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. Class 2A looks to be wide open this season with many top teams losing key pieces. I think we could be in for a very exciting season in Class 2A. We are going to be doing a Media/Coaches 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 | Delta HS Defending State Champions | Delta is your defending State Champions. They lose a very talented senior class but also return plenty of talent to try and defend their title. Delta will also have a new head coach this season. Delta will return key leadership with QB Ty Reed coming back and OL/DL Ripp Lockhart. Delta as mentioned will have holes to fill but don’t expect much of a step back. Defensively Delta will return 5 of their top 13 tacklers and look for Delta to still be a huge threat. |
| #2 | Classical Academy Made the playoffs, lost in Quarterfinals | Classical Academy made the playoffs a season but fell in the Quarterfinals. TCA will have plenty of talent coming back to make a deep run including their QB Andrew Brown. The offensive line for TCA will return at least four starters and could power a very dynamic offense. Defensively TCA returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. |
| #3 | Kent Denver HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Kent Denver made the playoffs a season ago falling in the first round to Eaton. Kent Denver will be looking for a deeper run this season and have the offensive weapons to do so. Kent Denver returns their Yianni Balafas who threw for over 1700 yards along with his top RB Wyatt Walker. The offensive line should also be a force with at least 4 of their 5 starters returning. Kent Denver Defensively has the most question marks returning just 5 of their top 13 tacklers. They do have a great leader back in Tripp Skewes but he will need to be the anchor for an inexperienced defense. |
| #4 | Wellington HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Wellington took a huge step forward last season reaching the playoffs but falling in the first round. This will be year 3 of the program and their first class of seniors is up. Wellington offensively will return their QB Tanner Gray and RB Cash Altschwager. Wellington also returns their entire offensive line. Defensively Wellington will look to improve on the physical aspect and become a top defense this season. They also return their top 13 tacklers. |
| #5 | Resurrection Christian Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round (3A) | Resurrection Christian makes their return to Class 2A this cycle. Resurrection Christian made the playoffs last year in Class 3A and fell in the first round. Resurrection Christian will have plenty back to make an immediate impact in Class 2A. QB Jackson Pszanka and RB Hunter Hansen return for Rez Christian. The offensive line for Resurrection Christian will also be tough returning at least 3 starters on the offensive line. Defensively Resurrection Christian returns 6 of their top 13 tacklers and just 2 of their top 6. They have the most question marks on that side of the ball, but Resurrection Christian always seems to have a top defense. |
| #6 | Basalt HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Basalt made the playoffs a season ago but fell in the opening round to TCA. Basalt will look for a return trip this year but a deeper run. Offensively Basalt will be looking for a new QB but return a pair of 1000 yards rushers in Will Tarallo and William Daniel. The offensive line will have a few holes to fill returning just 1 or 2 starters from a year ago. Defensively Basalt will be a top unit once again returning 7 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. |
| #7 | Brush HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Brush made the playoffs a season ago after missing the previous year. Brush made big improvements last season and return a good core to make a deep run. Brush returns QB Eric Rico along with RB/LB Ritchie Bruno. The offensive line for Brush will have the most holes to fill returning at least two if not more starters from a year ago. Defensively Brush returns 7 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Brush could be a team to watch especially with their physical style of play. |
| #8 | Gunnison HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals (1A) | Gunnison moves into Class 2A this season and join a league loaded with top teams this year. Gunnison made the playoffs last season in Class 1A falling in the Quarterfinals to Strasburg. Gunnison offensively will have some weapons back including RB Graden Buckhanan. We may see a QB battle for Gunnison this year as both Pierce and Riser are back. The offensive line for Gunnison should also be tough as they return at least 2 if not 3 starters from a season ago. Defensively Gunnison could be a top 5 unit returning 8 of their top 13 tacklers. Some leadership did graduate but they still return 3 of their top 6 tacklers from last season. |
| #9 | Eaton HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Eaton had a great playoff run last season as the #15 season reaching the Semifinals before falling short to Rifle. Eaton will look to reload this season but have plenty of holes to fill. Eaton does return QB Connor Davey who had over 2000 yards of total offense a season ago. The offensive line for Eaton will need some retooling I believe they return 1 starter from a season ago. Defensively Eaton returns just 5 of their top 13 tacklers but return top tackler Cooper Nider who have over 140 tackles a season ago. |
| #10 | Sterling HS Missed the playoffs, went 5-4 last season | Sterling rounds out the top 10. Sterling missed the playoffs a season ago but went 5-4 with a young team and now will look to make the playoffs. Offensively Sterling returns QB Hunter Diamond who had over 1800 yards of total offense. Sterling also returns RB/LB Carter Jaeger who is vital on both sides of the ball. The main question mark is how much can the Sterling offensive line improve and they should as they return all 5 starters from last season. Defensively Sterling should also be tough returning 9 of their top 13 tacklers from a season ago including 5 of their top 6. Improving in he offseason will be key to how far Sterling goes this season. |
| #11 | Pagosa Springs HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Pagosa Springs made the playoffs a season ago falling in the Quarterfinals to Eaton. Pagosa Springs had a nice upset in the opening round and will look to build on that success. Pagosa Springs offensively returns QB Creede Dozier but he will look for new weapons and look for RB Colton Lucero to take a step forward this year. The offensive line for Pagosa Springs should also be tough returning 2 or 3 starters from a year ago. Defensively Pagosa Springs returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers from a year ago. The main question mark will be leadership as just 1 of their top 5 tacklers returns from a season ago. |
| #12 | Berthoud HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Berthoud made the playoffs a season ago getting upset in the Quarterfinals by Moffat County. Berthoud will have some big holes to fill by a good senior class. Berthoud will have QB Skyler Streicher back who started as a sophomore but did not start last season. RB Cole Bialek will also look to take a step forward on offense for Berthoud. The offensive line for Berthoud will look to reload as they lose 4 if not all 5 starters. They do have some size coming up that could fill those holes. Defensively Berthoud returns 6 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Berthoud may have to lean on that defense early in the season. |
| #13 | Alamosa HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Opening Round | Alamosa has been a regular into the Class 2A playoffs and they will look to keep that going this year. Alamosa returns key leadership on offense with QB Dyson Woodward coming back. Woodward had over 2200 yards of total offense last season. Alamosa will be searching for a new RB but WR Kevin Gonzales is also back to help on offense. The offensive line for Alamosa has the most question marks losing 4 starters from last season. Defensively Alamosa returns 6 of their top 13 tacklers but return 4 of their top 6. Leadership will be key for Alamosa to make a run to the playoffs. |
| #14 | Woodland Park HS Missed the Playoffs, went 3-6 last year | Woodland Park took a step back last season after making the playoffs in 2022. Woodland Park will look to rebound this season and return a talented roster to make the push. Woodland Park returns QB Marqus Schoenberger along with his top target Parker Shreeve. The offensive line for Woodland Park should also be much improved as they return at least 4 starters from a season ago. Defensively Woodland Park should make the biggest improvements. Woodland Park returns 11 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. |
| #15 | La Junta HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the first round | La Junta made the playoffs a season ago but were upset in the opening round. La Junta will have some key pieces to replace this season but return key leadership with QB Rylan Schmidt coming back. Another weapon will have to emerge for La Junta offensively. Defensively La Junta always has a top unit and this year shouldn’t change. La Junta returns 6 of their top 13 tacklers including 2 of their top 5. La Junta has some key holes but should still be a threat for the playoffs. |
| #16 | D’Evelyn HS Missed the playoffs, went 5-4 last year. | D’Evelyn missed the playoffs a season ago going 5-4 and being just on the outside looking in. Offensively D’Evelyn will be flying high returning 1700 yards passer QB Kevyn Feldon. D’Evelyn offensively also return RB Noah Allen and WR Adam Nguyen who both must become bigger threats offensively. The offensive line for D’Evelyn will have a few holes to fill but they return at least two starters on the offensive line. The defense for D’Evelyn is where the most question marks come up. D’Evelyn returns just 6 of their top 13 tacklers and just 2 of their top 6. This unit will lean on Kafui Fiadonu to be the leader but who else steps up is key. |
| Other Teams to Watch | #17-University, #18-Strasburg, #19-Weld Central, #20-Fort Lupton, Florence, Lamar, Montezuma-Cortez, Elizabeth, Salida, Banning Lewis, Aspen, Valley, Coal Ridge, Bennett, Moffat County |
Notes for Teams not Ranked in Top 16:
Getting down to the top 16 was not easy and why this is just my preseason rankings, and I will probably have changes once we get close to the season. Leaving Strasburg & University out of the rankings was one of the tougher choices. They have great tradition and great coaching, and I will probably regret not having them in the top 16. Both teams lost some good senior classes. Honestly, I think Class 2A is wide open. I think you should see 24 teams in the hunt for the playoffs and it should make for a very exciting regular season.
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