Week 6 Class 6-Man Top Ten Breakdown
Week 5 is in the books and some league champions are already decided or will be decided this week. Last week we saw a few teams help themselves out with some big victories and well talk about them later on in the article.
Central League
The Central league is all but wrapped up. #9 Genoa Hugo locks up the Central league with a victory over Edison it has to be by less than 6 and they still can lock up the Central league. Genoa-Hugo also is sitting pretty in the RPI at #10. Genoa-Hugo is a big favorite in the game vs Edison because of their victory over Hanover was by 35+ points. I am going with Genoa-Hugo to win by that amount. Edison is sitting at #19 in the RPI and still have a chance at the playoffs. They will need to win out after this game and will get a good boost by Genoa-Hugo and Hanover WP. Edison would lock themselves in the playoffs if they upset Genoa-Hugo as well. Hanover is #12 in the RPI and with a win this week over Colorado DB would lock up second place in the Central league. Hanover must keep winning and should make the playoffs. There are only 8 weeks in the 6-Man schedule which means three games left for Hanover. They should win 2 of their last 3 with the final game against North Park as a measuring stick and a RPI boost. The final game in the Central league this week features Elbert at Cripple Creek and is an elimination game. The loser is out of the playoffs and the winner keeps their hopes alive. Elbert is #28 in the RPI with games against Edison and Genoa-Hugo still on the schedule. Elbert will get some boost in the RPI with their final two games but a loss to Cripple Creek would hurt their chances. Cripple Creek has 4 games left all of them very important. A win over Elbert moves them to 2-2 on the season. They have a makeup game against Deer Trail on the Monday as well and is another huge game for Cripple Creek if they can win two straight and move to 3-2 with 2 tough games to close the season they could make a push for the playoffs. A win is a must though for Cripple Creek and this should be a good game.
#9 Genoa-Hugo at Edison Elbert at Cripple Creek
Colorado DB at Hanover
RPI: #10 Genoa-Hugo, #12 Hanover, #19 Edison, #24 Cripple Creek, #28 Elbert, #31 Colorado DB
East Central League
The Central League won’t be decided till next week but a very exciting game takes place this week between #1 Stratton/Liberty and #3 Cheyenne Wells. We will talk more about this game in a second because three other important games take place as well. #4 Otis hosts Idalia. Idalia is only 1 game back of Otis and a win keeps them in the league title hunt. They are currently #18 in the RPI and need to win 2 of their last 3 games to have a chance at the playoffs. Idalia will get a RPI boost from this game win or lose but a win would help their chances for a league title. Otis is off to a 5-0 start and with a huge game looming next week this could be a trap game. Otis must take care of business this week to have a chance for that league title. I believe they will and a win essentially locks them for the playoffs this week as well. Another important league game is Flagler/Hi Plains at Arickaree/Woodlin. Flagler is sitting at #23 and are 0-4 on the season. They have played a brutal schedule with 3 games against Top 10 teams. They have a chance to right the ship this week with an upset on Arickaree/Woodlin. Flagler is in a must win situation just like the team they are playing. Arickaree/Woodlin is 2-3 on the season and are sitting at #17 in the RPI. They must win their next two games if they want to make the playoffs. They have Flagler this week and Idalia next week and must win both to make the playoffs. They should be able to take care of business in both games but you cannot count out the defending State Champions yet. I am going with Arickaree/Woodlin to win by 21. Game #3 is a non-league battle between Deer Trail and Cheraw and Deer Trail should grab their first win but Cheraw is also looking for their first win. It should be a good game but I think Deer Trail get the win. The big Non-League battle this week features #1 Stratton/Liberty against #3 Cheyenne Wells and this should be a good one. #3 Cheyenne Wells is having a great year sitting at 5-0 and only being challenged once by Kit Carson but grabbed the 14-6 victory. Cheyenne Wells has played suffocating defense all year giving up just 6.8 ppg in 6-Man is crazy. Cheyenne Wells also is doing well on offense breaking the 40 point mark in 4 of 5 games. Offensively Cheyenne Wells is very balanced with 616 yards passing and 837 yards rushing. Offensively Cheyenne Wells is led by sophomore QB Quade Pelton 495 yards passing 10 TDs & 3 INTs and also has 255 yards rushing and 6 TDs. They will need their sophomore QB to have a big game this week. Cheyenne Wells will be tested on defense by a very good team. #1 Stratton/Liberty is also 5-0 and have not been challenged all year. Their key win is over #9 Genoa-Hugo 51-14. Stratton/Liberty defensively is outstanding as well giving up just 8.8 ppg and have broken the 45 point mark in every game this year. Their biggest disadvantage is not being challenged in a game and will be interesting to see how they play in a close game. Stratton/Liberty is a power running team with 4 players over 200 yards and as a team have ran for 1638 yards and 26 TDs. They are led by senior RB Jacob McCormick who has 600 yards rushing and 10 TDs. Stratton/Liberty will be tested by a very good defense and will be interesting to see if they can run the ball at will. This game will come down to which defense can come up with a critical stop. I can see this game becoming a higher scoring game as well but I think both defenses are very good. I am going with Stratton/Liberty over Cheyenne Wells 28-24.
#1 Stratton/Liberty at #3 Cheyenne Wells* #4 Otis vs Idalia
Flagler/Hi Plains at Arickaree/Woodlin Deer Trail at Cheraw*
RPI: #3 Stratton/Liberty, #6 Otis, #17 Arickaree/Woodlin, #18 Idalia,#22 Deer Trail, #23 Flagler/Hi Plains,
North League
The North League has been one of the more exciting leagues to watch all year. In week 1 of league play Fleming beat Weldon Valley 64-0, Peetz blasted Briggsdale 49-8, and Prairie beat Primero 63-0. After a week off #6 North Park gets back to football traveling to Weldon Valley. They should walk away with the win and stay one back of the league leader. #10 Fleming is at Briggsdale and both teams are sitting on the bubble. The winner will get a nice boost in RPI and the loser won’t drop much but will have an uphill climb. Briggsdale is already eliminated from league title hopes but should make the playoffs still. Briggsdale has 1 game left on the year next week against Cripple Creek. Fleming is 1-1 in league and still has a chance for the league title. They have to win out to win the league title but this is also a critical game especially with Peetz and Prairie still on the schedule. Fleming with a win this week has a very good chance to make the playoffs. I have Fleming winning big over Briggsdale 35-14. The big game in the North League this week is #2 Peetz at #7 Prairie. Prairie has been very impressive this year. They are 5-0 and have only allowed 6.8 ppg. They are still looking for a key victory and will have a chance for three straight weeks playing Peetz, North Park, and Fleming. This is a big stretch of games for Prairie and we will know how good Prairie is after these three weeks. Prairie offensively can attack both on the ground and through the air. Prairie passing attack has generated 572 yard passing with 2 QBs both over 150 yards passing. Prairie rushing attack is very good with 1074 yards rushing and are led by Senior RB Trenton Holzworth 440 yards rushing and 5 TDs. Prairie must be ready to stop a very good offense this week. #2 Peetz is 4-0 on the year with their big victory over North Park 63-13. They have two tough games left on their schedule (Prairie & Fleming). Peetz has not been tested this year and are giving up 11 ppg. Their offense has been explosive breaking the 49 point mark in all 4 games. Peetz has been balanced this year passing for 499 yards and rushing for 993 yards. Their passing attack is led by senior QB Tre Fehringer 369 yards 9 TDs and 0 INTs and Peetz rushing attack is led by junior Bryson Long 482 yards rushing and 9 TDs. Peetz is looking to prove again why they are a state champion contender and have a good chance to be in the driver’s seat for the league title with a win. They must stop the run on defense and get their rushing attack going to win this game. I am going with Peetz to win 42-28.
#2 Peetz at #7 Prairie #6 North Park at Weldon Valley
#10 Fleming at Briggsdale
RPI: #1 Peetz, #2 North Park, #5 Prairie, #13 Fleming, #15 Briggsdale, #26 Weldon Valley
Southeast League
The Southeast League title I believe was decided two weeks ago when Cheyenne Wells beat Kit Carson. Eads still has to play Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson so they still have a chance. I talked about the huge game for Cheyenne Wells in the East Central league. Cheyenne Wells is #4 in the RPI and are a lock for the playoffs. They have Cheraw next week and close against Eads to end the year. In league play this week is #5 Kit Carson against Kim/Branson. Branson/Kim are sitting at #27 in the RPI and have winnable games to close out the year against Walsh and Cheraw. If they want to make the playoffs they will have to win out. Kit Carson is a lock in the playoffs as well. They have Eads next week and Walsh to close out the year. They should win out and battle for a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The final game in the Southeast League features Walsh at Eads. Walsh is 2-3 on the year and are #21 in the RPI. They need 2 of their final 3 game to probably get into the playoffs but two of those games come against Eads and Kit Carson. Walsh will need to upset either Eads this week or Kit Carson in the final game. Walsh against good competition has struggled with big losses to Arickaree/Woodlin (By 44), La Veta (by 42), and Cheyenne Wells (by 51). We will have to see if Walsh has improved since they have been on their 2 game winning streak. Eads is 3-2 on the year and on a 3 game winning streak. They are #14 in the RPI and are on the bubble. This is a must win for Eads. They cannot afford to lose this game especially with Kit Carson & Cheyenne Wells looming in the distance. Eads with a win will probably be able to lock up a playoff spot because their RPI will only increase in their final two games even with losses. Eads must take control of this game and not allow Walsh to score points. Eads must get their offense going and I think they will I have Eads winning a close game 35-21.
#5 Kit Carson at Kim/Branson Walsh at Eads
RPI: #4 Cheyenne Wells, #8 Kit Carson, #14 Eads, #21 Walsh, #27 Branson/Kim, #29 Cheraw
Southwest League
The Southwest League had a huge matchup last week and it didn’t live up to the hype. La Veta upset Cotopaxi 71-38 and it was not even close. La Veta was in control the entire game and are showing they are for real. Cotopaxi has a bye this week and will be either tied for second or in 3rd following this game. Cotopaxi is #11 in the RPI and finish against Antonito and Sierra Grande. Primero is in a must win situation this week against Mountain Valley. Primero is #16 in the RPI and are on a 3 game slide. They have lost to 3 really good teams but have not been close games. Primero cannot drop this game and expect to make the playoffs. They still have Hanover and La Veta to play which are Top 15 teams. Primero with a win will get back to 3-3 then hope their RPI numbers are high enough to make the playoffs. I think they beat Mountain Valley 35-0. Antonito is #20 in the RPI and travel to Aguilar. This is also a must win game for Antonito who is sitting at #20. They will need to win 2 of their last 3 games and hope their RPI is high enough. They will get a good boost in their RPI because of Cotopaxi, Sierra Grande, and La Veta all in their league. Antonito must win though 2 of their last 3 to make the playoffs. They should beat Aguilar 21-0. The big game of the week features #8 La Veta traveling to Sierra Grande. Sierra Grande is 5-0 on the season but have not played any competition this year. Their RPI will be interesting to see if they lose to La Veta. Sierra Grande just missed the playoffs last year finishing #17 I don’t think that will happen again this year but if they lose 2 of 3 to close out the year what will happen to their RPI is the real question. Sierra Grande has played solid all year though. Defensively they have are giving up 20.4 ppg which is a bit high but their offense is scoring 63.8 ppg. Sierra Grande offensively is a run first offense with 1543 yards rushing and 24 TDs. Their rushing attack is led two players freshman RB Caleb Scharsch 623 yards and 14 TDs and senior RB Dakota Aragon 620 yards and 7 TDs. Sierra Grande will have their rushing attack tested this week by La Veta. Sierra Grande also will need their defense to play their best game this season and cannot give up big plays. La Veta grabbed their signature win over Cotopaxi beating those 71-38. La Veta looks like a solid contender in the playoffs but to prove that must win out. La Veta one loss is to North Park by 5 and it was a very good game. Defensively Cotopaxi has played a much tougher schedule and only given up 14.8 ppg they have also broken the 35 point mark in every game. La Veta traditionally have been a pass first team but this year are showing a lot more balance. Their passing attack has 637 yards and 14 TDs & 3 INTs and La Veta rushing attack has 743 yards rushing and 14 TDs. La Veta is led by Senior QB Eric Morgan 621 yards passing 13 TDs 3 INTs & 337 yards rushing and 5 TDs. He is the catalyst to this team and must have a good game. La Veta has been tested by good teams and gives them a huge advantage over Sierra Grande. La Veta looks to lock up the league title with a win and I think they do beating Sierra Grande 52-28
#8 La Veta at Sierra Grande Antonito at Aguilar
Primero at Mountain Valley
RPI: #7 La Veta, #9 Sierra Grande, #11 Cotopaxi, #16 Primero, #20 Antonito, #35 Mountain Valley, #30 Aguilar
*= NON League Game
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