Class 1A Football Preview-Week One

Class 1A Football Preview-Week One

By Anthony Garcia

We kicked things off last week with Zero week but now the rest of the state gets going.  After zero week we did see some changes to the rankings with Platte Valley falling out.  We here at MileHigh Prep Report are ready to kick things off this season with a great weekend of Football. 

Rankings used are from Media/Coaches Poll.

Class 1A

#1 Limon at #4 C.S Christian Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Limon will be featuring new stars this season across the board.  A few players who could step up are Jacob Jaklich and Zac Carr.  The offensive line will be lead by Jr. Keagan Mellott.  Defensively Limon will look to Jacob Jaklich (51) and Keagan Mellott (45) to lead the Badgers this season.  C.S Christian returns QB Jace Velasquez (1487 yards, 13 TDs), along with WR Cody Glojek (392 yards, 1 TD) and do it all Eddie Harmon (517 total offensive yards).  Eddie Harmon (124 tackls), Nick Larson (88), and Cody Glojek (78) are all back to lead the defense.

Series history… Limon leads 6-1 since 2005. The Badgers won 41 to 0 in their last meeting back in 2022.

#2 Wray at Platte Canyon Saturday at 1pm

Who we’re watching… Wray returns key pieces across the board but will look for QB Casey Midcap (1200 yards passing, 8 TDs, 766 yards rushing, 15 TDs) and RB Samuel Meisner (1535 yards rushing, 29 TDs).  Wray will also have weapons back in Austin Collins (309 receiving yards, 2 TDs) and WR Aaron Tena (491 yards, 6 TDs).  Defensively Meisner (97) and Midcap (71) lead the Eagles along with Tavery Chappell (68).  Platte Canyon will be turning to a new group of skill players this season.  Seth Coffman, Loe Batzer, and Ty Cole are a few names who could step up for the Huskies on offense this season.  Keaton Brown (40) and Quinn Tanner (34) are back to lead the Platte Canyon defense.

Series history… Platte Canyon leads 1-0 since 2005. Their only meeting was back in 2014, Platte Canyon won 30-14.

#3 Buena Vista at Salida Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Buena Vista will look to their rushing attack again with Eli Schuknecht (949 yards, 9 TDs) and Tray Cardwell (606 yards, 5 TDs).  QB Hudson Wingo (693 yards, 5 TDs) is also back.  Defensively Abel Flowers (88 tackles) and Knox Reid (70 tackles) return to lead the Demons.  Salida enters 2024 looking for players to step up at the skill position group.  RB Wyatt Farney (158 yards, 2 TDs) is the lone returner for Salida with over 100 yards of total offense.  It’s a different story defensively for the Spartans.  Salida returns key leaders with Casen Pridemore (124 tackles), Brody Hudson (80), and Anthony Taverna (38). 

Series history… Buena Vista lead 14-4 since 2005.  Their last meeting was last season with Buena Vista defeating Salida 22-0.

Forge Christian upsets #5 Wiggins 41 to 0 Final (Thursday Night)

#6 Centauri at #9 Meeker Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Centauri brings back key offensive pieces with QB Sean Jarvis (1055, 8 TDs), along with RB Parker Buhr (852 yards, 15 TDs).  Weapons at WR will need to step up and keep an eye out for WR Carson Shawcroft.  Defensively Spencer Smith (67 tackles) and Parker Buhr (57 tackles) are back to be leaders on defense.  Meeker will be on the search for a new QB but return key RBs in Clay Crawford (983 yards, 13 TDs) and Cade Blunt (464 yards, 6 TDs).  Both will look to anchor the offense this season as the offensive line develops.  Cade Blunt (100) and Said Rodriguez (51) are the top returning tacklers from the Cowboys last season.

Series history… Centauri and Meeker have played each other just once since 2005.  Centauri won that contest 41 to 6. 

#7 Yuma at Chase County NE Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Yuma ran for over 2000 yards last season and return the top three players who were responsible for that.  QB Jonathan Thomson (517 passing, 3 TDs, 928 rushing, 6 TDs), RB Silas Baucke (480 yards, 6 TDs), and RB Damien Kosiski (456 yards, 6 TDs).  Defensively Thomson (81 tackles) is back as the leader but look for Reyli Trejo (43) and Brody Sheffield (40) to step up this season.  Chase County NE is located in Imperial Nebraska.  Chase County went 7-3 last year and made the playoffs.  This should be a good test for both teams.

Series history… These two teams have not meet since 2005. 

#8 Monte Vista at Alamosa (played at Adams State) Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Monte Vista RB Jacob Pacheco (1178 yards, 22 TDs) is back to lead the Pirate offense into 2024, along with QB Kaden Madrid (635 yards, 10 TDs), and WR Azariah Hurtado (342 yards, 8 TDs).  Defensively Azariah Hurtado (57), Jon Enderle (49), and Jeremiah Baumgardner (48) all return as top tacklers from a season ago for the Pirates.  Alamosa comes in led by dual threat QB Dyson Woodward (1887 yards passing, 15 TDs, 619 yards rushing, 8 TDs).  He will be looking for players like WR Kevin Gonzales Jr. (494, 3 TDs), and RB Zane Zook to step up this season.  Defensively Landon Garcia (58 tackles) returns as the leader but look for Carlos Garcia (45) and Ryan Higareda (35) as other players to watch.

Series history… Alamosa leads the series 4-0 since 2005.  They last played each other in 2021 with Alamosa winning 32 to 14.

#10 Highland vs Flatirons Academy Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Highland returns QB John Bingley (892 yards, 12 TDs) who will lead a inexperience skill position group.  RB Tyler Varra, WR Shane Sverak Jr, and WR Brogan Palmer will all be tasked with taking big steps forward this season.  Defensively Highland returns their top two tacklers in Ira Sittner (61) and Brogan Palmer (37).  Flatirons Academy QB Peyton Wilson (337 yards, 6 TD) is back to lead the Bison but look for RBs Ryan Coulter (335 yards, 2 TDs) and Elijah Ricca (315 yards, 5 TDs) to step up this season.  Judah Burgess (46) and Ryan Coulter (31) are back as leading tacklers for the Bison.

Series history… Highland leads the series 7-2 since 2005.  They were in the same league for a few years and played each other last year with Highland winning 52-0.

2A Manitou Springs over Rye 33 to 0 Final (Thursday Night)

Center at North Fork Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… North Fork will be looking for new skill position players to step up this season.  A few names to keep an eye on for are Payson Pene, Joe Hollembeak, and Stellar Cook.  Defensively Joe Hollembeak (53 tackles) and Jakob Carver (52) will look to be leaders this season for the Miners.  Center went 1-8 last season under first year head coach Bob Frederickson.  Center did not post stats last season, but they will be looking to bounce back from last year.

Series history… North Fork leads the series 2-1 since 2005.  They last played each other last season with North Fork defeating Center 48-6.

Cedaredge (0-0) at Ignacio (0-1) Friday at 7pm

Who we’re watching… Cedaredge we will be looking to see who emerges as the QB for the Bruins.  Back for Cedaredge is RB Ethan Toothaker (246 yards, 4 TDs) and WR Brady Cooper (416 yards, 2 TDs).  Defensively Cedaredge returns their top 3 tacklers from a season ago in Wylee Lorimor (27), Ethan Toothaker (23), and Kolter Mann (20).  Ignacio went 4-5 last season and finished 3^rd in their league.  Ignacio did not post stats last season but lose a senior class that anchored the offensive line and WR core.  Ignacio returns their QB.  Ignacio played a game already this season falling to Manual 22 to 19. 

Series history… These two teams have not meet since 2005. 

Other Games to Note:

Roaring Fork (0-0) at Ellicott (1-0) Friday at 7pm

8-Man Dayspring Christian (0-0) at Denver Christian (0-0) Friday at 7pm

Middle Park (0-0) at Estes Park (0-0) Friday at 7pm

Olathe (0-0) at Del Norte (0-0) Friday at 7pm