Top Returning Defense’s Class 1A
I am using PPG given up last year and seeing what teams are returning. I am going to pick the Top 15 defenses and then give a few who could still be impact defenses.
| High School | Stats |
| Colorado Springs Christian | CSCS gave up 125 points last year which was 6th best in class 1A. CSCS will be just as tough as last year with the return of their leading tacklers Peyton Brones and Rian Chavez. CSCS also returns 8 of their 11 top tacklers. CSCS will also be a huge threat on passing downs returning their leading two sack leaders. Look for CSCS to become a top 3 defense this year. |
| Holyoke HS | Holyoke gave up just 76 points last year which was good for 2nd in Class 1A. Holyoke should be on pace to be a top 3 defense again this year. Holyoke played a lot of younger players so a year of experience should help. Holyoke will have to find a new leader on defense losing their top tackler. Look for Blake Mosenteen and Mikey Ramos to step up and lead this defense. |
| Wray HS | Wray gave up 167 points last year which was 14th in Class 1A. Wray improved slightly from last year but are still hoping this year to move into the Top 10. Wray does lose their leading tackler and leader on defense but return plenty of talent and depth. Wray will look to Junior Arambula to lead the defense and also will return 8 of their 11 top tacklers. Wray should improve once again on defense this year. |
| Paonia HS | Paonia gave up 128 points last year which was 7th best in Class 1A. Paonia will lose leadership from their defense but will bring back a ton of depth. Paonia must find a leader but look to Grey Neal and Levi Peterson to lead this defense. Paonia also returns 6 of their 11 top tacklers. |
| Peyton HS | Peyton gave up 69 points last year which was the best in class 1A. This is back to back season in which Peyton gave up the least amount of points. Peyton will need to find new leadership for their defense as they lose their top two tacklers from last year. Peyton will return 5 of their 11 top tacklers and look for Brandon Hussey and Jase Lantto to step up and lead this team. |
| Limon HS | Limon gave up 81 points last year which was 3rd best in Class 1A. Limon loses a great senior class, but tradition should help this defense recover. Limon will only return 3 of their top 11 tacklers but Kory Tacha and Logan Marx are both great leaders and should help get these younger kids up to speed. |
| St. Mary’s HS | St. Mary’s gave up 240 points last year which was 28th best in Class 1A. St. Mary’s was under .500 last year and if they plan to make the playoffs their defense must improve this year. St. Mary’s will return their top 3 tacklers lead by Rykert Balfe. St. Mary’s also returns 10 of their 11 top tacklers. St. Mary’s needs to improve to a top 15 defense if they plan to make a run for the playoffs. |
| Flatirons Academy (Cornerstone Christian) | Their defense gave up 125 points which was 5th best in Class 1A. Flatirons Academy does loss a solid senior class but will return their leading tackler Jacob Dube. Flatirons Academy also returns 6 of their 11 top tacklers. Flatirons Academy defense must step up this year to help an offense hurt by graduation. |
| Highland HS | Highland gave up 168 points last year which was 15th best in Class 1A. Highland defensively was not hit as hard by graduation as the offense was. Defensively Highland returns their leading tackler Blake Fabrizius plus 7 of their top 11 tacklers. Highland will need their defensive unit to step up big until replacements on offense can be found. |
| Centauri HS | Centauri gave up 137 points last year which was 9th best in Class 1A. Centauri was hit hard by graduation losing 4 of their 5 top tacklers. Centauri does return their leading tackler Adam Chacon, who will have to anchor a younger defensive unit. Centauri also returns just 4 of their 11 top tacklers. This group will have to come together quickly to match the offensive strength. |
| Florence HS | Florence gave up 146 points last year which was good for 10th best in Class 1A. Florence will have some holes to fill on the defensive side. Florence will return 5 of their 11 top tacklers and must find a new leader on the defensive side of the ball. Look for Owen Busetti and Javier Lancaster to step up and lead this defense. Florence does return have plenty of players that played after the top 11 but must get them to step up this year. |
| Monte Vista HS | Monte Vista gave up 245 points last year which was 30th best in Class 1A. Despite some struggles on defense Monte Vista still made the playoffs but if Monte Vista plans on a deeper run this year their defense must improve to a Top 15 defense. Monte Vista will have a few holes to fill but return leading tackler Cobi Garcia and Kaidon Wenta, both though must step up this season to lead this defense. Monte Vista also returns 6 of their 11 top tacklers but look for this unit to improve this year. |
| Crowley County HS | Crowley County gave up 135 points last year which was 8th best in Class 1A. Crowley County will be looking for new leadership on defense as they lose their top 3 tacklers from last year. Crowley County does return 6 of their top 11 tacklers. Leadership must be found for this defense to find success this year. |
| Strasburg HS | Strasburg gave up 117 points last year which was 4th best in Class 1A. A new coach may impact the scheme this defense uses but I expect for this defense to still be top notch. Strasburg will have to find new leadership on defense but look for A.J Hemphill and Michael Burns to step up and lead this unit. |
| Rocky Ford HS | Rocky Ford gave up 208 points last year which was 18th best in Class 1A. Rocky Ford improved from the year before but against top teams in Class 1A Rocky Ford struggled stopping opponents. Rocky Ford does return a lot from last year’s defense including 10 of their 11 top tacklers. Rocky Ford must step up on defense this year to make a run at the playoffs. |
| Other Defenses to Watch For: | Meeker, Platte Canyon, Burlington, Jefferson, Clear Creek, Center, John Mall, Rye, Buena Vista, Estes Park |
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