{"id":2449752,"date":"2019-10-10T22:16:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T04:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/football-quarterback-matty-gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns\/"},"modified":"2019-10-10T22:16:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T04:16:00","slug":"gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns-ahs-playoff-hopes-on-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns-ahs-playoff-hopes-on-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Gillis getting it done for undefeated Longhorns; AHS playoff hopes on line"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7948139797069\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-314228-2\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Basalt junior quarterback Matty Gillis stops for a photo during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Basalt junior quarterback Matty Gillis stops for a photo during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Basalt junior quarterback Matty Gillis stops for a photo during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Basalt quarterback Matty Gillis throws during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Basalt quarterback Matty Gillis throws during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Basalt quarterback Matty Gillis throws during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Basalt coach Carl Frerichs talks during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Basalt coach Carl Frerichs talks during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-2.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Basalt coach Carl Frerichs talks during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen Skiers Jonathon Woodrow blocks a tackle by Delta\u2019s Mason Hollowwa during the game on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Aspen Skiers Jonathon Woodrow blocks a tackle by Delta\u2019s Mason Hollowwa during the game on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-3.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen Skiers Jonathon Woodrow blocks a tackle by Delta\u2019s Mason Hollowwa during the game on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen Skiers cheer on their teammates after their first touchdown against Delta on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Aspen Skiers cheer on their teammates after their first touchdown against Delta on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/football-atd-101119-1-4.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen Skiers cheer on their teammates after their first touchdown against Delta on Friday, October 4, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/football-quarterback-matty-gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/football-quarterback-matty-gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/basalts-trevor-reuss-looks-to-finish-what-he-started-against-develyn\/\">Miles Levy and Trevor Reuss<\/a>, the Basalt High School football team had some pretty solid quarterback play over the past three-plus years, a run that included a pair of league titles and multiple playoff appearances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Next up is junior Matty Gillis, who has stepped into the starting role this fall. So far, it\u2019s been business as usual for the undefeated Longhorns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot since the first game. I\u2019ve calmed down a lot and we\u2019ve really come together as a team,\u201d said Gillis, whose first career start at QB came in the Sept. 6 season opener at Olathe, a 29-7 win. \u201cI\u2019ve been surrounded by a lot of very good quarterbacks and coaches, so I didn\u2019t feel that nervous before that game. I felt pretty confident. It was just getting the snaps in and getting the reps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gillis has guided the Class 2A Longhorns to a 5-0 record and No. 7 ranking in this week\u2019s CHSAANow.com coaches\/media poll. More importantly, Basalt is holding down the No. 1 spot in this week\u2019s Rating Percentage Index (RPI), the mathematically derived number that will ultimately determine postseason seeding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">With Basalt\u2019s run-first approach and usually stifling defense, quarterbacks don\u2019t typically put up flashy numbers under longtime head coach Carl Frerichs. What are important are leadership, toughness and a lack of mistakes, all attributes Gillis has shown on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe\u2019s really stepped into the role. He\u2019s been a great leader and he\u2019s shown up,\u201d Basalt senior tight end\/linebacker Tristan Johnston said of Gillis. \u201cWe started the season arguing a little bit and it was tough, but as the season has gone on everyone has come together and we figured it out. We have a lot of leaders on the offense who are ready to step up and teach other kids.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Through five games this season, Gillis is completing just over 50 percent of his passes for 656 yards, five touchdowns and only one interception, according to MaxPreps. He\u2019s also third on the team with 133 yards rushing and three more scores. Sophomores Cole Dombrowski (282 yards, 3 TDs) and Gavin Webb (214 yards, 8 TDs) lead the team\u2019s rushing offense.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Gillis is aided by a strong receiving unit, highlighted by senior Jackson Rapaport, who easily leads the team with 30 catches for 394 yards and all five of the team\u2019s receiving touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Frerichs said Gillis spent a lot of time at camps over the summer and has even worked with former Colorado State University standout Justin Holland and the Jenkins Elite development program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMatty has done everything you can ask of a high school kid to make himself be the best player he can be and he\u2019s really come a long ways,\u201d Frerichs said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of that perfect combination of Matty has worked his tail off but then we also have a really good class of receivers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Basalt is in line to make the 2A state playoffs for the fourth straight season. BHS, which opened Western Slope League play with a 49-7 rout of previously undefeated Moffat County last week, travels to Coal Ridge (1-4, 0-1) on Friday night. The Titans lost 44-0 to top-ranked Rifle in their WSL opener a week ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The schedule will ramp up in a hurry for the Longhorns after this week, with a trip to No. 2-ranked Delta (5-0, 1-0) on tap next Friday, before hosting Rifle on Oct. 25 for senior night. BHS finishes the regular season with a Nov. 1 trip to Aspen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s just having the experience and having better composure, being more calm and being more confident about everything,\u201d Gillis said. \u201cAll the outsiders were thinking this was going to be a rebuilding season and we use that as a chip on our shoulder and we want to prove everybody wrong and for the most part we have been. It\u2019s just been everyone putting in hard work, putting in time outside of football in the weight room and everything. That\u2019s made us successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">ASPEN HEADS TO MOFFAT on Friday WITH A LOT ON THE LINE<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In some way, the playoffs have come early for the Aspen High School football team. At 2-3 overall and 0-1 in WSL play, coach Travis Benson knows the Skiers don\u2019t have much room for error when it comes to their postseason dreams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s an important week for us. It might be one of the most important weeks for this football team and our aspirations for playing past the regular season,\u201d Benson said. \u201cOnce you get into conference play you basically play a double elimination tournament to get into the playoffs. You can lose once, but you can\u2019t lose twice to get a guaranteed spot in my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen is No. 26 in RPI this week, the lowest-ranked team in the 2A WSL. Coal Ridge is No. 25, Delta No. 7, Rifle No. 6, Moffat County No. 3 and Basalt No. 1. It\u2019s hard to argue against the league being the best in 2A based off those numbers, but at some point it will come down to winning games for the Skiers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">AHS opened league play last week with a 27-14 home loss to Delta, which entered that contest having outscored its opponents 201-0 over its first four games. Aspen\u2019s defense stood out, holding a dangerous run offense to only 80 yards on the ground, but did allow 202 yards passing on only 11 completions. The Aspen offense finally got the ball moving in the second half, but a 21-0 halftime deficit proved too much against the Panthers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMinus the outliers of probably three plays in that football game, I\u2019m very proud of the way the kids played,\u201d Benson said of the Delta game. \u201cOur defensive interior guys did a phenomenal job of stopping the run. They keep getting better every week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen travels to Moffat County (4-1, 0-1) on Friday, which has turned into somewhat of a must-win for both teams. It\u2019s only the second of three road games this season for the Skiers, who also travel to Coal Ridge on Oct. 25. Aspen hosts Rifle next week and closes out the regular season at home against Basalt on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMoffat is still a good football team,\u201d Benson said of the Bulldogs despite their loss to BHS last week. \u201cI would say pretty much the entire conference has a lot to be proud of and Moffat, if you are not prepared, Moffat definitely has the kids and the fight to take it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The highlight of Friday\u2019s 2A WSL lineup is No. 1 Rifle hosting No. 2 Delta for league and state supremacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\"><strong>Note<\/strong>: Aspen\u2019s peewee football teams will host Rifle on Saturday. The third\/fourth-grade team plays at 10 a.m., while the fifth\/sixth-grade team plays at noon. Both games are played on the school district\u2019s turf field. The teams are sponsored by Aspen Elks Lodge No. 224.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:acolbert@aspentimes.com\">acolbert@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/football-quarterback-matty-gillis-getting-it-done-for-undefeated-longhorns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Basalt junior quarterback Matty Gillis stops for a photo during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Basalt quarterback Matty Gillis throws during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Basalt. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Basalt coach Carl Frerichs talks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2449752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 17:08:01","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449752\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}