New era begins for Monarch and Standley Lake football programs

ARVADA — Standley Lake didn’t waste anytime in getting its first win for new football coach Tyler Gallas on Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

“It’s always great. Feels real good,” Gallas said after the Gators took a 38-13 victory over Monarch. “It comes back to team. We preach character, competition, family and grit. That’s a family win. I’m proud of these boys.”

Standley Lake scored the first four touchdowns to open up a 25-0 lead late in the first half.

Junior quarterback Braden Smith connected with senior Cannon Frost twice in the first quarter for long touchdown scores. Frost had catches for 44 and 42 yards that went the distance to put the Gators up 12-0 in the first quarter.

“Frost is a freak athlete and an awesome guy,” said Standley Lake senior captain Luke Root, who was a difference maker on both sides of the ball. “He really opened it up.”

Standley Lake’s downhill running style opened up after Frost’s pair of touchdowns through the air.

Smith took it himself for a 9-yard touchdown run with 8:13 left in the second quarter to put Standley Lake up 18-0. Senior Max Stout scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds left before halftime and the Gators converted their first PAT of the game to take a 25-0 lead.

“We’ve got to use our strengths and everyone out on the field,” Gallas said. “We’ve got a lot of playmakers.”

Monarch did get on the scoreboard with a 75-yard kickoff return after Stout’s touchdown to trim Standley Lake’s lead. Monarch junior Brody Gray had the long special team’s touchdown to end the Gators’ shutout.

Stout scored his second touchdown run of the game early in the fourth quarter to grab a 31-6 lead. Monarch junior quarterback Asher Ewing and senior Griffyn Weber gave the Coyotes their first offensive touchdown of the game with a 9-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter.

Standley Lake sealed the game when sophomore Liam Graham scored on a 20-yard touchdown run in the final minute to make the final score 38-13.

“It was big,” Root said of getting the first win with Gallas at the helm. “We really wanted to come in and show people we are ready to go with a new coach. I felt really good about it today.”

Gallas takes over for Don Morse for the Gators that last made the postseason back in 2018.

Longtime Monarch assistant coach Aaron Paddock takes over the reins with the retirement of Phil Bravo. Bravo coached the Coyotes to a pair of state titles in 2002 and 2012. He decided after 36 years of coaching to retired after the 2022 season. The Coyotes have their home opener next Friday night when it hosts Frederick.

The Gators are back at NAAC for another non-league game against Skyline on Thursday, Sept. 1.

“We are looking at getting going early and keep going,” Root said. “We have a tough league ahead, but I think we’ll be ready for it.”