Centauri football’s Mason Claunch among impressive stat leaders
It looks like whenever the Centauri Falcons need a touchdown, it’s as easy as handing the ball off to Mason Claunch.
The junior running back has been more than impressive this season, scoring nine touchdowns on just 11 carries. He has also totaled 268 rushing yards, giving him an average of 24.4 yards per carry.
He also has two receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. He’s touched the ball a total of 13 times and has 10 touchdowns to his name.
Of all the players in Colorado that are off to a hot start, Claunch could be off the the best. The Falcons are 2-0 on the year and head to Del Norte on Friday, hoping to remain unbeaten after three weeks.
Among other significant running backs this year is Fountain-Fort Carson senior Q. Jones (476 yards, nine touchdowns) and Erie’s Mason VeVe (460 yards, six touchdowns).
From a passing standpoint, Smoky Hill’s Leslie Richardson III is also adding to already impressive career numbers. Richardson has thrown the ball 66 times for 610 yards and nine touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive part of his season is the fact that he has kept the ball out of opposing hands. He has yet to throw an interception and that includes in a loss to defending Class 5A state champion Cherry Creek.
Richardson is just one of two quarterbacks in the state to throw at least 60 passes and not be intercepted. Fairview’s Liam O’Brien is the other.
Summit’s Aidan Collins would be anyone’s favorite receiving target with the numbers he’s putting up this season. He’s hauled in 16 receptions for 445 yards and eight touchdowns in the two games the Tigers have played this season.
Fossil Ridge sophomore Mac Busteed is the only other player in the state with at least 300 receiving yards. He has 310 yards on 14 catches, five of which have gone for touchdowns.
A lot of players are finding ways to get to opposing quarterbacks, but Holoyoke’s Joey Beckner and Cheyenne Mountain’s Jake Boley are the only two in the state to have recorded four sacks.
Banning Lewis junior Nate Early is quickly helping the Stallions become a defensive powerhouse as he leads the state with six interceptions. Five players behind him have picked off three passes, including Lamar’s Damian Ramos.
With Week 3 games slated to start on Thursday night, more players will try to put together notable performances to help their lead their teams to a win.
