LAFAYETTE >> For the most part, Fairview sophomore quarterback Ki Ellison was simply getting the ball into his playmakers’ hands and watching them go.

Not that he didn’t have a few highlight-reel throws of his own.

Ellison had his best performance to date on Friday night as the Colorado Preps Media’s Class 5A No. 8 Knights beat Monarch 49-0 at Spangenberg Field.

In his third start as the team’s newest signal-caller, the sophomore completed his first 14 passes — many of which, dinks and dunks to his all-star receiving cast — and Fairview (4-0) scored on each of its first four possessions.

His 15th pass of the night sailed just over the outstretched hands of senior wideout Jordan Rechel, 2023’s 5A touchdown leader.

He wouldn’t miss Rechel again. On their next hookup, Ellison floated a perfectly thrown ball over Rechel’s shoulder in the end zone for a 41-yard score to open the second half.

“I just have to throw it up,” Ellison smiled when talking about the skill players around him. “And they’ll go get it.”

By the time Fairview went up 42-0 on Sabi Ruttgers’ short rushing TD, kicking in the state’s mercy rule running clock with 7:03 left in the third quarter, Ellison had amassed more than 315 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

He was replaced by sophomore backup Nico Rizzello after that.

“He has been amazing for us,” touted junior wideout Toray Davis said of his QB. “Playing as a sophomore is crazy. He had to fight for that starting spot, and he earned it. And now he’s been able to show out and show what he can do.”

Ellison became the first Fairview underclassmen to throw for more than 300 yards since Penn State-commit Bekkem Kritza did so six times as a freshman in 2021.

Rechel and Davis each chipped in more than 100 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Knights’ defense pitched a second straight shutout after overwhelming Boulder, 56-0, seven days ago.

All of it helped Fairview to its 11th straight regular season victory. Last year, the Knights lost just once during the regular season — 29-28 against Valor Christian on Sept. 8, 2023 — before falling to Fountain-Fort Carson in a home playoff game in 5A’s first round.

“We haven’t even had our best game yet,” said Davis, who already has offers from Colorado, Iowa State and others. “We’re still progressing as a team and building our bonds together. I’m looking forward to how we’ll look at the end of the season.”

For Monarch (3-2), it was its second loss and shutout under new coach Jeff Santee this season. The Coyotes lost to 4A No. 1 Broomfield, 46-0, on Sept. 6. Meanwhile, they have outscored teams 94-47 across their three wins.

In Week 4, they took their first two drives past midfield — the first of which coming after senior Archie Jahn picked up 39 yards on a fake punt. But as all nine of their offensive drives did, those too eventually stalled out.

The Coyotes and the Knights will play at Christian Recht Field next week, with Monarch facing Boulder on Thursday, and Fairview hosting Smoky Hill on Sept. 27.

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