Class 2A League Breakdown Week 6
Colorado League
In week one of the Colorado league the top teams held strong and all started the season 1-0. #6 Kent Denver beat Elizabeth 39 to 20, Machebeuf beat Ridgeview Academy 34 to 0, and Englewood beat Sheridan 34 to 0. The only close game was Elizabeth giving Kent Denver a better game than expected. This week there are two games that should be good. Sheridan traveling to Elizabeth and Englewood traveling to Machebeuf. The Sheridan vs Elizabeth game is more telling who will be sitting in a tie for third after this week’s games. It also could go a long way for Elizabeth because they have already played Kent Denver and if they ran the table they would have an outside shot at the playoffs. The big game this week is Englewood vs Machebeuf. Both teams won by nearly identical scores and are fighting this week to keep pace with Kent Denver. Englewood is sitting at 3-2 and hammered Sheridan last week. Their offense was paced by their rushing attack running for 344 yards most of them by Daryl Culbreath who ran for 244 yards and 1 touchdown. Englewood is still searching for it first win over someone with a winning record and are going to have to run the table and get some luck to get into the playoffs. Machebeuf blanked Ridgeview Academy and were effective both throwing and passing throwing for 205 and rushing for 157. Machebeuf has one win over a team with a winning record so grabbing another one here is key. The winner of this game keeps pace with Kent Denver who should win easily. The win also help in terms of RPI. I am going with Machebeuf with 21 points. This league is probably only getting 2 teams into the playoffs.
Englewood at Machebeuf Sheridan at Elizabeth
Ridgeview Academy at #6 Kent Denver
Flatirons League
The top three teams after week one are the top three teams in the league from the pre-season. Middle Park, Faith Christian, and #4 D’Evelyn were all victorious and all won big. The same result should happen this week as well. The only game that should be good is Arvada at Middle Park. Arvada couldn’t stop D’Evelyn last week getting hammered 45 to 0. Arvada threw for 44 yards but ran for -15 yards and struggled getting anything going. On defense Arvada struggled giving up 287 yards rushing and 407 yards passing 6 touchdowns and 2 INT’s. Arvada will have to quickly bounce back and will need to bring it this week. Middle Park played a good game last week only giving up 6 points on defense. On offense they were really balanced rushing for 149 yards and throwing for 112 yards. Middle Park must win this game to keep up with the top two teams. They also cannot afford a bad loss in terms of RPI. I think the only way Middle Park has a chance at getting in is by upsetting either D’Evelyn or Faith Christian. I have Middle Park winning by 28 points. Right now the league will get two teams in and will have a hard time getting a third team in.
Arvada at Middle Park Jefferson at #4 D’Evelyn
Faith Christian at Denver West
Patriot-West
We had one semi upset in terms of record but the better team won. That game was Eaton vs University. Eaton pulled out a close one 25 to 21 and are back over .500 on the year. Besides that game Resurrection Christian blanked Prospect Ridge and Academy won easily as well against Pinnacle. There is one huge game of note this week. Academy traveling to #2 Resurrection Christian. Academy is looking for that key victory and that could be against Resurrection Christian. Academy has beat three teams that have 1 win or less and has a good victory over Middle Park so they are going to need a big victory to boost RPI. Resurrection Christian keeps moving ahead and this is two straight weeks of holding opponents to 0 points. They will need their defense to be on point to avoid the upset. I have Resurrection Christian winning by 21. This league is looking like it will get 2 teams in and just depends were the RPI falls on some of the other leagues to get a third team in.
Academy at #2 Resurrection Christian Prospect Ridge at University
Eaton at Pinnacle
Patriot-East
Week one of league play showed us a ton. Fort Lupton is the weakest team in league and are definitely in a rebuilding mode and should see more from then in a couple years. Brush is having a down year this year as well. They are off to a 1-4 start and will have to pull upsets of Weld Central and Valley to even have a remote chance at the playoffs but right now they are looking on the outs. Valley and Weld Central are two interesting teams to watch in terms of talent. Weld Central beat Valley last week 28 to 21 but it will be interesting to see how good they are when they face off against Sterling and Platte Valley. I still believe Sterling and Platte Valley are the two best teams but that’s why they play the game and not on paper. Weld Central should easily move to 6-0 and 2-0 in league they play Fort Lupton this week. There are two important games this week in league. The first is Brush at Valley. Brush is 1-4 and on a three game losing streak. They have played a very tough schedule so they are battle tested. They were hammered last week by Sterling 38 to 7 so they must bounce back. Brush had a hard time stopping the pass and they gave up 344 yards and 4 touchdowns. They stopped the run holding Sterling to just 102 yards rushing. Brush must find a way to score points and that has been their biggest problem. Brush now has to focus on their next opponent Valley. Valley nearly pulled the comeback last week against Weld Central. They were losing 21 to 0 at half and just fell 7 points short of the comeback. Valley must refocus now and look at staying only one game back of the leaders. They must keep their rushing attack strong as they ran for 180 and they will need their rush defense to be top notch. If Valley can stop Brush’s rushing attack then they will grab the victory. If Brush loses this game they will not be in the playoffs this year. This is a huge game for Valley. I have Valley winning by 7. The main event this week is Platte Valley at Sterling. Both teams are 2-3 and both played tough schedules so this will come down to who took the most of those loses. Platte Valley is coming off a 42 to 0 victory over Fort Lupton and now must build off their momentum. They want to be able to keep the tie for first with Weld Central. The winner of this game will have a huge tie breaker and of course stay tied for first. Sterling grabbed a huge victory blowing out Brush 38 to 7. They were led by their passing attack which threw for 344 yards of which 301 yards came from Bodie Hume. Sterling now much refocus their defense and try to grab their third straight victory. I am taking Sterling in this game by 7. This league should get 3 teams in and possibly a fourth.
Brush at Valley #5 Weld Central at Fort Lupton
#10 Platte Valley at Sterling
Tri Peaks
Week one in the Tri Peaks didn’t disappoint and it took a last second score from La Junta to hold off Classical Academy. Also we had an upset as Salida who might be a year ahead of schedule upset Florence. This week is just as good as last week. Salida travels to Classical Academy and Manitou Springs travels to La Junta. We will know a lot more about all four of these teams come Monday. Florence should easily beat Lamar and grab their first league win. Salida vs Classical Academy is a big game for Salida. Salida grab a big upset victory over Florence and would like to keep pace with the winner between La Junta and Manitou Springs. Salida will have to bring their A game to pull the upset. Classical Academy is no joke and had the game won until La Junta pulled of a stunning last minute score for the win. TCA cannot let that loss get in their head and must take care of business this week to stay only 1 game back. I am taking TCA in a 28 point victory. Manitou Springs vs La Junta is the game of the Week in 2A. Manitou Springs has been the most underrated team in 2A this year. They have taken care of business each week and have good victories over Valley and Faith Christian. This would be a key win this week if they could pull the upset. Manitou Springs smashed Lamar last week 48 to 7 but this week they will be tested. La Junta has been on a brutal three week grind. They started it off with a blowout of Kent Denver, a huge comeback win against Classical Academy, and now they play #9 Manitou Springs. If La Junta can finish this 3 game stretch they will be more than battle tested for the playoffs because this is very similar to what they will face come that time. Last week La Junta gave up their most points all season 21 but responded on a last second score on a 40+ yard pass to win. This game was a defensive struggle but La Junta did enough to win. La Junta on offense was led by sophomore Jon Nuschy who threw for 159 yards 2 touchdowns and 0 INT’s and ran for 121 yard and 1 touchdown. He was a major part in their win. This week they must refocus on Manitou Springs. If La Junta brings the same intensity this week they will walk away with a third straight key win. I have La Junta by 24 points. The Tri Peaks will have no problem getting three teams in and possibly a fourth.
Salida at #3 Classical Academy Florence at Lamar
#9 Manitou Springs at #1 La Junta
Western Slope
The three preseason favorites all came to play last week and all three picked up victories. Coal Ridge, Moffat County, and Basalt are your favorites. The league Champion will probably get the only berth into the playoffs maybe Basalt will get a wild card if they don’t win league but that is a long shot. The big game this week is Moffat County at Coal Ridge. Coal Ridge is 1-4 on the year and have played a tough schedule. They can improve on that 1-4 record with a key win against Moffat County. Moffat County moved to 2-3 and will need this win to keep pace with Basalt who should win against Aspen. Moffat County struggled with Roaring Fork last week and barely won 36 to 33. Moffat County had a hard time stopping the pass giving up 235 yards passing and they must focus on fixing that this week. I have Moffat County winning by 10. Like I said earlier this league will only get one unless Basalt does not win league then maybe two.
Moffat County at Coal Ridge Aspen at Basalt
Roaring Fork at Steamboat Springs
Intermountain
Week 1 of league play got off as normal. All three favorites won and they all won easily. Alamosa beat Montezuma Cortez 49 to 6, Delta blanked Pagosa Springs 42 to 0, and Bayfield cruised by Gunnison 34 to 3. This week Bayfield should easily beat Montezuma Cortez and Gunnison should beat Pagosa Springs picking up their first league win. The big game is Alamosa traveling to Delta. Both teams are currently sitting at 3-2 and are looking for their second league win to keep pace with Bayfield. Alamosa is on a two game winning streak dropping 48 against Trinidad and 49 against Montezuma Cortez. Alamosa must bring their rush defense this week to stop Delta and their power rushing attack. Alamosa has done that nearly every week and must do that this week. Alamosa has two good losses to Buena Vista and La Junta so they will be sitting alright in terms of RPI. Alamosa has shattered expectation and are looking for a key upset. Delta played a tough schedule and are now digging into a tough league schedule. Their two losses were to 3A Durango and 3A Palisade. Delta right now must keep winning to keep pace with Bayfield and possibly set up a league title game in three weeks. Alamosa won’t be an easily game as they have a tough run defense. Delta must keep improving on their defense and when Delta has played 2A opponents have shut them down giving up 20 points to 2A teams. Delta I think has too many weapons and will beat Alamosa by 17. This league will easily get two teams in and maybe grab a third in either Alamosa or Gunnison.
Alamosa at 38 Delta Montezuma Cortez at #7 Bayfield
Pagosa Springs at Gunnison
Class 2A Player of the Week
The 2A player of the week is Jon Nuschy sophomore from #1 La Junta. Nuschy threw for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns including the 49 yards Hail Mary to win the game and also ran for 121 yards and 1 touchdown in their come from behind win over #3 Classical Academy.
MileHigh Prep Report 