium. Carpooling also is encouraged, he said.
There will be parking attendants on duty with the middle school parking lot scheduled to be filled first. Cars then will be directed to the high school lot.
Maher said there will be parking along the perimeter of the parking lots as directed by the attendants.
In addition, Maher said there will be two entry gates for Friday night’s game.
The regular gate by the middle school parking lot will be open. A second gate will be open behind the middle school.
Fans also are encouraged to arrive early because of parking. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Basalt fans will be on the road to New Castle today as the Longhorns (1-3) take on Coal Ridge (2-2).
The Titans lost 38-0 to Olathe last weekend. The week before, Coal Ridge beat Grand Valley 21-14. Earlier, the Titans beat Dolores 38-6 and lost at Meeker 36-6.
In this week’s CHSAAnow.com poll for 2A football, unbeaten Kent Denver (4-0) is ranked No. 1.
Bayfield (3-0) is at No. 2 with La Junta (4-0) at No. 3.
Platte Valley, Brush and Eaton follow at 4-5-6; all are 3-1.
Sterling (3-1) is No. 7. The Academy (4-0) is at No. 8. Alameda (4-0) is No. 9.
Gunnison is No. 10.
In the Class 1A poll, two-time defending state champion Paonia fell from No. 1 to No. 3 with a loss at 2A Bayfield.
Buena Vista (5-0) is No. 1 in 1A. Resurrection Christian (5-0) is No. 2 with Paonia (3-1) next.
Cedaredge (4-0) is ranked No. 4. The Bruins own victories over both Aspen and Basalt this season.
Rye is No. 5 in 1A, followed by Monte Vista, Limon Platte Canyon, Meeker and Burlington.
Three Western Slope teams are ranked in the top 10 among Class 3A teams.
Palisade (4-0) is No. 2; Rifle (4-0) is No. 4; and Delta (3-1) is No. 9.
