Class 2A Football Preview-Week Nine

Class 2A Football Preview-Week Nine

By: Anthony Garcia

Just two weeks left of regular season play.  Class 2A still has around 8 or 9 teams that are playoff hopefuls as we going into the final two weeks.  We will breakdown the league title races for each league and how each league is looking in terms of playoff berths.  We will be using the CHSAA Seeding & Selection Index when it comes to rankings for this Article going forward.

East League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Elizabeth 3-0 (4), #2 Strasburg 2-1 (1), #3 Kent Denver 2-1 (18), Englewood 1-3 (24), Bennett 0-3 (33)

The East League Title will be determined on Saturday when Elizabeth travels to face Kent Denver.  If Elizabeth wins, they win the league title outright.  If Kent Denver wins, we will see a three-way tie for the league title and each league has their own rules to break the title.  Elizabeth sits at #4 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and are a lock for the playoffs without the league title.  Elizabeth with a win over Kent Denver should but a #4 or #5 seed.  Elizabeth with a loss could slip to as low as #8 or #9.  Kent Denver sits at #18 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Kent Denver with a win should get into the playoffs and of course force a three-way tie for the league title.  Kent Denver with a loss I do not believe can get into the playoffs especially with Resurrection Christian winning last night and already jumping them in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  The last team to mention is Strasburg, who sits at #1 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Strasburg is .03 ahead of TCA for the #1 seed.  Strasburg will face 1-7 Bennett tonight and that will hurt their RPI and could drop them a bit.  I think as long as Strasburg wins tonight, they will be a top 3 seed in the Class 2A Playoffs.

Lock for the Playoffs

Strasburg, Elizabeth

Playoff Contenders

Kent Denver

Out of Playoff Race

Englewood, Bennett

East League Stat Leaders

Passing: Yianni Balafas, Kent Denver (865 yards & 16 TDs), Brody Hopwood, Strasburg (842 yards & 11 TDs), Dylan Noll, Englewood (830 yards & 5 TDs)

Rushing: Ayden Dodge, Strasburg (949 yards & 9 TDs), Deon Robinson, Englewood (949 yards & 14 TDs), Wyatt Walker, Kent Denver (926 yards & 0 TDs)

Receiving: Cade Hemphill, Strasburg (291 yards & 5 TDs), Wyatt Walker, Kent Denver (269 yards & 0 TDs)

Tackles: Wes Noe, Elizabeth (90), Logan Mael, Englewood (81), Brody Hawes, Bennett (80)

Sacks: Caden Long, Elizabeth (6.0 sacks), Logan Mael, Englewood (4.0 sacks)

INTs: Cade Hemphill, Strasburg (3), Cougar Cronk, Bennett (2)

Intermountain League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Montezuma-Cortez 3-1 (14), Alamosa 3-1 (15), Gunnison 2-2 (28), Pagosa Springs 2-2 (13), Salida 1-3 (25), Bayfield 1-3 (27)

The IML has been one of the craziest league title races to watch in any of the small school races.  There exists a scenario this weekend that we could see a four-way tie for the league title.  Scenario one for the league title is simple, if Montezuma-Cortez defeats Bayfield they are the league champions and get the automatic berth.  Scenario 2, if Montezuma-Cortez losses and Alamosa wins then Alamosa is the league champions.  Scenario 3, if Montezuma-Cortez losses, Pagosa Springs defeats Alamosa, and Gunnison losses then Pagosa Springs is your League Champion.  Scenario 4, if Montezuma-Cortez losses, Pagosa Springs defeats Alamosa, and Gunnison wins we have a four-way tie for the league title, and the league has rules to break ties.  Pagosa Springs is the highest ranked team in the CHSAA Seeding Index at #13.  Pagosa Springs will face Alamosa this weekend and simple for both teams win and your in.  Pagosa Springs could be high enough up to still get in even if the lose to Alamosa, Pagosa is .079 ahead of Resurrection Christian at #17 and .053 ahead of The Academy at #16.  Still, you don’t want your fate coming down to math for either Pagosa Springs or Alamosa.  Alamosa sits at #15 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  As mentioned above they play Pagosa Springs and if Alamosa wins they are in.  A loss for Alamosa is much scarier as they are just .002 ahead of The Academy and .028 ahead of Resurrection Christian.  Alamosa would need some help with a loss to Pagosa Springs to stay in the top 16.  Montezuma-Cortez sits at #14 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Montezuma-Cortez will face Bayfield this weekend and this is a must win game.  If Montezuma-Cortez losses to Bayfield I believe they will miss the playoffs or would be the last team in.  Montezuma-Cortez of course with a win, will win the league title and probably hold the #14 spot unless Pagosa Springs losses.  Gunnison will still be a playoff contender due to their way of forcing a four-way tie for the league title. 

Lock for the Playoffs

None

Playoff Contenders

Montezuma-Cortez, Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, Gunnison

Out of Playoff Race

Salida, Bayfield

Intermountain League Stat Leaders

Passing: Dyson Woodward, Alamosa (1027 yards & 7 TDs), Cole Mcwhirter, Bayfield (950 yards & 13 TDs), Eli Schwarz, Salida (761 yards & 5 TDs)

Rushing: Colten Lucero, Pagosa Springs (1786 yards, 21 TDs), Tay Wheat, Montezuma-Cortez (1388 yards & 19 TDs), Dyson Woodward, Alamosa (1007 yards & 12 TDs)

Receiving: Kevin Gonzales, Alamosa (509 yards, 3 TDs), Bryce Rodrigue, Salida (298 yards)

Tackles: Casen Pridemore, Salida (93), Anthony Taverna, Salida (76), Wyatt Oliver, Montezuma-Cortez (67)

Sacks: Wyatt Oliver, Montezuma-Cortez (5.0 Sacks), Zane Zook, Alamosa (4.0 sacks),

INTs: Lincoln Williams, Bayfield (6), Jaxten Schiel, Pagosa Springs (4)

League 7

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Sterling 4-0 (12), #2 The Academy 3-1 (16), #3 Weld Central 3-1 (22), #4 Brush 2-2 (34), #5 Fort Lupton 0-4 (35), Arvada 0-4 (39)

Sterling is in the driver’s seat for the League 7 title.  Sterling will face Weld Central for the league title tonight.  If Sterling wins, they win the league title outright and get the automatic berth.  If Weld Central upsets Sterling they force a three-way tie atop the league standings between Sterling, The Academy, and Weld Central.  Sterling sits at #12 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and I cannot lock them into the playoffs because a loss to Weld Central could still see them tumble into the bottom part of the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Sterling with a win could jump as high as #10 maybe #9 if things go their way.  Weld Central sits at #22 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  They have only one path into the playoffs and that is defeating Sterling.  Weld Central defeating Sterling and not winning the league title could still need help to get into the top 16.  Weld Central is .115 behind #16 The Academy.  The Academy is the final team to mention.  The Academy sits at #16 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and they face Brush in a must win game!  The Academy cannot get into the playoffs with a loss to Brush.  The Academy with a win should get into the playoffs and possibly jump up to #14. 

Lock for the Playoffs

None

Playoff Contenders

Sterling, The Academy, Weld Central

Out of Playoff Race

Brush, Fort Lupton, Arvada

League 7 Stat Leaders

Passing: Jase Farmer, The Academy (697 yards & 8 TDs), Anthony Miller, Arvada (633 yards & 9 TDs), Royce Guerrero, Fort Lupton (540 yards & 6 TDs)

Rushing: Carter Jaeger, Sterling (1391 yards & 24 TDs), Marcello Rossi, Weld Central (1164 yards & 11 TDs), Jacob Arzberger, The Academy (836 yards & 10 TDs)

Receiving: Kaden Maikowski, Sterling (388 yards & 3 TDs), Josiah Gonzales, Fort Lupton (331 yards & 4 TDs)

Tackles: Percy Odle, Brush (95), Aidan Kiser, Sterling (73), Harley Nulsen, Weld Central (65)

Sacks: Gavin Snortland, The Academy (4.0 sacks), Luke Witzel, Weld Central (4.0 sacks)

INTs: Same Emmerson, Sterling (8), Percy Odle, Brush (5)

Metro League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Classical Academy 4-0 (2), D’Evelyn 3-1 (29), Denver West 3-1 (10), Alameda 2-3 (31), Mitchell 1-3 (40), Lincoln 0-4 (41)

Classical Academy is your Metro League Champions.  Classical Academy won the league title last week when they defeated D’Evelyn 48 to 6.  TCA is in the hunt for the #1 seed, and they face Mitchell this week.  A win won’t do much for their RPI and could possibly hurt their RPI.  TCA will be a top 3 seed regardless of if they win.  Denver West sits at #10 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and I cannot lock them into the playoffs yet.  Denver West will face D’Evelyn on Saturday.  This is a must win game for Denver West as a loss could see them tumble to the bottom half of the Seeding Index.  Denver West is close enough to #16 to worry about not making the playoffs without a win over D’Evelyn.  If Denver West beats D’Evelyn they could be seeded anywhere from #10 thru #13. 

Lock for the Playoffs

Classical Academy

Playoff Contenders

Denver West

Out of Playoff Race

D’Evelyn, Alameda, Mitchell, Lincoln

Metro League Stat Leaders

Passing: Kevyn Feldon, D’Evelyn (1215 yards, 12 TDs), Andrew Brown, TCA (1099 yards, 15 TDs), Marcelo Ortiz, Denver West (416 yards, 12 TDs)

Rushing: Angel Arroyo, Alameda (700 yards, 7 TDs), Jackson Schipfer, TCA (522 yards, 9 TDs), Riley Romine, TCA (404 yards & 5 TDs)

Receiving: Adam Nguyen, D’Evelyn (463 yards, 0 TDs), Thomas Sweetman, D’Evelyn (347 yards, 0 TDs)

Tackles: Aries Uong, Denver West (50), Zack Hale, TCA (47), Elijah Wright, TCA (39)

Sacks: Aries Uong, Denver West (5.0 Sacks), Braden Godoy, TCA (4.0 Sacks)

INTs: Robert Wittke, Denver West (9), Ernest Fields, Denver West (3)

North League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Berthoud 3-1 (8), #2 Wellington 3-1 (7), #3 Eaton 3-1 (11), #4 Resurrection Christian 3-2 (17), #5 University 1-4 (21), #6 Valley 0-4 (37)

The North League has been a fantastic league race to watch and currently three teams sit with just 1 loss.  Berthoud, Wellington, and Eaton all sit at 3-1 in league.  Berthoud will host Eaton tonight.  Berthoud with a win over Eaton wins the league title since they have the head-to-head over Wellington.  If Eaton defeats Berthoud, then Wellington wins the league title since Wellington has the head-to-head over Eaton, as long as Wellington defeats Valley.  Berthoud sits at #8 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  With a win they could possibly jump up to #6 maybe #5 if things fall there way.  If Berthoud losses to Eaton they are still a lock for the playoffs but would probably drop to #9 maybe #10 and not host a first-round game.  Eaton sits at #11 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Anyone #10 thru #16 I have not had as a lock due to how close they are, but I feel that with a loss to Berthoud, Eaton will still get into the playoffs.  Eaton with a win over Berthoud could see themselves in the mix at #8 or #9.  Wellington sits at #7 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  They are in good position to host a first-round game as long as they defeat Valley.  Wellington defeating Valley won’t do much for their RPI but I think regardless host a game maybe you could see Wellington get into the #6 spot.  Resurrection Christian played last night defeating University 30 to 22.  That win gave Resurrection Christian a shot at the playoffs and eliminated University from playoff contention.  Resurrection Christian jumped from #19 to #17 and now wait and see.  Resurrection Christian will have a shot at the playoff especially if Pagosa Springs defeats Alamosa.  Other scenarios for Resurrection Christian moving into the top 16 could be Denver West falling to D’Evelyn, The Academy losing to Brush, or Montezuma-Cortez falling to Bayfield.   

Lock for the Playoffs

Berthoud, Wellington, Eaton

Playoff Contenders

Resurrection Christian

Out of Playoff Race

University, Valley

North League Stat Leaders

Passing: Skyler Streicher, Berthoud (1852 yards, 13 TDs), Andrew Loyd, Eaton (901 yards, 9 TDs), Max Davis, University (734 yards & 8 TDs)

Rushing: Hunter Hansen, Resurrection Christian (1071 yards, 7 TDs), Cash Altschwager, Wellington (776 yards & 5 TDs), Jackson Pszanka, Resurrection Christian (615 yards & 8 TDs)

Receiving: Cade Anderson, Berthoud (545 yards & 3 TDs), Jayden Michaelis, Berthoud (537 yards & 5 TDs),

Tackles: Sam Smith, Berthoud (86), Ethan Hofmeister, Berthoud (86), Vinnie Juarez, Eaton (73)

Sacks: Tanner Gray, Wellington (4.0), Bryer Barr, Eaton (3.0)

INTs: Seamus Pikes, Wellington (3), Jackson Savona, Eaton (3)

South East League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Woodland Park 4-0 (6), Lamar 3-1 (5), La Junta 2-2 (23), Florence 2-2 (30), Manitou Springs 1-3 (26), Banning Lewis 0-4 (36)

Woodland Park is your Southeast League Champion.  They won the league title last week when the defeated Manitou Springs and La Junta defeated Florence.  Woodland Park sits at #6 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and they face La Junta this week.  Woodland Park is in good position to be the #5 or #6 seed with a win over La Junta this week.  If Woodland Park loses to La Junta, they will be on the verge of not hosting a first-round game.  Lamar sits at #5 in the CHSAA Seeding Index, and they close their season against Florence.  Lamar is in good position to host a first-round game but must defeat Florence in their final game.  Lamar with a win should be between #5 and #7, maybe worst case is #8.  I do feel if Lamar defeats Florence they will host a first-round game.  Lamar with a loss wouldn’t host a first-round game.

Lock for the Playoffs

Woodland Park, Lamar

Playoff Contenders

None

Out of Playoff Race

Manitou Springs, La Junta, Florence, Banning Lewis

South East League Stat Leaders

Passing: Jacob Dunning, Lamar (1773 yards, 24 TDs), Sam Early, Banning Lewis (821 yards & 7 TDs), Marqus Schoenberger, Woodland Park (726 yards & 13 TDs)

Rushing: Logan Moore, Manitou Springs (1119 yards, 15 TDs), Noah Howard, Florence (914 yards,52 TDs), Marqus Schoenberger, Woodland Park (588 yards & 14 TDs)

Receiving: Cael Buxton, Lamar (785 yards, 11 TDs), Jordan Jones, Banning Lewis (518 yards & 3 TDs)

Tackles: Jordan Jones, Banning Lewis (115), Diego Estrada, Lamar (112), Adriel Gonzalez, Lamar (106)

Sacks: Parker Shreeve, Woodland Park (5.0 sacks), Matteo Pizarro, Woodland Park (5.0 sacks)

INTs: Logan Moore, Manitou Springs (4), Cael Buxton, Lamar (3)

West League

Current League Standings (Using Seeding Index this week only) ()=Seeding Index

#1 Basalt 4-0 (3), #2 Delta 3-1 (9), Aspen 3-1 (19), Coal Ridge 2-2 (20), Moffat County 0-4 (32), Middle Park 0-4 (38)

Basalt currently sits atop the West League Standings.  Basalt will face Aspen this week for the West League Title.  Basalt with a win would win the league title outright.  If Aspen wins it would force a three-way tie atop the league standings between Delta, Basalt, and Aspen.  Basalt is currently sitting at #3 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  A win over Aspen would lock in a top 3 seed for the playoffs.  A loss and Basalt probably still host but could be in danger of slipping down to the 6 thru 8 seed.  Aspen sits at #19 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Aspen has one path into the playoffs and that is upsetting Basalt.  A loss and Aspen is out of the playoff picture.  Delta sits at #9 in the CHSAA Seeding Index.  Delta ends the year against Coal Ridge.  Delta is in the hunt for a top 8 seed and a win could help their case and if you get a loss by a team ahead of them, they could jump into the top 8.  Delta is a lock for the playoffs.  Coal Ridge is at #20 in the CHSAA Seeding Index and they would need to upset Delta plus need some help from the teams ahead of them to get into the playoffs. 

Lock for the Playoffs

Basalt, Delta

Playoff Contenders

Coal Ridge, Aspen

Out of Playoff Race

Moffat County, Middle Park

West League Stat Leaders

Passing: Dylan Miller, Coal Ridge (1278 yards & 14 TDs), Jackson Salyards, Middle Park (1207 yards & 6 TDs), Ty Reed, Delta (1116 yards & 13 TDs)

Rushing: Dylan Mika, Aspen, (975 yards & 11 TDs), Will Daniel, Basalt (873 yards & 13 TDs), Zachary Hedman, Moffat County (822 yards & 10 TDs)

Receiving: Jacob Trail, Middle Park (518 yards & 2 TDs), Ethan Sanchez, Coal Ridge (512 yards & 7 TDs)

Tackles: Grayson Isenhart, Coal Ridge (157), Will Daniel, Basalt (86), Rhett Miramontes, Delta (79)

Sacks: Dylan Mika, Aspen (4.0 sacks), Alec Slesinger-hall (4.0 sacks)

INTs: Diego Gamez, Coal Ridge (7), Will Tarallo, Basalt (5)