MileHigh Prep Reports Top 10 Games of the Week for Week 1 Class 1A
We are doing something a bit different this season and looking at the top 10 games of the week. These games are picked by MileHigh Prep Report and ranking does not matter. We will separate into two classes and go from there for the first few weeks. If there are not ten games that catch are eye, we will lower the number of games. Good Luck this season to all teams!
Rankings used are from Media Poll.
Class 1A
#2 Strasburg at #7 Holyoke (Thursday)
A huge game to kickoff the 2023 Football season. Two top 10 teams will clash both teams with big expectations this season. Strasburg is coming off a 10-2 record and a trip to the Semifinals. Strasburg has some big expectations with most people having Strasburg ranked in the top 5. Strasburg defeated Holyoke 37-6 last season and expect a much closer game this season. Holyoke is coming off a 4-6 record last season and a first-round loss to Monte Vista. Holyoke has higher expectations this season as they return most of their skill players from last season. This should be a great battle between two top 10 teams.
#9 North Fork at #6 Meeker
We keep the train rolling in top matchups in Class 1A with another top 10 battle. This one though has big implications for not just 1A but inside the Western Slope League. This is a league matchup and both teams want to start 2023 with a 1-0 mark in league. Meeker scored a 28 to 0 victory over North Fork a season ago. This was a great game a season ago and with both teams sitting inside the top 10 don’t expect much different. North Fork has already kicked off their season defeating Ignacio in their zero-week game 45 to 6. It was a very dominate game for North Fork but this week things will be much more difficult. No better way to kick off 2023 than with a rivalry and league game!
#1 Limon at #10 Florence (2A)
Why not keep things going with another top 10 matchup this time pitting the #1 team in Class 1A Limon vs the #10 team in Class 2A Florence. Limon will be looking to repeat as state champions and getting off to a 1-0 start is key. Limon is loaded for another big season. Of course, Limon has a few holes to fill but with key leaders back look out for Limon this year. Florence enters the season off an 8-2 record including a 20 to 3 loss to Limon a season ago. Florence will have some key holes to fill but they will make this game competitive with their defense. Don’t look for a ton of points in this game and expect a very physical matchup.
#3 Wray vs Highland (Thursday)
Class 1A is loaded with top games to kick off 2023 and this is another one. Wray hosts Highland and this season look for this game to be much closer than a year ago. Wray defeated Highland 46 to 0 to open the season. Wray is coming off a 9-4 record and were your runners up. Wray has a few more holes this season to fill but have solid leadership back. Wray will look to get going in the right direction. Highland is coming off a 3-6 record and struggled to get out the gate a season ago losing 4 straight games. Highland was inexperience last season and that is different this season. Highland returns some key pieces to try and knock off a top 10 team.
#4 Centauri at Pagosa Springs (2A)
We get an interesting battle between Intermountain League teams in all sports but football. Centauri makes the trip over Wolf Creek pass in a high-flying battle. Centauri is coming off an 8-3 record and a trip to the quarterfinals. They return some key pieces from last season team including a pair of top tacklers. Centauri will be looking to get off on the right foot against Pagosa Springs like they did last season. Centauri will face another spread offense to open the season. Pagosa Springs missed the playoffs last season but went 4-5. Pagosa Springs will look to avoid a dreaded 0-5 start to the season. Pagosa Springs will be tested defensively, and we will see how they handle the spread of Centauri.
Denver Christian at Banning Lewis (Thursday)
Another great matchup between to playoff hopeful teams. Banning Lewis is coming off a 5-4 record and barely missing the playoffs. They will look to start 2023 in dominate fashion. Banning Lewis defeated Denver Christian 46 to 6 last season but expect a tougher matchup this season. Banning Lewis has key pieces back and were just outside the top 10 in the media poll. Denver Christian is coming off a 4-5 record in their first season of 11-man football. Denver Christian will look to build off last season and avoid a 1-5 start to open the season.
C.S Christian at Flatirons Academy
C.S Christian vs Flatirons Academy a season ago turned out to be a very big matchup between two teams who eventually made the playoffs. This season both teams come in with a few more question marks but an early win to start the year could big pivotal to the 2023 season. C.S Christian went 8-4 last season including a trip to the Semifinals. Last season C.S Christian defeated Flatirons Academy 34 to 31. C.S Christian will have some key holes to fill but have their leader at QB back. Flatirons Academy went 7-3 last season and made the playoffs losing in the first round. Flatirons Academy lost key seniors from last season team and could be rebuilding a bit more than last season. We will see how a younger Flatirons Academy team looks in week #1.
Wiggins at Brush (2A)
Let’s keep the good games rolling with another great game between Wiggins and Brush. Wiggins will make the trip east on I-70 to face Brush. Wiggins is coming off a 7-4 record last season and a trip to the Quarterfinals. Wiggins will be filling some key holes this season and I am interested to see the new skill position players that step up for Wiggins. Wiggins defeated Brush 27 to 7 a season ago. Brush is coming off a 5-4 record a season ago and missed the playoffs. Brush will have revenge on the mind in this game but also looking to get off on the right foot. Brush is hoping to get to the playoffs and starting 1-0 will be important. This should be a very good game.
Cedaredge at Peyton
A long road trip for Cedaredge as they make the trip east to face Peyton. This is a pivotal matchup between two teams looking to make the playoffs. Cedaredge went 4-5 last season but missed the playoffs. Cedaredge returns some key pieces from last season including leaders on both sides of the ball. Cedaredge would love to start 1-0 on the season and build on momentum. Cedaredge defeated Peyton last season 27 to 0. Peyton went 3-6 last season and will hope to build off the youth and inexperience they had last season. Peyton will look to start hot out the gates and hope to make a run for the playoffs.
Gunnison vs Aspen (2A)
The final game to mention this week is Gunnison vs 2A Aspen. Both teams opened 2023 last week. Gunnison opened 2023 with a dominate win over Del Norte 49 to 0. Gunnison started out hot scoring 28 points in the first quarter using good field position. Gunnison will look to dominate with their rushing attack again this week. Aspen opened 2023 with a 36 to 28 loss to 3A Glenwood Springs. Aspen was going back and forth with Glenwood Springs until the 4th quarter were Glenwood Springs outscored Aspen 16 to 6. Aspen will look to fix their mistakes and look to stop the run against Gunnison this week.
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