Quarterfinals Football Thoughts (Class 2A thru 6-Man)
I have decided to do a new article for the playoffs and talk about the previous rounds and give some thoughts on the games. In the first round I put them in different categories for the Quarterfinals. I am just going to touch on all the games.
Any playoff win is a big win for the Football Program regardless.
Class 2A
Things in Class 2A stay chaotic in the Quarterfinals. Like last year we have one double digit seed expect we have two this seasons plus 3 western slope teams make it to the semifinals.
#1 Delta over #9 Classical Academy 16 to 14
What a game plain and simple. Delta took an early 14 to 7 lead over TCA into halftime. Things would stay that way until the 4th Quarter where TCA had a big play and got things even at 14. It would remain that way until the closing minutes where a great Delta punt would pin TCA inside their own five-yard line. Then a huge defensive play by Tucker Johnson and Ripp Lockhart forced the safety and Delta would get the win 16 to 14. All I can say is this was a great game. Plenty of mistakes by both teams but big plays were the difference.
#12 Moffat County over #4 Berthoud 14 to 13
A missed extra point was the difference. This was another defensive minded game where the double-digit seed Moffat County Bulldogs got the upset. Moffat County scored an early 14 points and used their aggressive defense to stun the #4 seeded Berthoud. This team has thrived with a great defensive effort in back-to-back games. I will say this I have picked Moffat County to lose in both games by 21 and maybe I am the jinx. Regardless Moffat County has played great in the postseason stopping two very good offensive teams in back-to-back weeks.
#15 Eaton over #10 Pagosa Springs
The three-time defending state champions refused to die. Eaton come from behind again to grab a huge victory on the road to advance to the semifinals. Eaton offensively made key plays when it mattered but also had key stops on Pagosa Springs to get the upset win. Eaton scored the go-ahead passing TD with around 3 minutes left in the game then turned to their defense to close it out. Eaton will look for their third straight upset on the road this week.
#3 Rifle over #6 University 35 to 28
This was a shootout and the type of game I expected from these two teams. Rifle turned to their running game and another big effort from QB Logan Gross. Rifle also had key stops when it mattered and were able to snag the 7-point win. This was a back-and-forth game and came down to plays by both teams. The QB battle between Gross (Rifle) and Croissant (University) did live up to the hype with Gross amassing 272 yards of total offense and Croissant amassing 259 yards of total offense. This was a great game.
Class 1A
Class 1A had one upset with #7 Wray upsetting #2 Holyoke. This was the game of the week for a reason and that game lived up to the hype.
#1 Limon over #8 Banning Lewis 41 to 18
Limon continues to roll on their way to defending their state championship. Limon got started quickly, taking a 28 to 0 lead into halftime, and never looking back. They gave up the 18 points in the 4th Quarter after limon already had the 41 to 6 lead. Their defense came to play in the first half flying around and limiting a good offensive team in Banning Lewis. Limon had big performances from their senior leads on both sides of the ball. Limon will face a familiar foe at home in the Semifinals.
#4 Meeker over #5 Buena Vista 28 to 7
We knew this would be a much closer game than the last meeting and it was. Meeker did not let facing an opponent for the second time wear them down and they jumped out to a quick 21 to 0 lead at halftime. Meeker used a great defensive effort to limit the Buena Vista offense to just 29 yards rushing and forcing them to pass. Meeker also was able to control the line of scrimmage on offense and get the big 28 to 7 win. Meeker will look for another big defensive effort this week against Limon.
#7 Wray over #2 Holyoke 41 to 35
The game of the week did not disappoint in Class 1A this week. Wray and Holyoke were tied at halftime 14 to 14 before the fireworks went off in the second half. Wray had a great 3rd Quarter scoring 21 points and taking a 35 to 14 lead into the 4th quarter. Holyoke would respond with back-to-back TDs cutting the score to 35 to 28. Wray would then use up 6 minutes and get what would be the game winning TD with around 2 minutes left. Things did not settle there, and Holyoke would quickly get down the field and get another score to make it 41 to 35. Wray would then recover the onside kick and seal the win. This was a phenomenal game with both teams having huge scoring drives.
#6 Strasburg over #3 Gunnison 56 to 14
Gunnison came out hot in the 1st quarter getting a 3 and out then on their first offensive play had a pitch pass that went about 65 yards down to the 3-yard line. Gunnison would punch it in two plays later and take a 7 to 0 lead. This was where things took a change. Strasburg would respond on that next drive evening it up at 7. Strasburg defensively flew around and forced Gunnison out of their offensive rhythm the rest of the game. Strasburg got the passing attack going as QB Landen Martin and WR Austin Velasco had a great connection and connected on several big plays. Strasburg would score 35 answered points before Gunnison got a score in the 3rd Quarter. Once Strasburg got clicking, they never looked back.
8-Man Football
The top 4 seeded teams were also in my preseason rankings as the top 4 teams and all 4 reached the Semifinals. The semifinal matchups could be some of the best football in 8-Man in a long time.
#1 Mancos over #9 Sedgwick County 38 to 0
Even after 1st Quarter of play Mancos was able to awaken offensively. Mancos were held scoreless in the 1st quarter but then in the second quarter things woke up. Mancos scored 16 points before halftime and then put up another 14 in the 3rd Quarter to put the game away. Mancos found big plays in the passing game as QB Kail Wayman completed 4 of 6 for 115 yards and 3 TDs. Mancos defensively came to play limiting Sedgwick County and grabbing the win to reach the Semifinals.
#4 Lyons over #5 Dove Creek 62 to 22
This was my pick for game of the week in the 8-Man ranks. Lyons came out firing in the first half scoring 40 points before halftime and taking a 40 to 14 lead. Lyons never looked back, scoring 16 points in the 3rd Quarter and putting the game away. Lyons racked up over 500 yards of total offense as QB Miles Dumbauld had another big performance. Lyons defensively also limited a very good offensive attack from Dove Creek forcing 4 turnovers in the game. Lyons is having one of their best seasons in program history.
#2 Simla over #7 Merino 37 to 14
This was a defensive slugfest through the first half with Simla taking the 16 to 8 lead into halftime. Merino came to play in the first half defensively and limiting a very good Simla offense. Simla did sort a few things out at halftime and QB Caston Cox got going in the second half throwing 4 passing TDs. Simla also turned things up defensively in the second half allowing just the 1 score. Simla will hope to fix their mistakes as they face a similar foe in Haxtun next week.
#3 Haxtun over #6 Byers 20 to 8
Physical Football was the name of the game in this one. Haxtun and Byers both played great defense through the whole game and Byers had the lead 8 to 6 going into halftime. Haxtun had a injury on the offensive side of the ball but a senior stepped up and made key plays to help Haxtun take the lead in the 3rd Quarter and never look back. Haxtun defensively came to play limiting a very good Byers’s offense and keeping themselves in the game when the offense struggled in the first half. Haxtun will be looking for revenge next week.
6-Man Football
With just one upset in the Quarterfinals (Cheyenne Wells over Granada) things went as expected according to seeds. We have some great matchups in the semifinals and hope for another round of great games.
#1 Stratton over #8 Sierra Grande 45 to 12
Stratton came out hot once again scoring 45 points in the first half and quickly taking control of the game. Stratton had running clock by halftime powered by their defense and special teams who scored 3 touchdowns in the first half. Sierra Grande did get across two scores in the 3rd and 4th quarter on Stratton #2s. Sierra Grande had a great run this season. Stratton will look to keep their eye on the prize against a good Idalia team.
#4 Idalia over #5 Walsh 32 to 22
Idalia was in a tight fight throughout game as Walsh put in a great effort to try and get the upset. Idalia and Walsh were tied at halftime 16 to 16. Idalia took the small 24 to 22 lead into the fourth quarter and got another TD to put the game away. Idalia made a great defensive effort limiting the rushing attack of Walsh. Offensively Idalia got in done on the ground and had consistent scoring to get the win. Idalia will be looking to shock the 6-man ranks with an upset next week.
#2 Otis over #7 Branson/Kim
Otis vs Branson/Kim started very close with Otis taking a 12 to 6 lead into the 2nd Quarter. Otis then got things rolling, scoring 21 points, and pitching the shutout. Otis then had a 28-point second half to put things away. Otis had a big performance on the line of scrimmage holding the power rushing attack of Branson/Kim to just 18 points. Otis offensively did get their rushing attack going, breaking the 250 yards mark, and had 3 rushing and passing TDs. Otis will look for a trip to the State Championship.
#6 Cheyenne Wells over #3 Granada 46 to 14
As mentioned in my predictions Cheyenne Wells is playing their best football of the season. They continued that mantra offensively putting up 46 points and holding Granada to just 14 points. Granada was without a key player but still put in a great effort on both sides of the ball. Cheyenne Wells had a great defensive effort against a good Granada team forcing 3 turnovers and 3 sacks in the game. Cheyenne Wells got the rushing attack rolling breaking the 250 yards mark. Cheyenne Wells will be looking for a return trip to the State Championship.
MileHigh Prep Report 