Air Force Academy’s parachute team, Wings of Blue, headlined Mitchell’s Military Appreciation Game with a dazzling drop into Garry Berry Stadium on Thursday night.

“It got us all pretty hyped,” Cheyenne Mountain freshman James LaCerte said.

There’s plenty of hype surrounding the Indians, too.

LaCerte returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 22-yard reception, helping the Indians (4-1) beat the Marauders 28-6 for their fourth win of the season.

Cheyenne Mountain’s previous four wins came over three years. That included a disparaging 2014 season, which ended with two forfeits after injuries dwindled a 40-man roster to 12.

“That (2014 season) is with us a lot,” Indians senior Zach Garrard said. “That fuels us and fuels our intensity even more to play harder.”

Matthew Betterson added two throwing touchdowns for Cheyenne Mountain – one to a senior, one to a freshman. Garrard had 80 rushing yards and a score.

“The difference between this team and years past is we have depth now to where we can put guys in,” Indians coach Willie Roberts said. “And our upper-echelon players are playing at a high level.”

Mitchell (2-3) recovered an onside kick out of the half, and cashed it in after Quindell Bryant caught a 26-yard touchdown from Sean Cooper to cut the lead to 21-6.

But the Marauders couldn’t piece much else together. Multiple drives stalled on failed fourth-down conversions and another two ended on turnovers.

“It’s a discipline and execution of plays that kill us,” Cooper said. “It’s all about discipline.”

Cheyenne Mountain scored on three of four drives in the second quarter. Garrard capped off a nine-play, 49-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown. Oliver Neumann’s fumble recovery then led to a 62-yard touchdown from Betterson to Zac Baker. And Jackson Bailey’s interception led to LaCerte’s TD to go up 21-0 with 54 seconds left in the half.

“I kind of go wherever they need me,” LaCerte said.

The Wings of Blue landed at midfield before the game carrying the game ball and the American flag. The airborne unit also flew into Liberty’s homecoming game and they expect to do two more area high school football games before the season is done.

“It’s always more fun to jump in your hometown,” said 2001 Air Force Academy graduate, Maj. Drew Judkins, who made his 2,031st career jump. “It’s great to go all over the world, all over the country and jump into different venues, but my favorite jumps are in our hometown.”