First Win Of The Season

East Angels Tame Rock Canyon Jaguars 42-28

By Reid Neureiter

For the GPHN

The Denver East Angels varsity football team registered their first win of the Fall season on a brisk September afternoon at All-City Field, with a compelling 42-28 victory over the Highlands Ranch Rock Canyon Jaguars.

The Angels were led by senior quarterback Dylan Wigglesworth, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Wigglesworth’s primary target was senior wide receiver and safety Berto Zepeda, who caught five balls for 144 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive side, Zepeda also had an interception which he returned for 24 yards.

East’s aerial assault was complemented by a strong ground game. Junior D’quan Mcclennon was the standout, gaining 139 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Senior running back Isaiah Davis added 44 yards on 15 carries.

All was not perfect for the Angels, as the team was called for 11 penalties over the course of the game, including a bizarre second half delay-of-game penalty when none of the footballs provided by the East side were deemed “approved” by the crew of referees, leading to the incongruous image of Head Coach Stephen Ruempolhamer, arms full of rejected footballs, desperately looking to the East bench for a ball the refereeing crew would accept.

The Sept. 17 win over Rock Canyon hopefully marks a turning point in the young season for the East squad, which began the season with three straight losses — including opening the year with a tough 42-21 loss to No. 5 ranked Columbine High of Littleton.

East’s October schedule includes league games against three Aurora opponents, Overland, Rangeview and Hinkley, before finishing the regular season against Adams County’s Prairie View on Oct. 22 and the Far Northeast Warriors on Oct. 29.