The Colorado Boys HS semifinals are Saturday and now we get down to two very tight and contentious games.

Top-seeded East HS didn’t get to play a game last week, as winless Cherry Creek, hit by injuries, forfeited. The bye week was a blessing in that no one got injured, but Coach Bill Baer said he kind of wishes his team had been able to get more game time in. The season is too short as it is.

What Baer did do was spend the extra time drilling his players in the art of taking it one game at a time.

“We beat PAC 43-3 the last time we played them, but they are a very good team and we can’t afford to be complacent,” warned Baer. “We can’t afford to have handling errors. What we need to do is playing with confidence and play our dynamic, expansive game.”

So be careful, but not so careful that you shrink away from how you play.

East is led by flyhalf Adam Leonard, who, said Baer, “pulls the team together.” Fullback Auggie Bennett was the captain of the East HS soccer team and has good skills and field vision. In the pack, Max Cohen has been a powerful force.

Despite Baer’s concerns, East has to be favored in this matchup, but there’s no such scenario in the other semifinal.

Regis Jesuit beat Colorado Springs in league play, it is true, but the score was only 13-12. There’s no reason to think it won’t be close this time.

“We didn’t tackle well in that previous game,” said Colorado Springs Coach Otis McGregor. “We worked on that a lot. Confidence is back up - the guys learned from their mistakes.”

Still, McGregor said his Grizzlies started slowly in their defeat of Littleton, but eventually rolled. 

With center Ash Golabi playing solid defense, and flyhalf Cal Zeb Roberson organizing the attack, Colorado Springs, four-time defending state champs, will be looking to contain an active Regis Jesuit back row.

“We need to contain turnovers,” said McGregor. “Regis Jesuit reacts really well to changing situations - a lost lineout, a turnover. We need to go into contact properly and control the ball a lot better.”

DII Semis:

Fort Collins v Highlands Ranch

Grand Junction v Titans