MileHigh Prep Report Preseason 8-Man Football Rankings
We are getting closer and closer to the start of the football season. Here is my top 16 preseason rankings. 8-Man will be a battle this year with plenty of talent returning. Plenty of holes exist on many teams and I am very interested to see how 8-Man turns out. We are doing a media poll once again if you are interested in voting shoot me a message. We are also still looking for a few more sponsor/advertisers for the year, if interested shoot me a message. I move to 6-Man Football next week. Good Luck to all teams this season!
8-Man
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Simla Made the playoffs, Runners Up | Simla was your runner up a season ago falling to Dove Creek in the State Championship. Simla will look to reload this season and make a push for the state title. Simla will have some key holes to fill on the offensive line & defensive lines. Offensively Simla returns QB Caston Cox, RB TJ Eurich, and WR Brent Bowker. Simla will have to replace their #2 rusher who I think was underrated last season in this offense. Defensively Simla returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers. Simla was the #2 rated defense a season ago and also the top defense in terms of ppg. Simla also returns key leadership in 3 of their top 5 tacklers. TJ Eurich, Jared Hodgson, and Brent Bowker are all back to help lead the defense. |
| #2 | Haxtun Made the playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Haxtun reached the semifinals last season before falling to Simla in a very exciting Semifinal game. Haxtun will be looking for a deeper playoff run this season after reaching the top two seasons ago. Haxtun offensive line will lose two big pieces but return their Center who will lead a younger offensive line. Haxtun skill position group will return some key pieces with QB Ryland Wolff and #2 rusher Kailin Kelley coming back. Defensively Haxtun was a top 5 unit and gave up 13.1 ppg. Haxtun returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers from last season including key leadership with 3 of their top 5 coming back. Kailin Kelley, Keegan Colglazier, and Ryland Wolff all are back to help lead the defense. |
| #3 | Akron Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Akron made the playoffs last season but fell in the first round to Holly. Akron will be looking for not only a return trip to the Playoffs, but a deeper playoff run. Akron will have some key holes to fill mainly on the offensive line where they will look for some youth to step up and take over on the offensive line. Offensively Akron returns a lot in terms of skill positions with QB Ryan McCaffrey and RB Anderson Filla coming back. Defensively Akron was a top 10 unit a season ago but gave up over 22 ppg. Akron will look to improve on last season and should with 7 of their top 10 tacklers coming back. Akron also returns 4 of their top 5 tacklers including Anderson Filla, Ryan McCaffrey, and Brock Swedlund. |
| #4 | Mancos Made the playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Mancos made the playoffs last season but fell in the Semifinals to rivals Dove Creek. Mancos will look for similar success this season and will look to build off the tradition they have established. Mancos will have at least two seniors to replace on the offensive line. Mancos also will be searching for a new QB but could have the answer in sophomore Brandon Vannest. Running back wise Mancos returns a pair of tough runners with Kail Wayman and Landon Martin. Defensively Mancos was the #10 defense but only gave up 18.9 ppg. Mancos will return plenty of talent to be a top 5 defense again this season. Mancos returns 8 of their top 10 tacklers including 4 of their top 5. Kail Wayman, Andrew Jaime, and Chris Medina will be the returning leaders. |
| #5 | Holly Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Holly made the playoffs last season before falling in the Quarterfinals to Simla. Holly will look to build off last season success and push for a deeper playoff run. Holly offensively will return their QB Andre Salgado who had a successful first year under center. Holly also returns #2 rusher Rueben Maldonado, and #3 WR Devin Eaton. The offensive line for Holly also looks to be in solid shape returning 2 starters with plenty of size coming back to replace the graduating offensive linemen. Defensively Holly was outside the top 16 defenses and will look to improve on that side of the ball. Holly returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Holly returns their top two tacklers from last season in Dylan Tamayo and Rueben Maldonado. |
| #6 | Lyons Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Lyons made the playoffs last season before falling in the Quarterfinals to Mancos. Lyons had their most successful season since 2013 and will look to build off the momentum they had last season. Lyons offensively returns their QB Miles Dumbauld, RB Malik Sigg-Brown, and WR Maregu Sullivan. The offensive line for Lyons also nearly returns intact with at least 2 of 3 starters coming back. That offensive line will look to improve going into this season. Defensively Lyons was the #1 defense in 8-man and gave up just 11.8 ppg. Lyons will look to hold down the #1 spot and could with 7 of their top 10 tacklers coming back. Lyons also returns key leadership with Keenan Young, Maregu Sullivan, and Finn Oetting coming back. |
| #7 | Dove Creek Defending State Champions | Dove Creek is your defending State Champions. They had a great run last season and will look to build off the success. Dove Creek will have plenty of key holes to fill but do return talent to make them a threat to repat again. Dove Creek will be searching for a new QB but return their #1 rusher in Gage Buffington. Dove Creek will need others skill players to step up this year. The offensive line for Dove Creek returns at least 1 starter but Dove Creek has plenty of size coming back they just need experience. Defensively Dove Creek was hit hard by graduation, but they return key leadership to push for a top 5 defense again this year. Dove Creek returns Tyson Beanland and Taber Dejane both will be tasked with becoming leaders of a younger defense. |
| #8 | Merino Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Merino made the playoffs a season ago before falling in the Quarterfinals to eventual state champions Dove Creek. Merino will have some key holes to fill this season but will look for another trip to the playoffs. Merino offensively will return QB Coen Schmidt, but they lose their top two RBs from a season ago. The offensive line for Merino should be in good shape returning 2 of their 3 starters from a year ago. Defensively Merino was outside the top 20 and gave up over 26 ppg. Merino will look to improve on that side of the ball, and they should. Merino returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including key leadership with 3 of their top 5 coming back. Merino will look for Coen Schmidt, Kaden Piel, and Josiah Mackintosh to be leaders on an improved defense. |
| #9 | Sanford Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Sanford made the playoffs last season before falling to Haxtun in the Quarterfinals. Sanford has had a run of success the past few seasons and will look to build off last season youth and make another run to the playoffs. Sanford offensively returns key pieces with QB Cash Caldon and #2 RB Lincoln Reynolds coming back. Another piece who could see their role increase is Trason Gartrell. The offensive line for Sanford could have 2 starters back as well and could help this offense take a big step. Defensively Sanford returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Sanford will look to improve to a top 10 defense this year and look for Cash Caldon, Lincoln Reynolds, and Roj Larsen to be a big part. |
| #10 | Fowler Missed the Playoffs, went 4-5 last season | Fowler missed the playoffs last season and went 4-5 during the regular season. Fowler will look to reach the playoffs this season and will look for key pieces to step up this year. Offensively Fowler returns QB Gage Gottbehuet and RB Trever Ketner. Fowler will be searching for WR targets for their QB. The offensive line for Fowler also returns 2 starters but must have improved play this season to reach the playoffs. Defensively Fowler will also look to improve after being outside the top 15 defenses. Fowler will have some holes to fill returning just 5 of their top 10 tacklers from a year ago. Fowler does return their top 2 tacklers from last year in Harrison Proctor and Dominic Armijo, but depth must step up. |
| #11 | Byers Missed the Playoffs, went 4-5 last season | Byers missed the playoff last season but did find some success going 4-5 and were in the playoff hunt. Byers will look to build off the success of last season and take the next step and reach the playoffs. Byers offensively returns QB Chase Long, RB Kaleb Willoughby, and WR AJ Engle. Byers will have a few holes to fill on the offensive line but return at least one starter to be a leader. Defensively Byers will look to improve after being the #17 defense. Byers should improve returning 9 of their top 10 tacklers from last season including 4 of their top 5. Byers will turn to Kaiden Powell, Chase Long, and AJ Engle to be leaders this season. |
| #12 | Swink Made the Playoffs, lost in the First Round | Swink made the playoffs last season before falling in the first round to Mancos. Swink will be looking for a return trip to the playoffs and will build on the success. Swink will have some holes to fill mostly on the offensive line. Swink will return key leaders with QB Hunter Bauserman, #2 rusher Ben Miner, and WR Hunter Reynolds all coming back. Defensively Swink returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers but they will be looking for leaders with just 2 of their top 5 returning. Ben Miner and Hunter Bauserman will be the main leaders, but depth must step up this year. |
| #13 | Dayspring Christian Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Dayspring Christian made the playoffs last season before falling to Lyons in the first round. Dayspring Christian was inexperienced at many positions last season and they will look to build off last season. Dayspring Christian offensively returns QB Isaiah Bryant, WR Caleb Kayl, and top RB Elijah Fusco. The offensive line for DCA will have some holes to fill with possibly just 1 starter returning. Defensively Dayspring Christian will look to improve after being the #25 ranked defense. Dayspring Christian will have some holes to fill returning just 5 of their top 10 tacklers but key leadership is back returning 3 of their top 5. Caleb Kayl, Jackson Steward, and Elijah Martin will be key to DCA turning things around on defense this year. |
| #14 | Sedgwick County Missed the Playoffs, went 2-7 last season | Sedgwick County missed the playoffs last season going 2-7. This is the first time in a while that Sedgwick County has missed the playoffs but look for them to rebound this season and push for a playoff spot. Sedgwick County is well coached, and I don’t see them being down for long. They return key players in Brady Mollendor, Jaxon Carlson, Tate Renquist, and Joshua Palic. Sedgwick County could take a big step this season and be back in contention. |
| #15 | Walsenburg Missed the Playoffs, went 4-5 last season | Walsenburg missed the playoffs last season but went 4-5. Walsenburg will be looking to take the next step and reach the playoffs something they have not done since 2011 (Not counting Covid). Walsenburg will have key pieces back offensively with QB Elton Chavez, RB Giovanni Aldretti, and WR Nino Cisneros. The offensive line for Walsenburg will also look to take a big step this year. Defensively Walsenburg must improve. They were the 26th ranked defense last year and gave up over 36 ppg. Walsenburg should improve returning 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Elton Chavez, Giovanni Aldretti, and Dante Pino all return to be leaders. |
| #16 | Calhan Missed the playoffs, went 6-3 last season | Calhan missed the playoffs last season but did fine some success going 6-3. Calhan will lose just 2 seniors from last years team and will look to find success this year. The 2 seniors lost were huge parts of the team, but we will see if Calhan can take the steps necessary to get to the playoffs. Offensively Calhan returns #2 rusher Logan Jack, and he will be key to Calhan finding success. Calhan will have to replace the QB and WR positions. Defensively Calhan was the #12 defense and could be a top 12 defense again this year. They return 8 of their top 10 tacklers but lose a player who had over 140 tacklers. Calhan will return Logan Jack, Austin Cochran, and Riley Cochran and they must all step up this year. |
| Other Teams to Watch | Crowley County, McClave, West Grand, Front Range Christian, Rangely, Plateau Valley, Belleview Christian, St. Mary’s, Caliche, Springfield |
MileHigh Prep Report 
You forgot about Hayden Tigers.
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Where are the 6-man pre-season rankings?
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