Class 1A Football Quarterfinal Preview
By Anthony Garcia
We have cut the field in half in Class 1A and just 8 teams remain. Both the defending State Champions and the runners-up are still alive. All four games in Class 1A will be on Saturday. Myself and Tayler will be making the trip to Gunnison this weekend to take pictures and will update the game. Good Luck to all teams.
#1 Limon vs #8 Banning Lewis, Saturday at 1pm
Limon enters as the top seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff bracket. Limon comes into the quarterfinals following a 42 to 7 win over #16 Cedaredge. Limon was dominate in the game having running clock by halftime. Limon racked up 342 yards of total offense in the game. QB Jordan Rockwell had a efficient day going 3 of 6 for 40 yards and 2 passing TDs. Rockwell favorite target was Lance Beedy who had 2 catches for 32 yards and 2 TDs. The rushing attack led the offense with 303 yards rushing and 4 rushing TDs. RB Lohgan Bottjer led all rushers with 94 yards and 1 rushing TD and Skylur McCready was the #2 rusher with 79 yards and 1 rushing TD. Defensively Limon pitched the shutout. Limon forced 1 turnover in the game, and it was a forced fumble by Jadyn Martinez. Limon also had a pair of sacks one by Nelson Sontay and one by Treyton Marx. Liam Yoder and Keon Bandy led the Badgers in tackles.
Banning Lewis enters as the #8 Seed in the Class 1A State Playoff bracket. Banning Lewis picked up the impressive 21 to 2 win over #9 Wiggins in the opening round. Banning Lewis dominated defensively keeping Wiggins off the board. Banning Lewis forced two turnovers in the game a INT by Ben Early and a fumble recovery by Keegan Kuster. Banning Lewis was led in tackles by Jordan Jones and Chase Riehle. Offensively Banning Lewis racked up 313 yards of total offense. The rushing attack led the way with 224 yards of rushing. RB Chase Riehle led all rushers with 104 yards and 2 rushing TDs. #2 rusher was Joseph Bjegovich who had 88 yards rushing and 1 rushing TD. QB Sam Bell had a decent day going 7 of 9 for 89 yards but did have 2 INTs in the game.
These two teams have not meet in the playoffs. These two also have 2 common opponents this season. Limon defeated Yuma (48-6) and Wiggins (42-21) & Banning Lewis defeated Yuma (14-0) and Wiggins (21-2). Limon is your defending State Champions. This is the first playoff appearance for Banning Lewis in their short history of a program.
#4 Meeker vs #5 Buena Vista, Saturday at 1pm
Meeker enters as the #4 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff Bracket. Meeker enters the quarterfinals coming off a 20 to 7 win over #13 Highland. Meeker had to dig tight defensively but were able to make key stops and grab the hard-fought win. Meeker forced 2 turnovers in the game an INT by Jace Mobley and a fumble recovery by Dawson Willey. Meeker was led in tackles by Buzz Clatterbaugh and Judd Harvey. Offensively Meeker put up 364 yards of total offense. The passing attack was efficient with QB Ryan Sullivan passing for 138 yards and 1 passing TD. Sullivan favorite target was Cade Blunt who had 37 yards receiving. The rushing attack led the way offensively with 226 yards of rushing. RB Clay Crawford led all rushers with 129 yards and 2 rushing TDs. RB Cade Blunt was the #2 rusher with 70 yards in the game.
Buena Vista enters as the #5 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff bracket. Buena Vista moved into the quarterfinals with a 27 to 21 victory over #12 seeded C.S Christian. Buena Vista had a huge day offensively racking up 445 yards of total offense. The rushing attack led the way racking up 348 yards of rushing. RB Tray Cardwell had a career day with 204 yards and 2 rushing TDs. Eli Schuknecht was also a big factor with 89 yards and 1 rushing TD. QB Hudson Wingo was effective in the game going 5 of 14 for 97 yards and 1 passing TD. Caleb Camp was the main target in the passing game catching 3 passes for 75 yards and a TD. Defensively Buena Vista made key stops to secure the win. Buena Vista forced 2 turnovers in the game a INT by Aman Wingo and a fumble recovery by Carter Romack. Buena Vista also had a pair of sacks one by Tray Cardwell and another by Elijah Flowers. Buena Vista was led in tackles by Aman Wingo and Elijah Flowers.
These two teams have meet each other in the playoffs 3 different times in the past 10 years with Buena Vista leading Meeker 2 to 1. These two teams faced each other in the regular season with Meeker defeating Buena Vista 42 to 14. These two teams have 4 common opponents. Buena Vista went 3-1 defeating Gunnison, North Fork, Cedaredge, and losing to Limon. Meeker went 2-2 defeating North Fork and Cedaredge and losing to Gunnison and Limon. Meeker made the playoffs last season falling in the first round to Wray. Buena Vista made the playoffs last season falling to C.S Christian in the first round.
#2 Holyoke vs #7 Wray, Saturday at 1pm
Holyoke enters as the #2 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff Bracket. Holyoke moved into the quarterfinals with a 42 to 0 victory over #15 seeded Platte Canyon. Holyoke started slow against Platte Canyon taking a 15 to 0 lead into halftime. Holyoke came out firing in the second half taking a kickoff return for a TD and never looking back. Holyoke has not entered stats for the Platte Canyon game. Holyoke defensively played well pitching the shutout. Holyoke offensively got the running attack going Tyson Mosenteen played big on both sides of the ball.
Wray enters as the #7 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff Bracket. Wray was impressive in their opening round win over Centauri 59 to 27. Wray had a huge day offensively racking up 412 yards of offense. The passing attack was led by Casey Midcap who threw for 167 yards and 2 passing TDs. Aaron Tena was the main target in the passing attack as he caught 7 passes for 127 yards and 2 TDs. The rushing attack also had a big day rushing for 245 yards. RB Samuel Meisner led all rushers with 122 yards and 4 rushing TDs. RB Austin Collins was the #2 rusher with 50 yards and 1 TD. Defensively Wray flew around and were able to stop the high flying offense of Centauri. Wray forced 3 turnovers in the game they were all fumble recoveries by Brody Richards (2x) and Reese Weatherly. Wray was led in tackles by Wyatt Fonte, Bryson Lewis, and Brody Richards.
These two teams have meet each other in the playoffs once in the past 10 years with Wray defeating Holyoke in the lone matchup. These two teams faced each other in the regular season with Holyoke defeating Wray 32 to 14. These two teams have 4 common opponents. Holyoke went 3-1 defeating Yuma, Burlington, Wiggins, and losing to Limon. Wray went 3-1, defeating Yuma, Burlington, Wiggins, and losing to Limon. Holyoke made the playoffs last season falling in the first round to Monte Vista. Wray made the playoffs last season falling in the State Championship to Limon.
#3 Gunnison vs #6 Strasburg, Saturday at 1pm
Gunnison enters as the #3 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff Bracket. Gunnison moved into the quarterfinals with 28 to 14 win over #14 Yuma. Gunnison played very physical defense in the game holding Yuma to 0 points until the 4th Quarter. Gunnison did allow some yardage but made key stops in the redzone. Gunnison was led in tackles by Royce Uhrig, Fraser Birnie, and Holden Vickers. Gunnison has no offensive stats for the game.
Strasburg enters as the #6 seeded team in the Class 1A State Playoff Bracket. Strasburg advanced into the quarterfinals with the 21 to 0 win over the #11 North Fork. This was a physical game that saw Strasburg squeeze out the win. Offensively Strasburg had 267 yards of total offense. QB Landen Martin led the way offensively passing for 96 yards and rushing for 102 yards and a TD. Martin accounted for 198 yards of offense for Strasburg. WR Austin Velasco also had his stamp on the game catching 4 passes for 87 yards and taking a punt return 94 yards to the house. Defensively Strasburg bent but did not break pitching the shutout. Strasburg forced 3 turnovers in the game two INTs by Landen Martin & Cameron Manahan and a fumble recovery by Cade Hemphill. Strasburg was led in tackles by Paul Smith and DJ Cannon.
These two teams have not meet in the playoffs. Both teams have 1 common opponent in North Fork. Gunnison defeated North Fork 35 to 21 and Strasburg defeated North Fork 21 to 0. Gunnison made the playoffs last season falling to Centauri in the opening round. Strasburg made the playoffs last season falling in the Semifinals to Wray.
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