Class 1A Football Preview-Week Ten
By Anthony Garcia
Final week of the regular season. Three of the Six league title are still on the line and a few teams are still in the hunt for the playoffs. We will focus on the league title races plus look at the playoff situation for each league. 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 3-0 (2), #2 Flatirons Academy 2-1 (9), Denver Christian 1-2 (23), Prospect Ridge 1-2 (19), Platte Canyon 1-3 (21)
Forge Christian is your league, Champion. They won the league title last week when Flatirons Academy defeated Denver Christian. Forge Christian is in the hunt for a top 2 seed and if they win this week against Denver Christian will be the #1 or #2 seed. Flatirons Academy is a lock for the playoffs at #9 in the CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index. They are a solid amount behind #8 Meeker at .018. Flatirons Academy with a win should be at #9 I don’t see them moving up or down if they defeat Prospect Ridge Academy. A loss and things will get very interesting for Flatirons Academy. Prospect Ridge is the last team to mention in the Frontier League. They sit at #19 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. They are .061 behind #16 Meeker and #17 Platte Valley. Prospect Ridge only hope for the playoffs is to upset Flatirons Academy, that still might not be enough, but a loss and they are eliminated.
Lock for the Playoffs
Forge Christian, Flatirons Academy
Playoff Contenders
Prospect Ridge
Out of Playoff Race
Denver Christian, Platte Canyon
Frontier League Stat Leaders
Passing: Sullivan Strange, Forge Christian (1253 yards & 20 TDs), Parker Wilson Flatirons Academy (495 yards & 2 TDs), Seth Coffman, Platte Canyon (445 yards & 2 TDs)
Rushing: Elijah Ricca, Flatirons Academy (749 yards & 11 TDs), Machaon Puga, Prospect Ridge (717 yards & 8 TDs), Euli Tafoya, Forge Christian (676 yards & 6 TDs)
Receiving: Brenden Hardy, Forge Christian (401 yards & 4 TDs), Joey Shelton, Forge Christian (397 yards & 6 TDs)
Tackles: Colton Shirley, Platte Canyon (106), Dante Vigil, Forge Christian (72), Ryan Coulter, Flatirons Academy (57)
Sacks: Machaon Puga, Prospect Ridge (9.5 sacks), Euli Tafoya (7.0 sacks)
INTs: Caleb Doughty, Flatirons Academy (3), Jason Ranjit, Prospect Ridge (3)
League 6
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Highland 3-0 (6), #2 Platte Valley 3-0 (17), #3 Jefferson 1-2 (24), #2 Manual 1-2 (20), #5 Estes Park 0-4 (34)
League 6 has come down to Highland vs Platte Valley for the league Championship. Platte Valley will host that game, and the winner of the game wins the league title outright. Highland is in position to host a first-round game with a win but a loss probably sees them fall to #8 or #9 and not host a first round game. Platte Valley has much more on the line. Platte Valley is #17 and just .0005 behind #16 North Fork. Platte Valley with a win of course guarantees them a spot in the playoffs with the league title but a loss and it will be hard for Platte Valley to get into the playoffs. Platte Valley with a loss would need North Fork to lose or Peyton to get upset by Ellicott. Platte Valley may keep it close in the CHSAA Seeding Index with a loss and North Fork win, but I think Platte Valley only route into the playoffs is a win over Highland.
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), John Bingley, Highland (1078 yards & 14 TDs), Regan Edstrom, Platte Valley (1012 yards & 11 TDs)
Rushing: Demitrias Martinez, Jefferson (1025 yards & 7 TDs), Wyatt Chase, Highland (599 yards & 8 TDs), Talyn Short, Platte Valley (457 yards & 2 TDs)
Receiving: Shane Sverak Jr., Highland (506 yards 6 TDs), Giano Gomez, Jefferson (412 yards & 3 TDs)
Tackles: Demitrias Martinez, Jefferson (110), Enzo Hernandez, Jefferson (99), Talyn Short, Platte Valley (84)
Sacks: Enzo Hernandez, Jefferson (13.0 sacks), Brogan Palmer, Highland (11.0 sacks)
INTs: Jacob Ballejos, Jefferson (5), Stetson Hendren, Highland (5)
North Central League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Wray 4-0 (1), Holyoke 2-2 (10), Limon 2-2 (3), Wiggins 2-2 (5), Burlington 1-3 (12), Yuma 1-3 (13)
Wray is your North League Champions! They won the league title last week defeating Yuma (44-0) and Wiggins falling to Holyoke. Wray is in a tight battle for the #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs. Wray will close their season against Wiggins and a win will give them a solid foot forward on the #1 overall seed. Limon is next highest in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Limon sits at #3 and they will face Yuma this week. Limon is in a very tight battle for the #3 and #4 seed with Centauri. Limon with a win and Centauri win could possibly get jumped for the #3 seed. Regardless Limon will host a first-round game, but they must take care of Yuma to keep a top 4 seed. Yuma as mentioned will face Limon this week. Yuma sits at #13 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and are still a lock for the playoffs regardless of the outcome. Yuma could be anywhere from #11 to #14 depending on how things shake out this weekend. Wiggins sits at #5 and is also a lock for the playoffs. Wiggins will face #1 Wray this week and an upset win could see them at least battle with Centauri for the #4 seed. Wiggins with a loss to Centauri could drop as low at #7 especially if Highland and Buena Vista are victorious behind them. Wiggins will host I feel regardless of the outcome. Holyoke comes in at #10 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. They flew up the Seeding Index with a huge win over Wiggins. Holyoke is a lock for the playoffs regardless of the result against Burlington this week. Holyoke, I don’t think hosts a first-round game unless a couple upsets happen. I do think Holyoke end up as the #10 maybe #11 if CSCS upsets Buena Vista. Burlington is the final team to mention. They sit at #12 in the Seeding Index and are a lock for the playoffs. They face Holyoke this week. Burlington could still move around if they can knock off Holyoke. Burlington, I think with a win over Holyoke could jump into the #11 spot maybe #10. Burlington with a loss should hold the #12 spot unless some upsets happen around them.
Lock for the Playoffs
Wray, Limon, Wiggins, Burlington, Yuma, Holyoke
Playoff Contenders
None
Out of Playoff Race
None
Stat Leaders North Central League
Passing: Casey Midcap, Wray (829 yards, 11 TDs), Aiden Kollath, Limon (628 yards, 8 TDs), Jr Meyer, Wiggins (581 yards & 1 TD)
Rushing: Samuel Meisner, Wray (1010 yards & 20 TDs), Jayson Lousberg, Wiggins (996 yards & 9 TDs), Jonathan Thomson, Yuma (939 yards & 10 TDs)
Receiving: Aaron Tena, Wray (386 yards & 5 TDs), Marcus Steinbar, Wiggins (321 yards & 0 TDs)
Tackles: Jr Meyer, Wiggins (92), Samuel Meisner, Wray (75), Jorge Mendez, Wiggins (74)
Sacks: Mark Walker, Wiggins (8.0 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 4-0 (4), #2 Monte Vista 4-0 (14), #3 Ignacio 2-2 (22), #4 Trinidad 1-3 (25) #5 Center 1-3 (33), #6 Del Norte 0-4 (35) (Forfeit the rest of the season)
The South Central League has once again come down to Monte Vista vs Centauri for the league title race. Ignacio playoff hopes faded once Monte Vista defeated them last week. Centauri sits at #4 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and they are just .002 behind Limon at #3. Centauri with a win over Monte Vista will give them a shot at the #3 seed. Centauri regardless of the outcome will host a first-round game. Centauri with a loss could drop as low as #6 but their great non-league schedule will keep them as a top 6 seed. Monte Vista sits at #14 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and simple they win they are automatically in and could possibly jump as high as #12 maybe even #11. Monte Vista with a loss to Centauri should get into the playoffs, but nothing is guaranteed. Monte Vista win over North Fork could be key to their season as North Fork sits at #16 and Monte Vista will stay just ahead of them even with a loss. Monte Vista, I think with a loss slips to #15 only, they drop to #16 is if Platte Valley upsets Highland and then things will be very interesting come selection Sunday. Monte Vista is .058 ahead of North Fork and Platte Valley.
Lock for the Playoffs
Centauri
Playoff Contenders
Monte Vista
Out of Playoff Race
Ignacio, Trinidad, Center, Del Norte
South Central Stat Leaders
Passing: Kaden Madrid, Monte Vista (970 yards & 13 TDs), Sean Jarvies, Centauri (834 yards & 8 TDs), Isaiah Moreno, Trinidad (319 yards & 2 TDs)
Rushing: Parker Buhr, Centauri (1027 yards, 11 TDs), Jacob Pacheco, Monte Vista (692 yards & 5 TDs), Caden Ruggles, Center (598 yards & 2 TDs)
Receiving: Azariah Hurtado, Monte Vista (548 yards & 10 TDs), Carson Shawcroft, Centauri (421 yards & 6 TDs)
Tackles: Parker Buhr, Centauri (65), Caden Ruggles, Center (64), Alex Marquez, Monte Vista (55)
Sacks: Andrew East, Trinidad (5.0 Sacks), Alex Marquez (5.0 Sacks)
INTs: Jaiden Martinezz, Center (6), Azariah Hurtado, Monte Vista (6)
Tri-Peaks League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Buena Vista 4-0 (7), #2 Peyton 3-1 (15), #3 C.S Christian 3-1 (11), #4 Rye 1-3 (27), Ellicott 1-3 (29), Dolores Huerta 0-4 (30)
Buena Vista leads the Tri-Peaks league at a perfect 4-0 and they will face C.S Christian for the league title. Buena Vista wins and they win the league title outright, if C.S Christian wins then it’s a three-way tie for the league title and they will have to break the tie. Buena Vista sits at #7 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Buena Vista will host C.S Christian this week. With a win they will host a first-round game and if things fall their way could jump up to #6 possibly #5. Buena Vista with a loss could fall to #8 maybe #9. Regardless Buena Vista is a lock for the playoffs but fighting for a first-round host. C.S Christian sits at #11 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. They are a lock for the playoffs but control their own fate on what seed they could be. A win over Buena Vista and C.S Christian could jump into the #8 spot just head of Buena Vista. A loss and C.S Christian probably hold the #11 spot as long as not upsets happen behind them. Peyton is the final team to mention. Peyton sits at #15 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Peyton will face Ellicott, and this is a must win game. Peyton cannot lose to Ellicott and get into the playoffs. Peyton with a win stay in the top 16 possibly jump into the #14 or #13 spot. Simple though Peyton cannot lose to Ellicott.
Lock for the Playoffs
Buena Vista, C.S Christian
Playoff Contenders
Peyton
Out of Playoff Race
Dolores Huerta, Rye, Ellicott
Stat Leaders Tri-Peaks:
Passing: Jace Velasquez, C.S Christian (1392 yards, 12 TDs), Noah Martin, Peyton (902 yards, 13 TDs), Hudson Wingo, Buena Vista (770 yards, 11 TDs)
Rushing: Eli Schuknecht, Buena Vista (872 yards & 8 TDs), Daniel Hoggard, C.S Christian (731 yards & 11 TDs), Noah Martin, Peyton (624 yards & 10 TDs)
Receiving: Mikey Orawiec, C.S Christian (449 yards, 8 TDs), Colton Cobb, Peyton (368 yards & 8 TDs)
Tackles: Josiah Zimmerman, Peyton (95), Jose Martinez, Rye (91), Chase Evans, Peyton (70)
Sacks: Anthony Adams, Rye (4.0 Sacks), Knox Reid, Buena Vista (2.0 sacks)
INTs: Mack Bigley, Buena Vista (2), Tavon Flewellen, Ellicott (2)
Western Slope League
Current League Standings ()=Seeding Index
#1 Meeker 4-0 (8), #2 North Fork 3-1 (16), #3 Cedaredge 2-2 (18), #4 Grand Valley 2-2 (28), #5 Roaring Fork 1-3 (26), Olathe 0-4 (31)
Meeker is your Western Slope League Champions. Meeker won the league title last week when they defeated Olathe and North Fork defeated Grand Valley. Meeker sits at #8 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Meeker will face Grand Valley this week and with a win should keep the #8 spot and host a first-round game. A loss and Meeker will tumble in the CHSAA Seeding Index. Meeker could even move up to #6 if the two teams ahead of them get upset this week. North Fork sits at #16 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and would be the last team in. North Fork has a must win game against Roaring Fork and cannot lose this game. North Fork with a win and Platte Valley loss will get into the playoffs. Things will get much more interesting if Platte Valley beats Highland, then North Fork could be on the outside looking in. Currently North Fork is .0005 ahead of Platte Valley. For North Fork it’s simple take care of business first then worry about everyone else. Cedaredge sits at #18 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and I don’t see them getting into the playoffs without North Fork losing to Roaring Fork and Peyton losing to Ellicott. With that said I am eliminated Cedaredge from playoff contention.
Lock for the Playoffs
Meeker
Playoff Contenders
North Fork
Out of Playoff Race
Roaring Fork, Olathe, Cedaredge, Grand Valley
Stat Leaders Western Slope:
Passing: Logan Sanders, Cedaredge (593 yards, 2 TDs), Cade Mills, Meeker (416 yards, 5 TDs), Kenny Riley, Roaring Fork (403 yards & 2 TDs)
Rushing: Cade Blunt, Meeker (611 yards & 3 TDs), Clay Crawford, Meeker (566 yards & 11 TDs), Payson Pene, North Fork (535 yards & 7 TDs)
Receiving: Brady Cooper, Cedaredge (397 yards, 2 TDs), Hunter Noll, Roaring Fork (366 yards & 2 TDs)
Tackles: Gabriel Mendoza, Grand Valley (113), Balaram Koss, Roaring Fork (90), Cade Blunt, Meeker (86)
Sacks: Mason Schoeppner, Grand Valley (6.0 sacks), Aiden Strauss, Grand Valley (4.0 Sacks)
INTs: Jaysen Skeen, Grand Valley (5), Logan Sanders, Cedaredge (3)
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