Ralston Valley football shuts out Cherokee Trail

ARVADA, CO — By Dennis Pleuss for CHSAANow.com/Jeffco. Ralston Valley got an early jump on the rest of the Class 5A football playoff field Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The No. 6-seeded Mustangs was the first team to punch its ticket to the state quarterfinals. Ralston Valley dominated No. 11 Cherokee Trail 52-0 in the first and only second-round matchup on the docket Thursday night.

“It’s huge for us,” Ralston Valley junior Ben Takata said about being the first 5A team to advance to the state quarterfinals. “We get that extra day of rest and extra day to prepare for the next team. We are going to need that.”

Ralston Valley (9-2 record) has the chance now to head to Stutler Bowl on Friday night to scout No. 14 Castle View against No. 3 Cherry Creek. The winner of that game faces the Mustangs next week in the 5A quarterfinals.

It very well could be a revenge game next week for Ralston Valley. The Bruins have eliminated the Mustangs from the playoffs the previous two seasons.

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Images: 1) Ralston Valley senior Brad Roberts, left, bulls over Cherokee Trail's Sean Roberts (15) during the first half. Roberts had a pair of first-half touchdowns on the way to the Mustangs' 2nd round playoff victory Thursday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics). 2) Ralston Valley junior quarterback Walker Brickle tries to avoid Cherokee Trail's Joe Steen (50) and Kyle Johnson, left, Thursday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics). 3) Ralston Valley junior Caleb Rillos (88) isn't able to haul in a pass during the first half Thursday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics).