Class 1A League Breakdown & Predictions (Foothills, North Central, Northern)
I have decided to only do 3 or 4 leagues at a time instead of the full 7 leagues. I am going to breakdown the league then at the end predict my champion and playoff contenders. I know these articles are a bit lengthy, but I try and mention every team.
Foothills League
The Foothills League took a serious hit to the strength of their league this year. The Foothills league loses Bennett, Vail Christian, and Front Range Christian. The Foothills League adds Jefferson, Lake County, and Sheridan. Honestly this league does not look that strong after qualifying three teams into the State Tournament last year. Lake County moves from the Tri-Peaks into the Foothills league. Last year Lake County went 2-7 and the last time Lake County had at least a .500 record was in 2009. Lake County loses 6 seniors and possibly 3 starters on their offensive line. Lake County also loses their Starting QB but returns their starting RB. Defensively Lake County returns 7 of their 11 starters on defense and they played a lot of sophomores. Lake County could be a year out of having a shot at a playoff spot. Sheridan drops from 2A to 1A and like Lake County have had a hard time finding success. Last year Sheridan went 1-8 and are losing 7 seniors from that team. Sheridan could be losing possibly 2 offensive linemen from those seniors and are losing their starting RB. Sheridan defensively returns a lot of experience and could help them have some success this year. I don’t think Sheridan will make the playoffs but possibly 2 or 3 wins. Jefferson also drops from 2A down to 1A after going winless last year. Jefferson loses just 2 seniors to graduation but also only have 3 upcoming seniors. Jefferson does look like they have a solid group of upcoming Juniors, so success could be a year out. Jefferson returns their starting QB and with him and the group of upcoming Junior’s they may be able to establish something at Jefferson. Jefferson should improve this year but are still about a year out from really contending. I have Jefferson also in the 2 to 3-win range. Clear Creek had a good year last year going 8-1 and making it to the playoffs before falling to Monte Vista in the first round of the playoffs. Clear Creek will have a slight drop down this year after losing Ty Judge but playing in the weakened league will help them. Clear Creek loses 9 seniors, and most were big contributors. Clear Creek loses possibly 3 starting offensive linemen, their starting QB, and starting RB. Clear Creek will have some size returning on their offensive line and will be needed to develop their skill players. Defensively Clear Creek lost some key experience losing 6 of their top 11 tacklers but will have some key leadership back. Clear Creek will have a shot at a league title and be a playoff contender. Manual went 4-5 last year and just missed a shot at the playoffs. Manual is losing 15 seniors from last year teams including possibly 4 starters on their offensive line. Manual may have some size coming up but will have to get them up to speed quickly. Manual will be returning their starting QB but lose their starting RB who had over 1500 yards last year. Defensively Manual will be tough losing just 3 of their 11 top tacklers. Manual will need their defense to really step up this year and they could have a shot at a league title. Manual will be competing this year for that league title and getting players up to speed will be key. My early favorite to win the Foothills league will be Platte Canyon. Platte Canyon has a system that keeps them in every game and once again will be tough. Platte Canyon loses 8 seniors from last year’s 6-3 playoff team. They possibly are losing 3 starters on their offensive line but seem to always do a good job developing lineman. Platte Canyon does return their starting QB but Platte Canyon runs a run first offense and they are losing their top 3 running backs. Developing their top RB’s will be key for Platte Canyon. Defensively Platte Canyon returns 6 of their top 11 tacklers including their top 2 tacklers. Platte Canyon will once again be tough on defense and could help them early on. Platte Canyon is still my favorite to win the Foothills League.
League Champion: Platte Canyon
Playoff Contenders: Platte Canyon, Manual, Clear Creek
Dark Horse: Manual
Manual should be much improved, but can they step up to the plate and knock off Platte Canyon.
North Central League
The North Central league in my opinion will be a brutal battle for the top spot with 4 of the 6 teams ranked in the Top 15 and all 4 with a shot at the league title. Holyoke last year went 3-6 and 1-4 in league. Holyoke loses 8 seniors from last year team that include possibly 3 starters on the offensive line. Holyoke did not post many stats at all last year so it’s extremely hard to figure out how they look this year. It does look like Holyoke offensively was mainly sophomores and if that is the case then Holyoke is probably a year out from competing for a league title. Defensively could be the same story. Holyoke is looking toward the upcoming Junior class to get the football program going in the right direction. Wiggins went 2-7 last year and 0-5 in league. Wiggins is losing only 6 seniors from last year’s team and could be returning a solid team. Wiggins is losing some experience on their offensive line and losing their starting RB. Wiggins is returning their starting QB and will have to lead this offense early on. Defensively Wiggins is returning 8 of their 11 top tacklers. Wiggins should be very competitive on the defensive side of the ball. I am hearing that Wiggins only had 16 kids out, but those numbers could have gone up and if everyone returned to play this year for Wiggins they could be tough. The next 4 teams all will be very competitive, and all have a shot at the league title. Yuma will kick off the group of four. Yuma has slowly been rebuilding their football program and could see big results this year. Yuma went 3-6 last year but only lose 3 seniors and all three players were skill position players. Yuma returns their QB Chase McCreath who threw for over 1000 yards, but he will need to be more effective this year. Yuma does lose their starting RB and will need an upcoming junior to step up and fill the hole. Yuma defensively is returning 8 of 11 starters and return 4 of their top 5 tacklers. Yuma should improve on both sides of the ball this year and will have a shot at the league title, but I think more of a 5 or 6-win season and a playoff berth. Wray last year went 5-4 during the regular season but made the playoffs falling in the first round but gained important experience for this season. Wray is only losing 4 seniors from last year’s team but most played critical roles. Wray could be losing 2 or 3 offensive linemen and replacing them will be either upcoming sophomores or juniors who will have to step up this year. Wray does return their main weapon from last year in Cade Hillman who ran for 1413 yards and 16 TDs and return Emmanuel Huerta who was #2 in rushing with 604 yards and 7 TDs. Defensively Wray returns 7 of their 11 top tacklers. Wray defensively must improve from last year after giving up 205 points. Wray will also have a shot at the league title, but like Yuma a 6-win season is more of the outcome and a playoff berth. Burlington continues to reload and once again will be very competitive this year. Burlington went 8-3 last year falling to eventual state champion Strasburg in the quarterfinals. Burlington does lose 7 seniors from last year team and possibly 2 starters on the offensive line. Burlington offense should be explosive this year with the core of their offensive line coming back, their starting RB, and starting QB Braden Witzel. Defensively Burlington gave up 198 points last year and must improve to a top 5 defense if they want a shot at the league title or a state championship. Burlington will have some holes to fill on defense losing 5 of their 11 top tacklers. Burlington must have players step up this year if they plan on improving their defense. Burlington has a lot of talent coming back and another 7-win or 8 win season is not out of the question. Burlington will also give my favorite all they can handle for the league title. My favorite to win the North Central this year is Limon. Limon went 9-3 last year and lost in the semifinals to Centauri. Limon does lose 7 seniors from their team and possibly 3 starters on their offensive line. Limon though always seems to be extremely tough up front and will have their offensive line ready to play. Limon skill position players are also going to be extremely dangerous with QB Cannan Bennett and RB Hauk Hubbard both coming back. Defensively Limon will be extremely tough with 8 of their 11 top tacklers returning and the main leadership coming back with their top 4 tacklers all coming back. Limon should have a top 3 defense this year and they will be contenders for a state championship once again. Limon is my favorite to win the North Central, but they are playing in the toughest league in 1A.
League Champion: Limon
Playoff Contenders: Limon, Burlington, Wray, Yuma
Dark Horse: Yuma
Yuma is returning the most players out of all the teams in the North Central and could be a real threat to pull an upset or two. Yuma has the talent now can they produce and step up to pull an upset of Limon or Burlington.
Northern League
The Northern League had one small change from last year to this year. Gone is Byers who drops down to 8-Man and Pinnacle replaces them coming down from 2A. Pinnacle moves from 2A down to 1A, Pinnacle went 0-9 last year scoring just 18 points on offense and giving up over 400. Pinnacle loses 7 seniors and will have some experience coming back. Pinnacle though will have to find starters at the QB position. Defensively Pinnacle loses quite a bit with 6 of their 11 top tacklers graduating. Pinnacle must improve on defense. I could see another 1 or 2 wins season for Pinnacle. Estes Park went 1-8 last year and lose 9 seniors to graduation. Estes Park does lose some experience on their offensive line but do have some coming back as well. Estes Park does return their starting QB who started as a Freshman and their #2 RB. Defensively Estes Park will have some holes to fill losing 6 of their 11 tacklers. Estes Park will be around 2 wins this season but they do show signs of improving. Lyons went 3-6 last year and 2-3 in league play. Lyons does lose 8 seniors from their team last year but possibly only 1 starter on their offensive line. Lyons could take a big step this year but are probably 1 year out from really fighting for a league title. Lyons will have some holes to fill on offense losing both their starting QB and RB. Defensively Lyons will return 7 of their top 11 tacklers but will need to find some leadership after losing their top 2 tacklers. Like I said Lyons is about 1 year out from really competing, but I could see 3 or 4 wins this year. Cornerstone Christian is coming off a 6-4 season and a playoff berth. Cornerstone Christian though is losing 10 seniors from that team. Cornerstone Christian is losing their starting RB and possibly 3 starters on their offensive line. Cornerstone Christian though has some size coming back with two players topping the 250 lb mark and do it all QB Zach Dube returning. Cornerstone Christian offense will be effective if their offensive line can come together. Defensively Cornerstone Christian is losing some experience with 6 of their 11 top tacklers leaving. Cornerstone Christian will have some holes defensively, but this group must improve if they plan on contending for a league title. I have Cornerstone Christian as a playoff contender and around the same win total. Highland is coming off a solid season last year going 6-4 and making the playoffs. Highland though looks to just reload this year losing just 6 seniors. Highland could be losing 3 or 4 starters on the offensive line but have some size and experience coming back with 2 players topping the 270 lb mark. Highland offense should effective due to their offensive line and returning their starting QB Logan Stewart. Defensively Highland must improve after giving up over 240 points last year. Highland though returns a lot of experience losing just 1 of their top 11 tacklers. Highland could be a real threat this year if their defense can improve and I see them once again as a playoff contender. My favorite to win the Northern League is Strasburg. Strasburg is your two-time defending state champions. Strasburg had a great run to repeat as state champions but are losing 13 seniors from their team last year with possibly 4 starting offensive lineman graduating. Strasburg does have some experience coming back but it will be up to last year’s underclassman to step up. Strasburg also has some holes in the skill position group losing their starting QB and starting RB. Strasburg will look to sophomore Trystan Graf and senior Michael Spence to lead the offense. Defensively Strasburg returns their defensive leaders but lose 7 of their top 11 tacklers. Due to Strasburg being good last year though they had a chance for a lot of non-starters to get game time and will be huge this year for them. Strasburg will struggle a bit early on with their offense, but I still see them as the favorite in the Northern League. Strasburg will have to hold off Cornerstone Christian and Highland as both teams have improved from last year.
League Champion: Strasburg
Playoff Contenders: Strasburg, Highland, Cornerstone Christian
Dark Horse: Highland
Highland is returning quite a bit on the offensive side of the ball which could make them dangerous. Highland though will only go as far as their defense can improve. If Highland has a top 10 defense this year they could be the team to watch for in the Northern League.
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