MileHigh Prep Report Preseason Rankings
Class 2A
#1 Bayfield: Last season 9-3, lost in semifinals to La Junta, graduating 8 seniors
Bayfield is reloading this year losing a few key pieces but in my eyes are the #1 team due to some key pieces returning. They have their leading rusher in David Hawkins returning and leading tackler Hunter Killough. The biggest hole to fill will be replacing offensive/defensive lineman Sam Westbrook and also QB Josh Westbrook. They are my favorite to win the Intermountain league and are a contender for a State Championship.
#2 Classical Academy: Last season 9-2, upset by #6 Kent Denver in quarterfinals, graduating 9 seniors
They get a slight edge over Kent Denver here due to them returning their QB and having a ton of talent returning 18 seniors. Classical Academy is losing their starting RB Austin Weingart but like I said returning starting QB Cade Bethany 19 TD’s to just 2 INT’s. Classical Academy will need to find some defensive replacements but return the core of their offensive line. I am picking Classical Academy to win the Tri-Peaks this year ahead of La Junta and they are also a contender for a State Championship.
#3 Kent Denver: Last season 11-2, lost in State Championship to La Junta, graduating 10 seniors
I have Kent Denver #3 mainly due to the possible loss of 4 starting offensive/defensive lineman three of which were of 200 pounds. They also are losing their starting RB but have very viable backups. Kent Denver is excited to see how far junior QB Joey Licht has come after a very strong sophomore season when he threw for 17 TD’s and 5 INT’s. Having a huge leader in the huddle will be important for this team especially till they find a replacement at RB. Defensively they are returning their leading tackler Joshua McDonald and plenty of leadership. Kent Denver is my pick to win the weak Colorado League and also a contender for a State Championship.
#4 La Junta: Last season 13-0 State Champions, graduating 14 seniors
La Junta is losing a very talented senior class of 14. They are losing their main two running back and possibly 3 offensive lineman. La Junta won’t be rebuilding this year though. They are returning plent of talent and will have a huge leader returing. La Junta will be returning starting QB Jon Nuschy who threw for 1000+ yards and ran for 1400+ yards for a total of 33 touchdowns. With him returning they will be competitive but must find replacement on defense at the LB spot. La Junta has the experience of winning a State Championship last year and will be a force still. I have La Junta finishing second in the Tri-Peaks behind #2 Classical Academy. If they find solid replacements they can still defend their State Championship.
#5 Faith Christian: Last season 6-4, lost in first round to Delta, graduating 9 seniors
Faith Christian played a brutal schedule last year that resulted in a 6-4 record but gain valuable experience for some players and will be looking to bounce back. Faith Christian is losing a lot of skill position players but returning the core of their offensive and defensive lineman and their starting QB. Faith Christian will need a replacement at RB but got quality carries from freshman RB Clayton Barden. Also since Faith Christian started a freshman QB last year it will be interesting to see how much he grows and he could become a really good QB by the time he is a senior. Faith Christian will be the favorite to win the Flatirons league again this year. Faith Christian I believe is the final of my contender for a State Championship. I will probably be proven wrong but these 5 my main contenders for a State Title.
#6 Eaton: Last season 6-3, missed playoffs (RPI 17), graduating 11 seniors
I know it is crazy to have a team who missed the playoffs at #6 to start the season but Eaton has a ton of talent coming back but they are losing 3 offensive/defensive lineman and their top 3 tacklers. With that said they have some size coming up in the Junior and Sophomore class to fill the holes. Eaton is returning starting RB Travis Cunningham and starting QB Austin Coalson. If Eaton fills the holes on the offensive/defensive line they will be a threat. Eaton is my favorite to win the WIDE OPEN Patriot West.
#7 Basalt: Last season 7-3, lost in first round to D’Evelyn, graduating 10 seniors
Basalt won the weak western slope league last year and nearly beat D’Evelyn who has heavily favored but with the loss gained some valuable experience. The biggest loss for Basalt will be QB Miles Levy who threw for 18 TD’s and 6 INT’s but Basalt got some valuable experience to their back up QB. Basalt is returning their starting RB Alex Alberto and are returning their top 5 tacklers. Their defense and their rushing attack will be key for this team. Basalt is my favorite to win the Western Slope.
#8 Salida: Last season 2-7, missed the playoffs, graduating 5 seniors
At this point I am sure everyone thinks I am losing my mind and maybe I am but they are only losing 5 seniors of which only 3 played big minutes of the 3 leaving 2 were offensive lineman. Why I am ranking Salida is due to the amount of talent they have from the Senior Class down to the Sophomore Class. I see Salida being a threat for 2 maybe 3 years and we should start seeing it this year. Salida is returning basically everything but their QB is the a big returner he threw for 1279 yards. Salida I believe will finish third in a Very Loaded Tri-Peaks league.
#9 Delta: Last season 8-4, lost in quarterfinals to Kent Denver, graduating 15 seniors
Delta lost a huge senior class and with them went the majority of their skill positions. They are losing starting QB Kile Roberts, WR Beau Byers & Abraham Ontiveros but in my eyes the biggest loss is RB Damon Jensen 1946 yards rushing and they are losing his back up. The biggest plus for Delta is returning 3 of their 5 offensive lineman and the majority of their top defensive players which will be key to any success Delta has. If Delta defense plays well early on they can pick up for a weak offensive output. I have Delta finishing second in the Intermountain league.
#10 Manitou Springs: Last season 6-4, lost in first round to Sterling, Graduating 11 seniors
The fourth team from the Tri-Peaks and the final team in the top ten is Manitou Springs. Manitou Springs possibly lost 4 lineman and 2 of their 3 top tacklers but are returning a lot of talent. They are returning their starting QB who had 900 yards passing and 900 yards rushing. The biggest key will be finding solid offensive lineman and if they do they will be a threat to challenge for a top 3 spot in the Tri-Peaks.
Others (11-15)
#11 Machebeuf: Last season 7-2, missed playoffs, graduated 12 seniors
Returning a ton of offensive fire power but will be hurting on the defensive side losing their top 4 tacklers. They are returning their starting QB and RB and should finish second behind Kent Denver in the Colorado League.
#12 Alamosa: Last season 5-5, lost in first round, graduating 13 seniors
Alamosa is returning their backup QB who threw for nearly as much as the starting QB and also returning 4 of their 5 starting offensive lineman. Their biggest need will be finding quality players on the defensive side of the ball which is where they were hit the hardest by graduation. They will compete for second or third in the Intermountain League.
#13 Sterling: Last season 7-4, lost in quarterfinals to Bayfield, graduating 15 seniors
Hit hard by graduation and 6 offensive lineman graduated which is why they were not in the top 10. If Sterling can find replacements for their offensive line and also for standout RB Austin Burkholder they will probably win the Wide Open Patriot East which will have a down year this year. Sterling biggest returner will be QB Bodie Hume.
#14 Moffat County: Last season 5-4, missed the playoffs, graduating 8 seniors
Losing their starting QB and a few top tacklers are the biggest need to fill but they are returning their core offensive lineman. If these holes can be filled they can possibly compete for a playoff spot.
#15 Valley: Last season 5-4, missed the playoffs, graduation 8 seniors
Valley barely missed the playoffs last year and this could be the year to make the jump for the top spot in the Patriot East especially with the down year it will have. Valley is losing possibly 3 lineman and their top two RB’s but are returning their starting QB and the majority of their defensive leadership. If Valley can find replacement for the lineman watch out for this team in the Patriot East.
Teams who made playoffs who will have a down year
Resurrection Christian: Lost 13 seniors including most of their skill positions and possibly 4 offensive lineman.
D’Evelyn: Lost 17 seniors were hit the hardest by graduation
Weld Central: Lost 14 seniors including their starint QB, RB and core of offensive lineman
Platte Valley: Lost 10 seniors lost the core of their offensive line but return their starting QB could steal the #16 spot
Florence: Lost 14 seniors lost most of their offensive production with QB Alec Lucero graduating but return most of their lineman, could also steal the 16 spot but that would be 5 teams for the Tri-Peaks
University: Lost 16 seniors losing a lot of talent from a team the snuck into the playoffs.
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