Mesa Ridge routs rival Widefield in 41-0 victory to earn 10th consecutive win over Gladiators
Most Mesa Ridge players don’t know the last time their rivals defeated them in a football game.
That’s fair considering many of the Grizzlies were just cubs in kindergarten when Widefield last won this matchup.
The Grizzlies continued that trend Saturday and won their first game in 37 days with a 41-0 win against Widefield at C.A. Foster Stadium. Mesa Ridge’s victory marks the 10th consecutive win for the Grizzlies in this rivalry and the Gladiators have not defeated their foes since 2014.
“It feels good to get a great team win,” Mesa Ridge quarterback Leland Frescaz said. “We still have a couple of pieces to clean up. But we’re going to get it fixed and we’re ready for next week.”
During their 10-game winning streak against Widefield (2-4), the Grizzlies (2-4) have outscored the Gladiators 431-94. However, after an 8-4 season in 2024, Mesa Ridge began this year 1-4 and had not won since its 28-0 win in the season opener over Air Academy.
The Grizzlies endured a gauntlet and faced teams such as Northfield, Dakota Ridge, Heritage and Palmer Ridge, all of which rank 16 or better in the Colorado High School Activities Association 4A RPI poll.
Widefield ranked 17th ahead of their tilt with the Grizzlies, who were 23rd, and just came off a 31-27 upset win against previously unbeaten Discovery Canyon in 3A. But Mesa Ridge refused to relinquish possession of the rivalry trophy to their district foes.
“They came physical at the start, but we were ready for that,” Grizzlies running back Trevon Salas said. “We know over the course of the game we can be the better team and we’re able to wear them down late in the game.”
Salas missed two games this season due to a high left ankle sprain and had three total touchdowns in those contests. But the Grizzlies senior cooked the Gladiators for the trifecta in three quarters. After both teams battled to a 0-0 stalemate in the first quarter, Salas scored on consecutive drives to give the Grizzlies a 14-0 lead with 3:13 left in the first half.
Frescaz scored on a 5-yard run late in the second to give Mesa Ridge a 21-0 lead at the break. On the Grizzlies’ opening possession of the second half, Frescaz threw to an open receiver for a first down three times, but had the play called back due to penalties. On third and 25 from their own 25, Frescaz found Kobe Dooley alone in the middle of the field and the senior receiver sprinted 75 yards to pay dirt to make it 28-0 with 5:12 on the clock in the third.
“I saw the middle of the field was wide open and I knew we needed a big play,” Dooley said. “That’s what I’m here for and that’s what I did.”
Salas scored his third and final touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run to cap an 11-play, 72-yard drive for the Grizzlies to build a 35-0 lead with 11:41 left in the game.
“I’d be nothing without my team and O-line,” Salas said. “It’s good celebrating myself but the O-line should also be celebrated with my touchdowns.”
The Grizzlies offensive line got Mesa Ridge to the end zone once more midway through the frame as Amari McBroom scored on a 5-yard rush to build the lead to 41-0. While the Grizzlies offense looked potent, the defense also strutted.
Despite the Grizzlies record prior to Saturday’s win, Mesa Ridge’s defense has served as a bright spot and allowed just 21.4 points per game in five games. The Grizzlies forced two fumbles, five sacks, and had three interceptions, including an interception by Chris Hinojosa Jr. that kept the Gladiators off the board after their only first-half red zone trip.
Mesa Ridge’s arduous road to a hopeful postseason berth continues with a game Friday against Pueblo West (No. 4 RPI) then at Montrose (No. 2) on Oct. 17.
“It’s part of the grind and guys understand that,” Dooley said. “We’re getting it together and we’re getting the kinks out of our offense. A win like this gives us momentum going into the next two weeks and we’ll use this to hopefully fuel us up and get more victories.”