MileHigh Prep Report Preseason Football Class 2A Rankings
We are getting closer and closer to the start of the football season. This is my top 16 preseason rankings. 2A will see certain top teams return a lot of talent but plenty of holes to be filled. I think we could see a few new teams push for a top spot. We are going to be doing a Media Poll again this season. If you are interested in voting shoot me a message. This is just my preseason rankings and as I do more research and talk to more coaches, I may make changes come closer to the season. I move to Class 1A next week.
Class 2A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Eaton HS Defending 3X State Champions | Eaton is your 3X defending State Champions and once again will be looking to defend their title. Eaton on offense will be powered by their offensive line which returns key leadership. The RB position could lack some depth but with DeAngelo Rosas back they have a proven RB. QB will be the biggest question mark as a new starter will have to emerge. Eaton always plays tough on defense and this year they return 5 of their top 13 tacklers but have key leadership back to lead the defense. |
| #2 | Delta HS Made the playoffs, Runner Up | Delta reached the state championship a season ago before falling to Eaton. Delta will have one goal on their mind and that is winning the whole thing. Delta will return key leadership with QB Ty Reed coming back and depth at QB as well. RB is also a strength this year with Esai Carrillo who is coming off a 1000-yard campaign. The offensive line for Delta will also be talented with at least 3 starters coming back but key holes must be filled. Defensively Delta could be a top 5 unit again returning 7 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. |
| #3 | Elizabeth HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Elizabeth made the playoffs last season but were upset in the first by Montezuma-Cortez. Elizabeth will be looking for another playoff berth again but will aim for a deeper run this year. Elizabeth offensively will return key pieces in the backfield with their top 3 RB’s all coming back. Elizabeth offensive line will also be a big strength with at least 4 starters coming back. Elizabeth big need offensively is at QB. Defensively Elizabeth will have plenty of depth and leadership back with 9 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. |
| #4 | University HS Made the playoffs, lost in Quarterfinals | University made the playoffs last season and forced one of the many upsets in the first round. University did fall in the Quarterfinals to Classical Academy. This season University brings back experience at QB with Coel Croissant, but he will be looking for targets at WR and RB. The offensive line for University will bring back key leadership but will have holes to fill. Defensively University brings back 6 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 7. Key leadership is back across the board and will have to help the inexperience get up to speed. |
| #5 | Berthoud HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Berthoud had a huge turnaround last season reaching the playoffs and finding success. Berthoud will look to build upon last years success. Berthoud will have plenty of talent back including their QB Skyler Streicher and top RB Alex Larson from a season ago. The offensive line for Berthoud returns at least 3 starters and this group will look to rack up the yardage again this season. Defensively Berthoud will return 9 of their top 13 tacklers and 6 of their top 7. Defensively look for Berthoud to be a top 10 unit this year. |
| #6 | Rifle HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Rifle made the playoffs a season ago and also picked up a huge upset in the first round defeating #3 seeded Florence. Rifle did fall in a close Quarterfinal to Montezuma-Cortez. Rifle will look to build off last season and return their main offensive weapon at QB Logan Gross. Rifle will be searching for a new RB. The offensive line for Rifle will lose some key pieces but have plenty of size coming back. Gaining experience for the offensive line will be key. Defensively Rifle will look to build off their 14th ranked defense and should with 9 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. |
| #7 | Alamosa HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Alamosa reached the Quarterfinals a season ago before falling to Delta. Alamosa will be looking to build off last season success but have a few holes to fill. Alamosa will be looking for a new QB but look for Dyson Woodward to move into the starting spot. Alamosa does return their top rusher in RJ Meis and a few top WR’s in Brant Jackson and Michael Motz. The offensive line for Alamosa will look to make big strides this season. Defensively Alamosa will hope to improve on their 22nd ranked defense. Alamosa will return 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 7. |
| #8 | Montezuma-Cortez HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Montezuma-Cortez had the biggest surprise run last season reaching the Semifinals as the #11 seed. Cortez will look to keep that momentum and make another deep playoff run. Montezuma-Cortez will return key pieces at RB with Tay Wheat coming back. The offensive line for Cortez will also be tough this year with at least 4 starters back on the offensive line. Montezuma-Cortez does have a hole at QB. Defensively Montezuma-Cortez had a top 10 unit a season ago and will look to stay in the top 10. Cortez returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 7. |
| #9 | Basalt HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Basalt made the playoffs last season but fell in the Quarterfinals to eventual state champions Eaton. Basalt has been a traditional power in the Western Slope league. Basalt will have some holes to fill in their skill position group losing their QB and top RB to graduation. The big thing for Basalt this year is they return their entire offensive line and will have to anchor the young skill group. Defensively Basalt will also have holes as they return just 5 of their top 13 tackles but, return key leadership with 5 of their 7 top tacklers all coming back. |
| #10 | Platte Valley HS Missed the playoffs, went 5-4 last season | Platte Valley is the first non-playoff team to be ranked as Platte Valley missed the playoffs a season ago but went 5-4. Platte Valley returns their QB in Howdy Johnson but need other weapons to step up this season. The offensive line for Platte Valley also has some holes but plenty of size does return. The offensive line will be critical this year for Platte Valley. Defensively Platte Valley must improve. Platte Valley had the 21st ranked defense last season and gave up over 25 ppg. Platte Valley will return 8 of their top 13 tacklers so look for this unit to improve. |
| #11 | Woodland Park HS Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Woodland Park made the playoffs last season falling in the first round to Basalt. Woodland Park took big strides last season and will look to build off the momentum. Woodland Park will get key pieces back at QB with Bryce Broeker and RB Aidan Hood coming back. The offensive line for Woodland Park will have some holes with possibly just 1 starter coming back. Defensively Woodland Park had a top 10 defense last season and could stay in the top 10 this year. Woodland Park returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers including 5 of their top 7. |
| #12 | Englewood HS Missed the playoffs, went 6-3 last season | Englewood missed the playoffs last season but improved on their record going 6-3. Englewood will look to build off their youth of last season and reach the playoffs. Englewood will return their QB in Carson Campbell but, he will be searching for new weapons at both RB and WR. The offensive line for Englewood will also be a staple this year with at least 4 starters returning on the offensive line. Defensively Englewood will look to improve their defense. They will have some holes to fill but return 7 of their top 13 tacklers. Englewood will be searching for some leadership with just 3 of their top 7 tacklers coming back. |
| #13 | Brush HS Missed the playoffs, went 5-4 last season | Brush missed the playoffs last season but had a record of 5-4. Brush just missed out on the playoffs. Brush last season leaned heavily on their defense as they gave up just 15.0 ppg and were the 5th best defense in Class 2A. Brush will look to be a tough unit again this year with 8 of their top 13 tacklers coming back. The main question marks for Brush are on offense. Brush will be searching for a QB but do return RB Tanner Ludgate. The Offensive Line for Brush will also look to make improvements and return at least 2 starters from last year. If Brush gets the offense figured out this year, they will be tough. |
| #14 | Florence HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the first round | Florence reached the playoffs a season ago but were upset in the first round falling to Rifle. Florence will have some key holes to fill losing their QB and top RB from last season. The offensive line for Florence will be the main stay. Florence returns at least 2 starters on the offensive line but look for this unit to really dominate this year. Defensively Florence returns 5 of their top 13 tacklers including key leadership in Gunner Busetti and Tanner Wrast. |
| #15 | La Junta HS Missed the playoffs, went 5-4 last season | La Junta missed the playoffs last season but went 5-4. La Junta will be looking for the playoffs this season and have the weapons to do so. La Junta returns QB Rylan Schmidt and RB Ethan Leyba. The biggest question mark for La Junta is their offensive line. Defensively La Junta will look to build upon their top 10 defense from a season ago. La Junta returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including key leadership with 4 of their top 7. |
| #16 | Wellington HS Missed the playoffs, went 4-5 last year. | Wellington could be a surprise for people to see at #16. Wellington moves into their second year as a program coming off a 4-5 record. They will return their entire roster (unless someone transferred) from last season and will look to build upon the success. Wellington could be a year out still from the playoffs, but they do return key players like Cash Altschwager and Tanner Gray. We will see how much this team worked this offseason. |
| Other Teams to Watch | Arvada, Pagosa Springs, Salida, Valley, Classical Academy, Bennett, Forge Christian, Manitou Springs, Moffat County, Sterling |
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