Week 9 Class 2A League/Playoffs Breakdown

Week 9 Class 2A League/Playoffs Breakdown

Colorado League

Well the top three in the league are decided. The order not so much. Third place is a lock to Faith Christian. Faith Christian sits in 12^th place in the wild card points so they should be a lock in unless they loss to Denver West this week. A loss to Denver West would nearly destroy all hopes of the post season. The league title will come down to the big matchup between Kent Denver and Alameda. Both are automatically in the playoffs and have had great seasons. Kent Denver has destroyed everyone in league but the same cannot be said for Alameda. Alameda has struggled for the past three weeks against lower opponents (36 to 24 against Ridgeview Academy last week). Alameda will need its defense to show up if they are going to knock off the #1 team in 2A. Kent Denver offense and defense have both been dominate all year and look to continue that and grab some momentum going into the playoffs. I believe both teams will be playing at home in the first round of the playoffs. Ridgeview Academy is the only other team with a chance at the playoffs but they sit in 20th place and can improve a few places but would need to be much closer to the cutoff line if they wanted a chance.

Kent Denver at Alameda Ridgeview Academy at Denver North

Faith Christian at Denver West Manual at Machebeuf

Frontier

What a game we had last week for the league title between Strasburg and Bennett. Bennett grabbed a narrow 40 to 39 victory to claim the league title and home playoff game. Bennett will essentially have a bye this week, KIPP forfeited to them and they can start preparation for the playoffs and get healthy. Strasburg has an easy game this week as well as they travel to Sheridan. Sheridan is 1-6 overall and they should be able to rest their players in the second half and also prepare for the playoffs. Academy is in a different boat. Academy is sitting in 13^th place and cannot afford to lose a game. They travel to Pinnacle who is sitting at 3-5 have no chance at the playoffs but are looking to improve going into next year. Pinnacle grabbed a nice win last week and are looking to grab one more. Academy has proven that they are better than the bottom teams in the league but couldn’t hang with the better teams. Academy must win this week to get into the playoffs or they could be on the outside looking in. Middle Park is sitting in 22^nd place and have no chance at getting a wildcard berth.

Academy at Pinnacle Jefferson at Middle Park

KIPP at Bennett (Forfeit) Strasburg at Sheridan

Patriot

I am sure when the season started only Platte Valley and not Sterling was selected to be in the top two. Sterling has completely surprised everyone this year and kept the surprises up when they blasted Brush 41 to 13. Now Sterling and Platte Valley will be playing for a league title and an automatic home game. Regardless the loser will also be hosting a home game as well. Platte Valley has ran through their league and their schedule since their opening week loss. They have wins possibly over 4 playoff teams. Sterling has been the surprise of the league. They have one loss as well and that was to a 3A team who is fighting for a playoff spot. This game should be good I am expecting a defensive struggle but still expect both teams over 10 points. Both teams are going to be dangerous come playoff time. Another important game is Eaton at Brush. Brush is sitting in 8^th and Eaton is in 10^th place. Brush is in a more comfortable spot than Eaton. But I believe both teams should be lock into the playoffs regardless of the outcome. Eaton is 3 points ahead of Faith Christian and even a loss shouldn’t drop them much past them or not at all. Brush is even farther ahead and I fully believe they are a lock. Brush is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Sterling and gain some momentum for the playoffs. Eaton bounced back nicely with a 24 to 0 win over Valley. Brush I think will grab a victory but it will be close probably will be separated by 7 points. The key will be which offensive line can dominate the game. All four teams I believe will get into the playoffs.

Eaton at Brush Sterling at Platte Valley

Valley at University

Tri-Peaks

The Tri-Peaks league is a mess. We have four teams that are at 2-2 and La Junta is your league champs. The last week of the season will decide a ton. The first game two decide something will be La Junta traveling to Trinidad. It has not implication for La Junta besides seeding but this game matters for Trinidad. They picked up an important win against Manitou Springs last week which could be handy if we have a three way tie for second place. What matters for Trinidad is they have to upset La Junta which could prove to be tricky. If Trinidad does upset La Junta they need Manitou Springs to also win and then they finish in second place. Another scenario is if La Junta wins and Manitou Springs wins then Manitou Springs finish in second. The last scenario is both Manitou Springs and Trinidad loss then the winner between Florence and Lamar finish in second. I believe that La Junta will win and that Manitou Springs will win and give the auto berth to Manitou Springs. But anything can happen Manitou Springs has had an up and down season. Right now it does not look good for the Tri Peaks to grab three playoff spots. Florence sits in 17^th, Lamar sits in 18^th and Trinidad sits in 23^rd place. Those three teams can only get in with an automatic berth or need a major upset like Faith Christian or Academy losing.

La Junta at Trinidad St. Mary’s at Manitou Springs

Lamar at Florence

Western Slope-North

The Western Slope-North Champion was decided last week when Moffat County won. There was an error in a score reported and Roaring Fork last to Basalt and now the game between Roaring Fork and Moffat County is for nothing but playoff seeding for Moffat County. Basalt is sitting in 16^th place and a win against Aspen won’t really give them many points to try and move up. They would need a Academy or Faith Christian loss this weekend and would also need a win and even with that they could possibly be jumped by Lamar or Florence for that last spot.

Basalt at Aspen Coal Ridge at Battle Mountain

Roaring Fork at Moffat County

Western Slope South

Bayfield is your league champs and Alamosa finish’s in second place. Alamosa stealing an auto berth really hurts teams like Olathe, Gunnison, Basalt, and Florence. The best game in this league is between Olathe and Gunnison and the winner of this game will get into the playoffs with the loser eliminated. These two teams sit in 14 and 15 place. I think Gunnison could grab the victory and give them the playoff berth but Olathe has also had a good season. It will come down to which team can run the ball efficiently. Gunnison has played the tougher schedule this year and could help them in a game like this. I think Gunnison will grab the last wildcard berth.

Bayfield at Pagosa Springs Olathe at Gunnison

Montezuma Cortez at Alamosa

Playoff Predictions

What I did was post the Wildcard points under this with the League Champs, auto berths, home games, and wildcard teams. My guesses are that Kent Denver will win the Colorado league and Platte Valley grabs the Patriot league. The last automatic berth will be taken by Manitou Springs, La Junta will beat Trinidad and Manitou Springs takes care of St. Mary’s and steals a playoff berth. I also have Academy beating Pinnacle and Gunnison beating Olathe and grabbing the last wildcard berth. I also believe with Alameda and Sterling losing La Junta will move into 4^th place in wildcard points.

League Champs: Bayfield, Platte Valley, Kent Denver, La Junta, Moffat County, Bennett

Auto berths: Alameda, Sterling, Strasburg, Alamosa, and Manitou Springs

Wildcard: Brush, Eaton, Faith Christian, Academy, and Gunnison

First four out: Olathe, Basalt, Lamar, Ridgeview Academy

First Round playoff Matchups: