Week 8 1A League Breakdown

Week 8 1A League Breakdown

Metro League

Last week went according to schedule. Platte Canyon blasted Lyons and Cornerstone Christian got by Front Range Christian which keep them in third place and an outside chance at a wildcard berth. We have a good game on tap this week as Resurrection Christian travels to Cornerstone Christian. If Resurrection Christian wins this game they lock up the league crown and Platte Canyon locks up second place. That would leave Cornerstone Christian hoping for a wildcard berth. Resurrection Christian should win this game their offense has been very good and their defense has been equally as impressive. Cornerstone Christian has yet to win a key game or a non-league game. They will have one more game next week and should finish with a 5-4 record but I am not sure if that will be enough to get into the playoffs. More than likely the Metro will only get two teams into the playoffs.

Resurrection Christian at Cornerstone Christian Clear Creek at Front Range Christian

Lyons at Estes Park

North Central

We had a massive game last week in the North Central league. Burlington squared off against Wiggins and the game went down to the wire with Burlington escaping with a 27 to 20 upset of #8 Wiggins. The league race though was not completely decided after this game. Holyoke kept pace with the winner knocking off Wray 27 to 18. This week Wiggins travels to Holyoke for a key game. For Wiggins it’s a chance to clinch all but clinch an automatic berth they play Yuma in the last game and gain some momentum heading into the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if Wiggins can bounce back after a tough loss last week. For Holyoke it’s a chance to keep pace with the leader and clinch an automatic berth for them and for Burlington. This will be a huge test for Holyoke and the start too two tough games in a row they play Burlington next week. Burlington travels to Highland and should win the game if they do they clinch a automatic berth. Highland has fallen off as of late but did rally to beat Yuma. Highland would need a lot to go their way to get into the playoffs and upsetting Burlington could start that. This league should get 3 teams into the playoffs.

Burlington at Highland Wiggins at Holyoke

Yuma at Wray

South Central

Crowley County took sole control of the league last week when they blasted Rocky Ford 62 to 0. That was Rocky Fords first loss in league and their first real test in league. Limon and Colorado Spring Christian both stayed one game back of Crowley County after winning their games. There are two interesting game this week and both will determine a lot when it comes to the playoffs. The first game is Rocky Ford at Colorado Springs Christian. This pits two 2-1 teams against each other and really is a deciding factor for both of these teams. Rocky Ford is continuing a tough stretch of games they play Limon next week and need to grab a key win. Colorado Springs Christian has a nice two game winning streak going and has positioned themselves to snag automatic berth if they win out. The key game of the week is Limon hosting Crowley County. When league started I figured this game would be for the league title but Colorado Springs Christian changed that when they upset Limon. Now this game is for Limon force a three way tie atop the standings. If Limon can pull the upset they would force a three way tie and go to the tie breaker. If Crowley County wins this game they clinch the league title and give Colorado Springs Christian the other automatic berth. I still believe Limon grabs a wildcard berth but they would rather have an automatic berth. Three teams will get into the playoffs unless an huge upset happens.

Rocky Ford at Colorado Springs Christian Calhan at Byers

Crowley County at Limon

Southern Peaks

Monte Vista continued a nice 6 game winning streak when they got past John Mall 27 to 8. With that win it put Monte Vista in charge of their own destiny and if they win this weekend at Dolores they clinch an automatic playoff berth and possibly a matchup for a league title against Centauri in the final week. What the Monte Vista win did for the league was make the John Mall vs Centauri game very important for 3 teams. I will start with Center they need a ton to go their way for an automatic berth but Monte Vista has gave them some hope. Center needs to win out plain and simple they cannot lose to Ignacio and would have to upset John Mall in the final game of the season but they also need John Mall to beat Centauri this weekend and then Monte Vista to beat Centauri or they cannot grab an automatic berth. For Centauri its plain and simple win and you get an automatic berth and face off against Monte Vista for a league title. John Mall need to beat Centauri then beat Center in the final game of the season to grab an automatic berth. I don’t think that the Southern Peaks league will get a wildcard berth unless Colorado Springs Christian losses this week or for a team in the North Central to lose a game they should not Like Wiggins vs Yuma in the final week or Holyoke to lose to both Wiggins and Burlington or Rye to loss to Salida this week. The John Mall at Centauri game will be a fun game to watch. John Mall was able to slow down Monte Vista offense in the second half and their offense started clicking more but it was too little too late. They will need to have a complete game to knock off Centauri. Centauri is riding a nice 3 game winning streak and would like to continue it this week against John Mall. Centauri and John Mall are both looking for a key win and this could be it.

Dolores at Monte Vista John Mall at Centauri

Ignacio at Center

Tri Peaks

The Tri Peaks league has completely changed except for one team and that is Buena Vista. The shocker of last week was Rye being upset by Peyton who was desperate for a win. The Tri Peaks will only get three teams into the playoffs and with Rye losing completely opens the door for Ellicott and Peyton to make a run for it. There are 3 teams fighting for two spots. Peyton gets an easy game this week when they travel to Dolores Huerta and should pick up their second league win. Peyton faces Salida in the final game of the season which should also be a win. The games to watch for are Rye at Salida and Ellicott at Buena Vista. The Rye at Salida game is key for both teams but more important to Rye. Rye cannot afford to drop another game. Moving to 2-2 in league with Buena Vista still on the horizon could be bad. I honestly believe if Rye loses to Salida and Peyton wins out and Ellicott goes 1-1 to finish the year Rye could possibly miss the playoffs. Salida would have to upset Rye then in the following week upset Peyton for a small chance at the playoffs. I don’t think Rye losses this game and bounce back nicely and still grab an automatic berth. The Buena Vista vs Ellicott game is very important for Ellicott if they want to grab an automatic berth. They need to upset Buena Vista and win out and force a three way tie for the automatic berth. I don’t think that is going to happen Buena Vista will win this game and clinch an automatic berth and more than likely a league title match against Rye in the final game of the season. This league should get three teams into the playoffs if they can avoid any bad losses.

Ellicott at Buena Vista Rye at Salida

Peyton at Dolores Huerta

Western Slope

Last week didn’t help clarify anything at all in the Western Slope league. Meeker had a huge game and blasted Cedaredge 38 to 12 to force a 3 way tie for second with Cedaredge and Hotchkiss. Paonia still holds the lead in league and if they beat Hotchkiss clinch an automatic berth. Hotchkiss needs a key win if they want any chance of getting into the playoffs. If Hotchkiss pulls the upset they would move to 3-1 and would probably have a 4 way tie for first place setting up a fun week last week of the season. Paonia should be able to move by Hotchkiss and clinch an automatic berth and the fast track to the league title. Meeker and Cedaredge should both win this week moving to 3-1 and keeping hope for a league title if things fall correctly. This league will get three teams into the playoffs.

Meeker at Grand Valley Paonia at Hotchkiss

Lake County at Cedaredge

Playoff Predictions Week 8

Automatic Berths: Resurrection Christian, Platte Canyon, Burlington, Wiggins, Crowley County, Colorado Springs Christian, Monte Vista, Centauri, Buena Vista, Rye, Paonia, Meeker

Wildcard Berths: Cedaredge, Ellicott, Limon, Holyoke

First Four Out: Center, Cornerstone Christian, Peyton, John Mall

Seeds:

Buena Vista, 2. Resurrection Christian, 3. Paonia, 4. Monte Vista, 5. Crowley County, 6. Platte Canyon, 7. Burlington, 8. Meeker, 9. Rye, 10. Cedaredge, 11. Wiggins, 12. Limon, 13. Colorado Springs Christian, 14. Ellicott, 15. Centauri, 16. Holyoke