Starting at quarterback . . . No. 7 . . . Elway

[thesaint]

Cherry Creek quarterback Jack Elway, son of former Broncos quarterback John Elway, made his debut for the Bruins last night. The junior had a solid performance, completing 8-of-17 passes for 114 yards as Cherry Creek topped the Montbello Warriors 56-20.

He led the Bruins (1-0) on a 99-yard scoring drive for their first touchdown, then threw a 23-yard touchdown pass on third down with 13 yards to go to a tightly defended Karl Heimbrock late in the second quarter. Elway added a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

"Managing the game has been one of his strengths," Bruins coach Greg Critchett said. "Playing within the framework of the offense. And you can't say enough about Karl going up for one and taking it away."

But it was the Bruins' special teams and rushing that made the difference against the Warriors (0-1). Before Levy's kickoff return for a touchdown, Kyle Randolph had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown to give Cherry Creek a 14-7 lead.

"Every year, special teams is a big part of our team," Randolph said.

"Special teams . . . it looked like we had never coached them," Montbello coach John Pounder said. "But we do. They just killed us. Other than that, we did some things fairly well."

Montbello rushed for 251 yards, with fullback Ryan Long leading the way with 89 yards on 12 carries. But the Warriors couldn't get anything going through the air against the Bruins defense. Quarterback Chauncey Williams was 5-of-20 passing for 37 yards, and he was intercepted by the Bruins' T.J. Shantz on the Warriors' first drive of the second half. The Warriors also lost three fumbles.

Cherry Creek's Mi-chael Hunter rushed for 136 yards on 16 carries for the Bruins before leaving early in the third quarter. Hunter lost an opportunity to put the Bruins up early when he lost a fumble into the end zone after an apparent 34-yard scoring run. But the senior made up for it with a 36-yard run on his next opportunity, and his 3-yard touchdown run on the final play of the first quarter sparked the Bruins' scoring frenzy.

Critchett said he was proud of his team for remaining focused with all the media attention surrounding Elway's debut.

[Denver Native]

Channel 4 just showed a few highlights - Guess Jack had quite a night, and they won 56 - 20. Good for Jack.

[Cheerful]

jack won in his game 56-20 if you need him

[thesaint]

Btw do you have any measurable on him?

I'll update when they become available.

[Jared]

wow, he's taken the #7 aswell? That kids really got alot to live upto.

Yeah, but it's his dad.


I mean, what son doesn't kinda want to be like their Dad?

[AZOmae]

Hopefully someone can record the game, and YouTube the highlights for some of us from outta state????

[TXBRONC]

I wish him the best, but because he's the son of John he'll always be scrutinized more than any other kid playing that the qb position. Btw do you have any measurable on him?

[Straz1999]

The important thing for the kid and for everyone else is to realize that he is not John Elway.

If people put too much pressure on the kid to be his dad then it could very well ruin him if he doesnt come out and light it up.

Remember, he's a kid. I hope they just let him be who he is and not "what he's supposed to be".

[y2cragie]

wow, he's taken the #7 aswell? That kids really got alot to live upto.

[thesaint]

Another Elway catches spotlight

Starting at quarterback . . . No. 7 . . . Elway.
Haven't heard that in a while?

It will be heard tonight at All City Stadium, where Jack Elway - son of You Know Whom - will be the starting quarterback for seventh- ranked Cherry Creek High School, which will be playing its season opener against Montbello.

John Elway, the Broncos' Hall of Fame quarterback, will there for the 6 p.m. kickoff. There's no way he could be kept away.

"I'm excited for him, but nervous for him," Elway said. "I'm glad I can be there for him and let him know that I understand what he's going through. I'm real excited. And I know he's excited about it, too.

"But I also know what it's like to start your first (high school) game, to be in that situation and be the quarterback. . . . It's traumatic because it's your first start. You've battled for the job and all of sudden, you're the starter. Now it's like, 'OK, now I've got to go out and perform.' "

The younger Elway has performed well during the preseason, beating out Mullen transfer Collin Silva for the starting job this week.

"Right now, Jack will start for us," Cherry Creek coach Greg Critchett said. "We wanted to settle on one of the boys instead of putting them in a rotation. We will go with Jack. He has been doing good things for us through the summer practices, and he knows how to run our offense."

Jack Elway, a junior, took a few snaps at quarterback last season while backing up all-state honorable mention Kelsey Sokoloski. This will be much different.

"I definitely realize there is going to be a lot of pressure," Elway said. "I just want to go out and play like I know I can and forget all the pressure that is on top of me right now.

"I want to wake up Friday morning with a win under my belt and say, 'I'm glad that one is over with, let's get going on the rest of the season.' "

Elway has discussed his situation with his father but does not feel any pressure in this respect.

"When Dad and I talk, it is usually about football now," Elway said. "He gives me advice where to look at the defenses and such. I'm very excited, but I'm very nervous, too. I know that after this first game I will be comfortable."

Is John Elway worried about the media scrutiny?

"Just give him a chance to establish himself - he's never started a varsity game before," Elway said. "I want him to be able to be a kid and enjoy his high school years."

Comcast Entertainment Television (CET), Channel 5 in Denver, will televise the game at 8 p.m. Tuesday and it will be replayed 4 p.m. Wednesday.