Week 7 Class 1A League Breakdown
Northern League
The Northern League title has all but been decided. When Strasburg beat Highland they locked up the league title and with it the automatic playoff spot. Highland right now is sitting 10th in the RPI and if they continue winning should be able to grab a playoff spot. The one thing that will hurt Highland is the lack of strength in their league could really drop their RPI. Besides these two teams there is no one else really close to making the playoffs. We will have to see how things shake out form here on with Highland’s RPI. Highland cannot afford to lose another game in league and expect to make the playoffs.
Strasburg at Estes Park Lyons at Highland
Cornerstone Christian at Byers
RPI of Team in League in top 30: 1 Strasburg .769, 10 Highland .601, 26 Byers .480
North Central
A huge upset happened this past weekend when Holyoke upset Limon. That loss puts Burlington in control of their destiny in terms of the league title. Limon is still sitting well in the RPI. They are sitting in 7th and should be just fine if they win the games they are supposed to. Holyoke is right on the bubble sitting in 16th and will need to win out and hope that the teams they have beat also win out. Limon could still win a share of the league title if they beat Burlington. Burlington better not overlook their opponent this week. Wray is a very tough team and could possibly pull an upset. Burlington should win by 14 though. Limon will also need to bounce back against Wiggins and should be able to do that. I feel the North Central will get their two teams in but Holyoke will need to keep winning to grab a spot. Especially with the Strength of other people league and their SOS.
Holyoke at Yuma Wiggins at Limon
Burlington at Wray
RPI of Teams in League: 7 Limon .656, 14 Burlington .577, 16 Holyoke .561, 30 Wiggins .459, 31 Yuma .457, 33 Wray .430
Foothills
Clear Creek pulled of a huge victory last week knocking off Manual and pushing themselves into third place and possibly a chance at the playoffs. Clear Creek is sitting in 18th and are very much alive still for a playoff spot. Manual is sitting in 20th and also still alive for the playoffs. Manual will host Platte Canyon this week and an upset of Platte Canyon would be huge. I am not sure if Manual can pull that off and I have Platte Canyon winning by 21. Bennett and Clear Creek should both win big this weekend. Bennett and Platte Canyon are nearly locks for the playoffs and should meet up for the league title. Clear Creek is in control to finish third but cannot afford to lose to the bottom two teams. Clear Creek has a legit chance at the playoffs and will need a few things to go their way.
Bennett at Front Range Christian Clear Creek at Vail Christian
Platte Canyon at Manual
RPI of Team in League: 4 Bennett .676, 6 Platte Canyon .664, 18 Clear Creek .553, 20 Manual .529, 24 Vail Christian .511, 29 Front Range Christian .462
Southern Peaks
Center is now in complete control of their own destiny. They grabbed a good victory last week against John Mall but suffered a big loss. Their starting QB is done for the year so their backup will need to step up big and avoid an upset by Dolores. The big game last week was Monte Vista vs Centauri and Centauri held on late to pull off the victory and keep their league title hopes alive. Monte Vista is not out yet both because they still play Center and if they can win out they could have a shot at the title. Monte Vista has the toughest game this when they host John Mall. This is an elimination game for these teams. The loser will all but be eliminated from making the playoffs and the league title. John Mall on defense has been stout all year and they will need that again this week. They have been good on stopping the outside runs and that will be key against this Monte Vista team. Monte Vista needs a win in a big way. They are sitting in 22nd but not eliminated due to their strength of schedule and if they can win the games they are supposed like this one and Dolores they might have a chance at the playoffs. Their league title hopes are not completely gone either because they still get to play Center. I have Monte Vista by 7 against John Mall. Centauri is sitting in 21st in the RPI and will need to win out pure and simple. Their SOS is not as good as Monte Vista and they need their teams they have played need to keep winning as well. One loss for Centauri could eliminate them from the playoffs. The Southern Peaks League will be more decided after this week.
Centauri at Ignacio Dolores at Center
John Mall at Monte Vista
RPI of Teams in League: 5 Center .675, 21 Centauri .519, 22 Monte Vista .512, 25 John Mall .483
Santa Fe
I was kind of surprised when the RPI came out for these teams. Granted nothing is set in stone but it’s a telling sign of your non-league SOS. Rocky Ford 5-2 is having a great season and will need to beat Crowley County when they play to have any chance currently at the playoffs. They have a bye this week in preparation for their final two games against Ellicott and Crowley County. Rocky Ford is sitting in 28th and their opponents winning percentage is their biggest knock, it currently is at .286 and that is boosted by Center and Limon. Ellicott should grab a victory over Trinidad this week and if they are upset will be a huge blow to their RPI. Ellicott is sitting in 19th and still on the bubble they will need to win out including a big game against Rocky Ford. Ellicott and Monte Vista will be cheering each other on because they will be helping each other in terms of RPI. Crowley County is sitting in 9th and a game against Rocky Ford will determine the league championship for them. They honestly should grab the league crown and the automatic berth.
Trinidad at Ellicott Dolores Huerta at Crowley County
RPI of Teams in League: 9 Crowley County .606, 19 Ellicott .547, 28 Rocky Ford .473.
Tri-Peaks
The Tri-Peaks league is still up for grabs and currently I feel Peyton has the upper hand. Peyton is sitting in 11th and have a big win over Rye already. Peyton still has to play Buena Vista and Colorado Spring Christian but I feel Rye is tougher than those two teams but I could be wrong. Rye is sitting in 13th and still has to play the same two as Peyton but I think they can win out from here and finish in second place and grab a playoff spot. Buena Vista is in 15th and squarely on the bubble and I still am not sure how good this team is. Buena Vista pulled off a victory last week against Colorado Springs Christian and it was a close one. They will have an easy game this week before playing Peyton and Rye so they must get their offense figured out. Colorado Springs Christian is way down in the RPI and would need a ton of help to make it into the playoffs. They could take a big step this weekend when they travel to Rye. Their offense is a tough one to stop so they must bring their A game. Rye cannot afford to drop this game and moving to 4-3 would be huge. If Colorado Springs Christian losses this game they will all but be eliminated from the playoffs. Peyton should win this week and keep a share of the lead with Buena Vista.
St. Mary’s at Buena Vista Peyton at Lake County
Colorado Springs Christian at Rye
RPI of Teams in League: 11 Peyton .597, 13 Rye .579, 15 Buena Vista .574, 27 Colorado Springs Chr. .473
Western Slope
The Western Slope league is hand down the toughest in 1A and once against every game matters this week. Paonia has the easiest game this week when they host Olathe. Paonia is sitting pretty at #2 in RPI and should be just fine getting into the playoffs. They would like to win league and this week they cannot afford to drop a league game. Olathe is sitting in 23rd and right now are struggling since entering league. They honestly could not win a game in league. They will be in the race for a playoff spot though because of the league strength. Olathe needs a win to boost their winning percentage and I don’t see Olathe pulling the upset and have Paonia winning by 21. Another big game is Grand Valley at Hotchkiss. Grand Valley is sitting in 17th and currently .005 behind 16th. League will boost their SOS but this game is huge. Grand Valley is looking to finish in the top four of league and could essentially lock that up with a win over Hotchkiss. Hotchkiss is sitting in 12th and will also get their RPI boosted from league. They still have to play Olathe so finishing in last could happen. Hotchkiss needs a big win and this would be it. Hotchkiss if they win would improve to 4-3 and will have a better chance at the playoffs. I have Hotchkiss winning by 7. The big game of the week is Meeker at Cedaredge. Both of these teams are sitting fine in terms of RPI and should both be locks for the playoffs. Meeker wants a league title and a win here sets that match against Paonia up. Cedaredge needs to win to keep any chance for a league title. Meeker is out to prove they are the best in the Western Slope and they picked up a huge win against Grand Valley last week. I have Meeker beating Cedaredge by 10. The Western Slope I feel once all the dust settles will get for sure four teams in and possibly a fifth team into the playoffs.
Meeker at Cedaredge Grand Valley at Hotchkiss
Olathe at Paonia
RPI of Teams in League: 2 Paonia .690, 3 Meeker .679, 8 Cedaredge .627, 12 Hotchkiss .580, 17 Grand Valley .556, 23 Olathe .511
1A Player of the Week
The 1A playoff of the week goes to Dylan Tuma from Crowley County High School. In Crowley County win over Ellicott he ran for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns, defense he also had 3 tackles and 1 INT, and on special teams had a kickoff return for a touchdown.
MileHigh Prep Report 