Class 1A League Predictions Update Week 8
We have completed 7 weeks of the regular season. Another big week of games in Class 1A. Should be a great week of football. Many team’s playoff lives will be on the line this week. I will have my Playoff Predictions and Projection sin a separate article.
Foothills
My guess is only the league champion gets into the playoffs from this league!
Bennett
Bennet is now tied for 1st in the Foothills league. Bennett picked up a huge 46-8 win over Manual last week to now sit in the driver’s seat to win the league and get the automatic berth into the playoffs. Bennett cannot lock up the league title till they face Platte Canyon on 10/23. Bennett will host Jefferson this week.
Platte Canyon
Platte Canyon improved to 3-3 on the season and stayed tied for 1st place in the Foothills league. Platte Canyon blasted Jefferson 53-13 last week. Platte Canyon this week will travel to face Clear Creek and will hope to stay tied with Bennett. Platte Canyon and Bennett meet up next week.
Manual
Manual playoff hopes were hurt a bit losing to Bennett. Manual best hope now is to force a tie for first place. Manual needs Platte Canyon to beat Bennett then Manual must beat Platte Canyon to force a tie. Like I have said only the league champion is going to get into the playoffs.
In the Playoff Hunt (Will need the league title)
Platte Canyon, Bennett, Manual
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Jefferson, Clear Creek, Sheridan
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#18 Bennett, #26 Manual, #28 Platte Canyon, #35 Jefferson, #36 Clear Creek, #37 Sheridan
North Central
Limon
Limon is my pick to win the North Central League. Limon improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in league play with the 49-7 win over Burlington. Limon this week will look to break the tie with Wray for 1st place in the North Central League. Limon will hit the road this week as they face Wray. Limon has a tough 3 game stretch upcoming but if they beat Wray will be in very good condition to win the league. Limon is a lock for the playoffs and have the #3 RPI.
Wray
Wray improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in league. Wray picked up the huge 28-11 win over Holyoke to keep themselves tied with Limon for first place. Wray this week will host Limon and which ever team wins this game will be in position to win the league. Wray is a lock for the playoffs and have the #4 RPI.
Wiggins
Wiggins improved to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in league play. Wiggins picked up an impressive 30-28 win over Yuma in a very tight contest. Wiggins now will look to cement a top 3 finish in league if they can beat Holyoke at home this week. Wiggins is a near lock for the playoffs and a win over Holyoke will lock them into the playoffs. Wiggins sits at #6 in the RPI.
Holyoke
Holyoke fell to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play dropping a tough 28-11 game to Wray. Holyoke will look to bounce back and try and lock up a top 3 spot in league. Holyoke sits at #10 in the RPI and a win over Wiggins will lock them into the playoffs. I do not think Holyoke is in danger of missing the playoffs unless they lose the remaining 3 games.
Yuma
Yuma dropped to 3-3 on the season falling in a close game to Wiggins 30-28. Yuma will look to bounce back this week when they host Burlington. This is a must win for both teams as both Burlington and Yuma are on the bubble. Yuma sits at #13 in the RPI and are looking to really improve their playoff hopes with a win.
Burlington
Burlington dropped to 2-4 overall losing to Limon 49-7. Burlington is on the bubble and sit at #15 in the RPI. Burlington will travel to Yuma this week and this is a must win for Burlington. Burlington probably needs to win at least 1 of their final 3 games to get into the playoffs. Burlington and Yuma both need this game and should be a good one.
Lock for the Playoffs
Limon, Wray
In the Playoff Hunt
Holyoke, Wiggins, Yuma, Burlington
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
None
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#3 Limon, #4 Wray, #6 Wiggins, #10 Holyoke, #13 Yuma, #15 Burlington
Northern League
Strasburg
Strasburg is my pick to win the Northern League. Strasburg improved to 4-3 on the season following the 67-0 win over Prospect Ridge last week. Strasburg is in the driver’s seat to win the league and control their own fate. Strasburg cannot lock up the league title till they face Flatirons Academy on 10/29. Strasburg sits at #9 in the RPI.
Highland
Highland improved to 4-3 on the season and probably locked up a #2 spot in the league following the 15-8 win over Flatirons Academy. Highland should also get into the playoffs now as long as they do not get upset by either Estes Park or Prospect Ridge. Highland will face Estes Park on the road this week and Highland sits at #12 in the RPI.
Flatirons Academy
Flatirons Academy dropped to 4-2 on the season following a 15-8 loss to Highland. Flatirons Academy is now on the bubble at #14 and have a pair of back-to-back must win games. Flatirons Academy RPI will not be improved by either game and their game against Strasburg could really decide if they get into the playoffs or not. I will start next week diving into potential RPI for some of the bubble teams. Flatirons Academy will host Prospect Ridge this week and then travel to face Del Norte next week. 10/29 is the date Flatirons Academy must have circled and that is when they host Strasburg.
In the Playoff Hunt
Strasburg, Highland, Flatirons Academy
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Estes Park, Prospect Ridge
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#9 Strasburg, #12 Highland, #14 Flatirons Academy, #27 Estes Park, #33 Prospect Ridge
Santa Fe League
The Santa Fe League is another league that could get just the league champion into playoffs.
Banning Lewis
Banning Lewis is my pick to win the Santa Fe League. Banning Lewis picked up an impressive 42-0 win over 2A Denver West last week. Banning Lewis is now 4-2 overall but won’t decide the league title till they face Peyton next week. Banning Lewis sits at #17 in the RPI.
Peyton
Peyton is coming off back-to-back weeks without a game and move back into action when they host Rocky Ford. This should be a good game for Peyton to shake off the rust and we will see how they play against a Rocky Ford team who picked up their first win of the season. Peyton and Banning Lewis don’t meet up till next week and that will be for the league title.
In the Playoff Hunt
Peyton, Banning Lewis
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Rocky Ford, Trinidad
RPI Standings (As of 10/7)
#17 Banning Lewis, #20 Peyton, #30 Trinidad, #31 Rocky Ford
Southern Peaks
Centauri
Centauri is still my pick to win the Southern Peaks League. Centauri was able to pick up a game this week to avoid having 3 bye weeks this season. Centauri will hit the road to face 2A Northfield. This will be a good test for both teams as both should make the playoffs. Centauri cannot decide the league title till they face Monte Vista on 10/29. Centauri currently sit at #1 in the RPI.
Monte Vista
Monte Vista is currently on the bubble sitting at #16 in the RPI. Monte Vista is coming off a bye before facing Ignacio, Center, and Centauri to close out the season. Monte Vista this week hits the road to face Ignacio. This is a must win game for both Monte Vista and Ignacio. Monte Vista defensively must be ready to stop the pass and play physical on offense.
Ignacio
Ignacio dropped to 5-1 on the season coming off a tough 32-13 loss to Center. Ignacio will now have to quickly bounce back when they host Monte Vista. Ignacio will be tested in this game and this is a must win for Ignacio if they plan on making the playoffs. A loss to Monte Vista will eliminate Ignacio from the playoffs unless they upset Centauri. Ignacio sits at #22 in the RPI.
Center
Center improved to 2-4 on the season following the 32-13 win over Ignacio. Center keeps their fringe playoff hopes alive with the win. Center now has a must win game this week when they travel to face Del Norte. Center needs to win this game then must upset either Monte Vista or Meeker if not both to get into the playoffs. Center sits at #24 in the RPI so must win as many games as possible.
Lock for the Playoffs
Centauri
In the Playoff Hunt
Monte Vista, Center, Ignacio
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Del Norte
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#1 Centauri, #16 Monte Vista, #22 Ignacio, #24 Center, #29 Del Norte
Tri-Peaks
Florence
Florence improved to 7-0 on the season following the 48-0 win over Grand Valley. Florence has now given up just 15 points on the season while scoring 364 points. Florence has not played the toughest schedule but have quality wins over Holyoke and Peyton. Florence has a bye this week before competing for the league title next week against Buena Vista. Florence sits at #5 in the RPI and is a lock for the playoffs.
Buena Vista
Buena Vista kept pace with Florence for first place defeating Rye 49-6. Buena Vista had a big stretch of games against Bennett, Peyton, Meeker, and North Fork. Buena Vista this week will face C.S Christian and must win to stay tied with Florence. Buena Vista won’t face Florence till next week and this could be a trap game for Buena Vista. Buena Vista sits at #2 in the RPI and is a lock for the playoffs.
C.S Christian
C.S Christian currently sit at 2-3 overall and #19 in the RPI. C.S Christian is in the hunt for a playoff spot but might need an upset of Buena Vista or Florence to get into the playoffs. C.S Christian this week host Buena Vista and could be the game they need. C.S Christian is a team to watch in terms of RPI.
Rye
Rye dropped to 3-4 overall following the 49-6 loss to Trinidad. Rye sits at #21 in the RPI and must win out and get some help to get into the playoffs. Rye hosts Trinidad this week and is a must win game. Rye game against C.S Christian could be enough to push them into the top 16 but Rye will need some help to get higher in the RPI.
Lock for the Playoffs
Buena Vista, Florence
In the Playoff Hunt
Rye, C.S Christian
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
None
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#2 Buena Vista, #5 Florence, #19 C.S Christian, #21 Rye
Western Slope
Meeker
Meeker took a huge step towards a league title beating North Fork last week 30-13. Meeker had a huge game from RB Kelton Turner and their offensive line. Meeker will now look to lock up the league title this week when they travel to face Gunnison. If Meeker defeats Gunnison this week they are your league champions and have a shot at hosting a first-round game. Meeker sits at #8 in the RPI.
Gunnison
Gunnison is coming off a 33-20 win over C.S Christian last week and helps keep their at-large hopes alive. Gunnison is now looking to take a huge step towards a league title when they host Meeker. Gunnison with an upset of Meeker will be in the driver’s seat to win the league title. Gunnison must still face North Fork on 10/29. Gunnison big concern if they lose to Meeker is how far will they drop in the RPI. Gunnison OWP is just .418 which is second lowest inside the top 20 RPI teams. Gunnison currently sit at #7 in the RPI.
North Fork
North Fork dropped to 4-2 overall after losing to Meeker 30-13. This is back-to-back losses for North Fork. North Fork will look to bounce back this week when they travel to face Roaring Fork. This is a must win game for North Fork. North Fork is now on the bubble at #11 but winning out for North Fork could be enough to host a first-round game.
Grand Valley
Grand Valley fell to 3-4 overall after losing to Florence 48-0. Grand Valley is on the verge of being eliminated form the playoffs but have a big game against Cedaredge this week. Grand Valley will need a lot of help plus must win out to get into the playoffs. Grand Valley sit at #23 in the RPI.
Cedaredge
Cedaredge moved back into the playoff hunt following the 39-8 win over Olathe. Cedaredge can get into the playoffs if they can win out. Cedaredge starts their hunt when they hit the road to face Grand Valley this week. Cedaredge must win out as they sit at #25. Loser of Grand Valley and Cedaredge will be eliminated.
In the Playoff Hunt
Gunnison, North Fork, Meeker, Grand Valley, Cedaredge
Eliminated from the Playoff Hunt
Olathe, Roaring Fork
RPI Standings (As of 10/14)
#7 Gunnison, #8 Meeker, #11 North Fork, #23 Grand Valley, #25 Cedaredge, #32 Roaring Fork, #34 Olathe
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