MileHigh Prep Report Preseason Class 1A Football Rankings
We are getting closer and closer to the start of the football season. Here is my top 16 preseason rankings. 1A will be battle this year with plenty of talent returning. The top of 1A again is dominated by the blue bloods but look for some new teams to push for the top. I believe we are going to try and do somewhat of a media poll this season but here are my Preseason Rankings. I am excited to see what the Coaches Poll looks like come August if they continue to do a coach’s poll. I move to 8-Man Football next week. Good Luck to all teams this season!
Class 1A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Wray HS Made the playoffs, lost in the semifinals. | Wray reached the semifinals before falling to Limon. Wray will look to take that next step this season and reach the finals. Wray offensively returns QB Casey Midcap and RB Caeden Bauer. The offensive line is also in good shape returning their main core. The defense for Wray could be a top 3 unit this season returning 8 of their top 13 tacklers including Tell Wade and Brady Collins. |
| #2 | Buena Vista HS Made the playoffs, lost in Semifinals. | Buena Vista reached the semifinals before falling to Centauri. Buena Vista will only lose a handful of seniors from last season. QB Haden Camp will look to take the next step along with RB Jacob Phelps. The offensive line for Buena Vista will return all but 1 starter as well. Defensively Buena Vista will look to improve to a top 4 unit this season. Buena Vista will return 9 of their top 13 tacklers. |
| #3 | Limon HS Made the playoffs, Runner ups | Limon reached the state championship again and fell just short. Limon will have some holes to fill losing a good senior class. The QB battle will be one to watch. RB Gabe Schubarth will be back to lead the offense this season. The offensive line for Limon returns at least 3 starters and will help the new QB. Defensively Limon will have some key players to replace and return just 6 of their top 13 tacklers. |
| #4 | Centauri Defending State Champions | Centauri is your defending state champions. Centauri had a great run last year but lose 7 senior who were vital to last years success. The skill position group was hit the hardest on offense and a new QB and RB will be needed. Leighton Curtis and Deven Brady could be names to fill the QB and RB position. The offensive line for Centauri returns a ton of experience with 4 starters coming back. This group will be very important to Centauri success. Defensively Centauri will also need leaders to step up returning just 6 of their top 13 tacklers and just 2 of their top 8. |
| #5 | Wiggins Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Wiggins fell in the first round to North Fork last season and will look for a deeper run this year. Wiggins returns all their skill players including QB Cole Kerr, RB Julio Flores, and WR Omar Perez. The offensive line for Wiggins also remains nearly intact 3 starters returning. Defensively Wiggins must improve this season and they should return 11 of their top 13 tacklers including key players such as Pepper Rusher and Laith Ibrahim. |
| #6 | Strasburg Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Strasburg made the playoffs a year ago but fell in the first round to Yuma. Strasburg will return key leaders on offense with QB Kaleb Hart returning and RB Zach Marrero. The offensive line has the most question marks with possibly just 1 starter returning. If the offensive line for Strasburg steps up this team could make a deep run. Defensively Strasburg will return just 6 of their top 13 tacklers but have key leadership back with 4 of their top 6 coming back. |
| #7 | Monte Vista Made the Playoffs, lost in the first round | Monte Vista made the playoffs last season and fell to Florence in the first round. Monte Vista offensively returns plenty of key weapons with RB’s Deangelo Archuleta and Khegan Gunter coming back. QB Andrew Chavez will move into the starting role, and he must step up this season. The offensive line for Monte Vista returns 4 starters and have backups that also played during the season. Defensively Monte Vista should continue to improve and return 8 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. |
| #8 | Holyoke Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Holyoke reached the playoffs a season ago falling in the first round to Meeker. Holyoke will return key leadership on offense with QB Wyatt Sprague coming back. Some new playmakers will need to step up along side Sprague. The offensive line for Holyoke could return 2 or 3 starters and this group should help power a tough offense. Defensively Holyoke must improve from the #26th defense. They will need players to really step up this season. |
| #9 | Meeker Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Meeker reached the Quarterfinals last season before falling to Buena Vista. Meeker offensively will return their QB Connor Blunt but lose very important pieces at RB. The offensive line for Meeker will return at least 2 starters but have plenty of size coming up in the Junior Class. Defensively Meeker will rely on this unit till the offense gets going. Meeker returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. |
| #10 | Banning Lewis Missed the playoffs, went 5-3 last season | Banning Lewis missed the playoffs last season but went 5-3 last season. This will be the 3rd season for Banning Lewis as a football team. Banning Lewis will need to replace their QB but have solid RB’s coming back in Holden Stennett and Adrian Fletes. The offensive line for Banning Lewis will return at least 4 starters. Defensively Banning Lewis will also return a lot of talent with 10 of their top 13 tacklers back and we should see a top 5 unit on that side. |
| #11 | Burlington Missed the playoffs, went 2-7 last Season | Burlington missed the playoffs last season but played a brutal schedule going 2-7. Burlington will be returning plenty of key pieces with QB Garrett Richardson coming back and RB Dominic Conrardy. The offensive line has the most question marks and could be the big factor on how far Burlington goes. Burlington could return just 1 starter on the offensive line. Defensively Burlington will return 8 of their top 13 tacklers but leadership must be replaced with just 2 of their top 5 tacklers coming back. |
| #12 | C.S Christian Missed the playoffs, went 3-5 last season | C.S Christian missed the playoffs last season going 3-5. They were young last season and showed. We have very little info on C.S Christian offensively but they scored just 135 points and were 25th offensively. The offensive line for C.S Christian will return at least 4 starters. Defensively C.S Christian can improve and should with 8 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. Key leadership will return with 4 of their top 5 tacklers coming back. |
| #13 | Gunnison Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Gunnison reached the playoffs last season falling to Buena Vista in the first round. Gunnison will have key leadership back in QB Rocky Marchitelli. New RB’s must step up for Gunnison this season. The offensive line for Gunnison could return 3 starters. Defensively Gunnison will return 9 of their top 13 tacklers but will need new leadership with just 2 of their top 5 tacklers coming back. |
| #14 | Peyton HS Made the playoffs, lost in first round | Peyton made the playoff last season before falling to Centauri. Peyton will have key pieces to replace on offense, but QB Nolan Martin will be back. The RB position must be replaced but I look to Robert Graham for that position. The offensive line for Peyton will need players to step up with possibly just 1 starter coming back. Defensively Peyton returns 7 of their top 13 tacklers but only 2 of their top 5. |
| #15 | North Fork HS Made the playoffs, lost in Quarterfinals | North Fork made the playoffs last season and fell in the Quarterfinals to Limon. North Fork was hit hard by graduation at the RB position, but key leadership does return in QB Hunter Moreno. The offensive line for North Fork will need new players to step up as well with possibly just 1 starter coming back. Defensively North Fork will have some new players stepping up with just 5 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. North Fork has solid tradition so don’t expect much of a down year. |
| #16 | Flatirons Academy Missed the playoffs, went 6-3 last Season | Flatirons Academy missed the playoffs last season but went 6-3. Flatirons Academy schedule was not that strong and that is why they missed the playoffs. Flatirons Academy returns plenty of talent at the skill position with QB Nolan Sheppard and RB Devin Glowicki coming back. The offensive line will all return but this unit must step up if they plan on making the playoffs. Defensively Flatirons Academy returns 10 of their top 13 tacklers and we should see this unit improve again. My biggest question mark even this season is their schedule. |
| Other Teams to Watch | Rye, Yuma, Platte Canyon, Cedaredge, Manual, Estes Park, Middle Park, Center |
MileHigh Prep Report 