Week Four Class 2A Breakdown
Week 4 represents the last week of the non-league schedule. This is the chance to grab some much needed RPI heading into the league schedule. In Week 3 we had a small mix up in the top ten. #2 D’Evelyn was upset by #8 Classical Academy 42 to 14. That lose shot D’Evelyn down to #8. After that game I am more of a believer in Classical Academy and they have plenty of momentum now heading into league. D’Evelyn the jury is still out on them. They have been in very close game every week exact in the blowout loss. #4 Resurrection Christian also held off #5 Platte Valley and moved up just a little bit. Both of those teams are very good. In the non-top ten games Manitou Springs beat Faith Christian to move into the top ten also Valley beat Academy who was previously unbeaten. Alamosa also hammered Trinidad 48 to 7 and Gunnison snuck by an improved Salida team 26 to 21. This week offers some great games as well.
#1 La Junta cruised last week by Elizabeth 35 to 0 and moves to 3-0 on the year. La Junta on defense was tough. They held Elizabeth to 0 yards passing and only 71 yards rushing on 31 attempts for 1.9 yards per carry. On offense La Junta ran the ball at will rushing for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns and threw for 77 yards. This week La Junta faces their first real test against #3 Kent Denver. Kent Denver is coming off a bye and had two weeks to prepare for this game. Two week ago Kent Denver moved past Faith Christian 27 to 12. The keys for Kent Denver are to stop La Junta rushing attack and their offense must score points. La Junta has the best defense in 2A and they rely on it to win games. Kent Denver also has to be stout on defense. This will be a low scoring game and I have La Junta winning a close on by 10.
#2 Resurrection Christian pulled off a nail bitter 24 to 22 against Platte Valley. Resurrection Christian went to the air to hold off Platte Valley throwing for 210 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 INT. They also ran the ball enough to keep Platte Valley from loading the box rushing for 129 yards on 36 attempts for 2 touchdowns. On Defense they forced 4 turnovers 2 INT’s and 2 fumbles which is where the game was decided. This week they face off against Moffat County. Moffat County has not started the way they wanted this year going 1-2 on the season. Last week Moffat County was blown out by Delta 50 to 13 and their loan win is against Ridgeview Academy who is 0-3. Moffat County in the loss to Delta struggled to get their ground game going only rushing for 69 yards but they threw the ball well throwing for 220 yards. Defensively is where Moffat County needs to improve. Delta ran for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns and if Moffat County wants to be in this game they have to improve on defense. I have Resurrection Christian winning this one big because of their offense.
#4 Classical Academy has been proving me wrong every week except last week where I picked them to upset previously ranked #2 D’Evelyn. TCA used a strong 28 point second half to blow past D’Evelyn 42 to 14. Classical Academy attacked thru the air and on the ground equally in terms of yardage throwing for 166 yards and rushing for 218 yards. Their defense surrendered nearly the same giving up 202 yards rushing but holding the D’Evelyn high passing offense to only 172 yards. That is the key to beating D’Evelyn. They also forced 1 INT which changed the game. TCA has proven they are serious contenders this year with this big win and now face off against Pueblo Central (3A). Pueblo Central has not gotten off to the start they wanted going 0-3 to start the season off. Pueblo Central last week struggled to get their offense going just barely racking up over 100 yards of total offense. If they plan on upsetting Classical Academy they must improve their. I have Classical Academy winning by 21.
#5 Delta hosted Basalt last week as they tried to move to 2-1. Delta came away victories winning 42 to 7. Offensively Delta was explosive when throwing the ball going 10 of 13 for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns. That opened up the running game for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns. Once again Delta was led by Damon Jensen who ran for 191 yards on 17 carries for 11.2 yards per carry and 2 touchdowns. This week gets much tougher for Delta as they travel to #6 Palisade (3A). Palisade is off to a good start going 3-1. Palisade lone loss is to #8 Holy Family (3A). That game was a shootout Palisade lost 52 to 48. Last week Palisade blew past Fruita Monument (4A). Palisade was unstoppable on the ground rushing for 383 yards and 5 touchdowns. Delta has a very tall order to upset Palisade. I don’t think Delta has the fire power but they could prove me wrong. I have Palisade by 21.
#6 Bayfield had a bye last week and had two weeks to prepare for their matchup against Durango (3A). Durango is off to a 2-2 start and has victories over Delta and Farmington. Last week Durango beat Farmington 32 to 26. Durango ran the ball at will rushing for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns and threw for 146 and a touchdown. Defensively they forced 4 turnovers, 2 INTs and 2 fumbles. Bayfield will actually be the favorite in this game even though they are a lower class. Bayfield and Durango have a common opponent and that is Aztec. Durango lost to Aztec 13 to 12 and Bayfield cruised by Aztec 34 to 21. I expect Bayfield to win by 14 this game.
#7 Platte Valley lost a close one last week to #2 Resurrection Christian 24 to 22. Platte Valley didn’t input offensive stats but Defensively they must improve on stopping the pass and will have to do that very quickly as they face a pass happy team D’Evelyn. #9 D’Evelyn will be looking to bounce back after a bad defeat against Classical Academy. D’Evelyn must keep improving their passing attack as they only threw for 172 yards which is not terrible but their offense is designed around passing. The big thing that was improved by D’Evelyn was they ran for 202 which will be key for them going forward. If D’Evelyn wants to bounce back they are going to have to step up defensively and keep possession of the ball. I have Platte Valley winning by 10.
#8 Weld Central kept their winning ways last week blowing by Jefferson 56 to 6. Weld Central has yet to be tested but that could change this week. Weld Central ran the ball at will rushing for 238 yards and 6 touchdowns. They also forced 4 turnovers 3 INT’s and 1 fumble. Weld Central this week faces off against Manual. Manual is off to a great start this year going 3-0 but have yet to face any competition. Manual opponents are 0-9 combined and this will be a real test for them. Manual will need their offense to keep control of the game but they will have their hands full. I have Weld Central blowing past Manual here and winning by 24.
#10 Manitou Springs picked up an impressive 21 to 14 victory over Faith Christian. Even though Faith Christian is 0-3 they have faced opponents every week who are ranked and that will help them in the league race. Manitou Springs Last week racked up 260 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns. They were led by Davyn Adamscheck who ran for 133 yards and 3 touchdowns. This week Manitou Springs travels to Englewood. Englewood is off to a 2-1 start but have victories over winless Jefferson and Denver West. This will be a real test this week. Englewood will also be looking to bounce back after losing to Denver North 22 to 0. Englewood was unable to stop Denver North on offense giving up 256 yards rushing and 162 yards passing. Englewood will also need to improve their offense a bit they only got 164 yards of total offense. I don’t think Englewood can stop Manitou Springs and I have Manitou Springs winning by 28.
Non-Top Ten Key Games
Eaton at Sterling Valley vs Colorado Springs Christian (1A)
Brush at Faith Christian Florence at Elizabeth
Middle Park at University Machebeuf at Holyoke (1A)
Player of the Week in 2A
The player of the week from last week was Brin Hayden Quarterback from Resurrection Christian. Hayden threw for 210 yards and rushed for another 51 yards and had a combined 3 touchdowns in the top ten matchup against Platte Valley. Resurrection Christian held on to a 24 to 22 victory over Platte Valley in which Brin Hayden was a key component.
MileHigh Prep Report 