Class 1A Football Preview-Week Nine
By Anthony Garcia
We have just two weeks left of regular season play. We will focus on the league title races plus look at the playoff situation for each class.. We will be using the CHSAA Seeding & Selection Index when it comes to any rankings going forward for this article!
Frontier League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Forge Christian 2-0 (4), #2 Flatirons Academy 1-1 (9), Denver Christian 1-1 (23), Prospect Ridge 1-2 (17), Platte Canyon 1-2 (21)
The league title race is down to three teams in the Frontier League. Forge Christian sits atop the standing at 2-0 and they could win the league title with a win over Platte Canyon and a Denver Christian loss. Forge Christian is a lock for the playoffs regardless. Flatirons Academy is in second place a 1-1 and #9 in the seeding index. They lost to Forge Christian already and their only hope for a league title is back-to-back losses by Forge Christian. Flatirons Academy with a win over Denver Christian can lock themselves into the playoffs. Prospect Ridge is sitting #4 in the league standings but #17 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Prospect Ridge lost to Denver Christian last week and put a bit damper on Prospect Ridge playoff hopes. Prospect Ridge will probably need an upset in their final game of the regular season against Forge Christian or they will need Monte Vista or Platte Valley to be upset. In my opinion I don’t think Denver Christian can get into the playoffs without an upset this week over Flatirons Academy and even then they may need a upset over Forge Christian. I do believe Platte Canyon is eliminated from playoff contention.
Lock for the Playoffs
Forge Christian, Flatirons Academy
Playoff Contenders
Prospect Ridge, Denver Christian
Out of Playoff Race
Platte Canyon
Frontier League Stat Leaders
Passing: Sullivan Strange, Forge Christian (1141 yards & 18 TDs), Parker Wilson Flatirons Academy (495 yards & 2 TDs), Seth Coffman, Platte Canyon (443 yards & 2 TDs)
Rushing: Elijah Ricca, Flatirons Academy (749 yards & 11 TDs), Machaon Puga, Prospect Ridge (717 yards & 8 TDs), Euli Tafoya, Forge Christian (648 yards & 5 TDs)
Receiving: Joey Shelton, Forge Christian (397 yards, 6 TDs), Brenden Hardy, Forge Christian (343 yards, 3 TDs)
Tackles: Dante Vigil, Forge Christian (67), Ryan Coulter, Flatirons Academy (57), Colton Shirley, Platte Canyon (56)
Sacks: Machaon Puga, Prospect Ridge (9.5 sacks), Euli Tafoya (7.0 sacks)
INTs: Caleb Doughty, Flatirons Academy (3), Judah Burgess, Flatirons Academy (2)
League 6
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Highland 3-0 (6), #2 Platte Valley 3-0 (16), #3 Jefferson 1-1 (24), #2 Manual 0-2 (19), #5 Estes Park 0-3 (33)
Highland defeated Jefferson last night 72-0 and punched their ticket to the playoffs. That win also puts the league title on the line next week when Highland will face Platte Valley who had a bye this week. Platte Valley sits at #16 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and would be the last team in. They have one last matchup with Highland and a win gets them in with the league title but a loss will make them sweat things out for one of the two final spots. Manual is next in terms of seeding index at #19. They are .038 behind Prospect Ridge at #17. They would need a ton of help to get into the playoffs their loss to Platte Valley last week basically sealed their fate. Jefferson with their loss last night is eliminated from playoff contention and Estes Park is also out of the playoff hunt.
Lock for the Playoffs
Highland
Playoff Contenders
Platte Valley
Out of Playoff Race
Jefferson, Manual, Estes Park
League 6 Stat Leaders
Passing: Demitrias Martinez, Jefferson (1131 yards & 8 TDs), Regan Edstrom, Platte Valley (1012 yards & 11 TDs), John Bingley, Highland (984 yards & 12 TDs)
Rushing: Demitrias Martinez, Jefferson (995 yards & 7 TDs), Wyatt Chase, Highland (575 yards & 7 TDs), Talyn Short, Platte Valley (457 yards & 2 TDs)
Receiving: Shane Sverak Jr., Highland (464 yards 6 TDs), Giano Gomez, Jefferson (412 yards & 3 TDs)
Tackles: Demitrias Martinez, Jefferson (103), Enzo Hernandez, Jefferson (99), Talyn Short, Platte Valley (84)
Sacks: Enzo Hernandez, Jefferson (13.0 sacks), Brogan Palmer, Highland (10.0 sacks)
INTs: Jacob Ballejos, Jefferson (5), Wyatt Meyer, Platte Valley (3)
North Central League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Wray 3-0 (2), Wiggins 2-1 (5), Limon 1-2 (4), Yuma 1-2 (13), Burlington 1-2 (10), Holyoke 1-2 (14)
The North Central League has been a crazy race to watch with an upset every weekend since league play has started. Wray currently leads the league title race and they can win the league title this week with a win over Yuma and a Wiggins loss. If that does not happen Wray will face Wiggins for the North Central League title next week. Wray is a lock for the playoffs. Wiggins sits in second place at 2-1 and #5 in the seeding index. Wiggins must beat Holyoke this week to set up the league title matchup with Wray next week. Wiggins is also a lock for the playoffs. Limon has the next highest CHSAA Seeding Index at #4. Limon will face Burlington this week. Limon with a win stay inside the top 8 of the CHSAA Seeding Index but a loss could put them in danger of not hosting a first-round game. Burlington is looking to jump into the top 8 and an upset of Limon would do just that. I do believe both Limon and Burlington are both locks for the playoffs. Yuma sits at #13 in the seeding index. They are a long way from #15 & 16 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Yuma has the toughest remaining schedule facing Wray this week and Limon the following. They could drop with back-to-back losses to #14 possibly #15 but should be in decent shape for the playoffs. Holyoke sits at #14 in the seeding index. They are in the most danger when it comes to the North Central League. They are .06 ahead of Monte Vista in the Seeding Index but they will face Wiggins this week and Burlington to end the season. If they go 0-2 there is a chance, they could fall into the #15 spot maybe even #16. I don’t think Holyoke will drop out of the top 16 but a win in their final two games could help their seed improve and avoid a top 2 team.
Lock for the Playoffs
Wray, Limon, Wiggins, Burlington
Playoff Contenders
Yuma, Holyoke
Out of Playoff Race
None
Stat Leaders North Central League
Passing: Casey Midcap, Wray (759 yards, 11 TDs), Aiden Kollath, Limon (505 yards, 6 TDs), Jr Meyer, Wiggins (447 yards & 1 TD)
Rushing: Jonathan Thomson, Yuma (919 yards, 10 TDs), Jayson Lousberg, Wiggins (868 yards, 7 TDs), Samuel Meisner, Wray (835 yards, 15 TDs)
Receiving: Aaron Tena, Wray (346 yards & 5 TDs), Connor Halde, Burlington (291 yards & 3 TDs)
Tackles: Jr Meyer, Wiggins (82), Samuel Meisner, Wray (67), Jonathan Thomson, Yuma (66)
Sacks: Mark Walker, Wiggins (5.0 sacks), Tyler Dilka, Wiggins (4 Sacks)
INTs: Jonathan Thomson, Yuma (4), Aaron Tena, Wray (3)
South Central League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Centauri 3-0 (3), #2 Monte Vista 3-0 (15), #3 Ignacio 2-1 (22), #4 Trinidad 1-2 (28) #5 Center 0-3 (35), #6 Del Norte 0-3 (34) (Forfeit the rest of the season)
The South Central league has once again come down to the final two weeks of the regular season and looks to be a league title matchup between Centauri and Monte Vista. Centauri is the top team in the CHSAA Seeding Index at #3 and are a lock for the playoffs. They will face Trinidad on Saturday, and a win sets up the league title match next week. Monte Vista has the second highest CHSAA Seeding Index at #15. They will face Ignacio, and this is a elimination game for both Monte Vista and Ignacio. Monte Vista cannot get into the playoffs without a win over Ignacio unless they upset Centauri. Monte Vista with a win over Ignacio sets up the South Central League Title. Ignacio sits at #22 in the Seeding Index. They would need to upset Monte Vista and even then, I am not sure if they could get into the playoffs. Trinidad and Center are eliminated from playoff contention.
Lock for the Playoffs
Centauri
Playoff Contenders
Monte Vista, Ignacio
Out of Playoff Race
Trinidad, Center, Del Norte
South Central Stat Leaders
Passing: Sean Jarvies, Centauri (834 yards, 8 TDs), Kaden Madrid, Monte Vista (679 yards, 10 TDs), Isaiah Moreno, Trinidad (180 yards)
Rushing: Parker Buhr, Centauri (1027 yards, 11 TDs), Caden Ruggles, Center (598 yards, 2 TDs), Jacob Pacheco, Monte Vista (532 yards, 4 TDs)
Receiving: Carson Shawcroft, Centauri (421 yards 6 TDs), Azariah Hurtado, Monte Vista (323 yards 7 TDs)
Tackles: Parker Buhr, Centauri (65), Caden Ruggles, Center (64), Alex Marquez, Monte Vista (49)
Sacks: Andrew East, Trinidad (4.0 Sacks), Jace Creel, Centauri (3.5 Sacks)
INTs: Jaiden Martinezz, Center (6), Azariah Hurtado, Monte Vista (3)
Tri-Peaks League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Buena Vista 3-0 (8), #2 Peyton 3-0 (12), #3 C.S Christian 2-1 (11), #4 Rye 1-2 (27), Ellicott 0-3 (30), Dolores Huerta 0-3 (29)
The league title could be determined this week but could go into next week. Peyton will host Buena Vista this week and could be for the league title. If Peyton wins, they win the league title and get the automatic berth into the playoffs. If Buena Vista wins, they must still face C.S Christian in the final week of the season and that would be for the league title. Buena Vista is the only team I believe is a lock for the playoffs. Buena Vista sits at #8 and a win this week and next week would keep them into the top 8. I think any loss by Buena Vista could see them drop out of the top 8 but still get in. C.S Christian sits at #11 in the seeding index. They lost to Peyton and still must face Buena Vista. As long as C.S Christian defeats Rye this week they will be a lock for the playoffs. Peyton sits at #12 in the seeding index. If they loss to Buena Vista they could drop a few spots but I don’t think drop out of the top 16. Their final game against Ellicott is a must win! Rye, Ellicott, and Dolores Huerta are out of playoff contention.
Lock for the Playoffs
Buena Vista
Playoff Contenders
Peyton, C.S Christian
Out of Playoff Race
Dolores Huerta, Rye, Ellicott
Stat Leaders Tri-Peaks:
Passing: Jace Velasquez, C.S Christian (1246 yards, 12 TDs), Noah Martin, Peyton (755 yards, 12 TDs), Hudson Wingo, Buena Vista (743 yards, 10 TDs)
Rushing: Daniel Hoggard, C.S Christian (717 yards, 11 TDs), Eli Schuknecht, Buena Vista (637 yards & 6 TDs), Tony Bonilla, Ellicott (575 yards & 8 TDs)
Receiving: Mikey Orawiec, C.S Christian (398 yards, 7 TDs), Colton Cobb, Peyton (360 yards & 7 TDs)
Tackles: Jose Martinez, Rye (77), Josiah Zimmerman, Peyton (74), Abel Flower, Buena Vista (59)
Sacks: Anthony Adams, Rye (3.0 Sacks), Richard Cole, Peyton (2.0 Sacks)
INTs: Mack Bigley, Buena Vista (2), Tavon Flewellen, Ellicott (2)
Western Slope League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Meeker 3-0 (7), #2 North Fork 2-1 (18), #3 Grand Valley 2-1 (26), #4 Cedaredge 1-2 (20), #5 Roaring Fork 1-2 (25), Olathe 0-3 (31)
Meeker sits atop the Western Slope League and could win the league title this week. Meeker with a win over Olathe and a North Fork win over Grand Valley wins the league title. If Grand Valley defeats North Fork, then Meeker will face Grand Valley for the league title next week. Meeker is currently the only team that would make the playoffs in the Western Slope and are the only lock currently for the playoffs. If Meeker can win out they could host a first-round matchup, but a weak league could hurt their shot at hosting a playoff game. North Fork has the second highest CHSAA Seeding Index at #18. They would need a lot of help including a Platte Valley loss in their final game and Monte Vista to lose to Ignacio this week. North Fork would also need to win their final two games of the season. Grand Valley I am keeping as a contender because with back-to-back upsets of North Fork and Meeker they could win the league title and get in. One loses to either team and they are out. Cedaredge, Roaring Fork, and Olathe are out of playoff contention.
Lock for the Playoffs
Meeker
Playoff Contenders
North Fork, Grand Valley
Out of Playoff Race
Roaring Fork, Olathe, Cedaredge
Stat Leaders Western Slope:
Passing: Logan Sanders, Cedaredge (468 yards, 2 TDs), Cade Mills, Meeker (403 yards, 4 TDs), Kenny Riley, Roaring Fork (356 yards)
Rushing: Clay Crawford, Meeker (543 yards & 10 TDs), Cade Blunt, Meeker (525 yards & 3 TDs), Mason Schoeppner, Grand Valley (498 yards & 3 TDs)
Receiving: Hunter Noll, Roaring Fork (366 yards, 2 TDs), Brady Cooper, Cedaredge (272 yards, 2 TDs)
Tackles: Gabriel Mendoza, Grand Valley (99), Cade Blunt, Meeker (80), Tristin Rollins, Meeker (76)
Sacks: Mason Schoeppner, Grand Valley (6.0 sacks), Trent Sanders, Meeker (3.0 Sacks)
INTs: Jaysen Skeen, Grand Valley (5), Logan Sanders, Cedaredge (3)
MileHigh Prep Report 