Defense makes Spartans favorite amid uncertainty

Uncertainty is the theme of the coming season for Pikes Peak area Class 5A football programs. Doherty and Palmer and new 5A entrant Rampart will battle for local bragging rights, but it's anyone's guess which team will come out on top.

The teams moved from the South Metro to the Southern Conference, meaning unfamiliar foes, including 2007 5A state runner-up Douglas County and playoff participants Highlands Ranch, Ponderosa and ThunderRidge.

"Right now I'd say we're all pretty much the same level," said Doherty coach Matt Wibbels.

Doherty was the top 5A team in the area last year, finishing 4-6 on the season, including wins over Palmer, Sand Creek and Lewis-Palmer. But the Spartans won't have 2007 Gazette Player of the Year Darius Turner to run roughshod over the competition. They must also replace two All-Area offensive linemen and a tight end.

The heir apparent to Turner is junior speedster Kenny Chambers, who finished third in 5A in the 100-meter dash at the state meet in May. The Spartans' smaller, more athletic offensive line will use more zone blocking to open holes for Chambers and three-year starter and junior fullback Jaden Terry.

Senior quarterback Dakota Barr returns, giving the Spartans more confidence throwing the ball.

Linebackers Terry and senior Beau Kelly join linemen Matt Oesterle, a junior, and senior safety Nick Mitchell to anchor a defense with nine returning starters.

"Defense is where our strong point is," Wibbels said. "We've got two good D-linemen returning. Beau Kelly and Jaden Terry, that's a pretty dangerous tandem."

Palmer, which finished 3-6 last year, looks to rebound with an improved defense and an array of offensive options at the disposal of junior quarterback Andre Brown, one of eight returning starters on offense.

Receivers Maurice Blackledge, Brandon Lowery, Sean Pellow and Zach Hawkins are all back, as are linemen Nick Urbaniak, Adam Bingham and Dan Alvarez.

"They're all good," Terrors coach Rod Baker said. "They're throwing and catching well. Andre is going to be really, really good."

The Terrors also bring back six defensive starters, led by four linemen - Roy Denz, Christian Lorenz, Tucker Walsh and Brad Rutheford. Jeff Nagle will lead the linebackers and Hawkins is back in the secondary.

"We have more speed on defense," Baker said. "We went with the approach that the best 11 will be on defense first."

Rampart makes the jump from 4A to 5A at the right time with 10 starters returning on offense and seven on defense. The Rams bring back five offensive linemen, led by Drew Pierce. The experienced quintet should help quarterback Zane Watkins, running back Devin Mohn, tight end Kreg Jones and receiver Joey Kingston execute on offense.

On defense, the Rams' front seven should be formidable with Jones, Kingston and Jerrod Van Horn at linebacker, Mohn in the secondary and Cory Hoffman, Josh Brown and Dana Williams returning on the line.

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