MileHigh Prep Report Preseason Class 1A Football Rankings
We are getting closer and closer to the start of the football season. Here is my top 16 preseason rankings. 1A will be battle this year with plenty of talent returning. The top of 1A again is dominated by the blue bloods but look for some new teams to push for the top. We are doing a media/coaches poll again this season. If you are interested in voting shoot me a message. I move to 8-Man Football next week. Good Luck to all teams this season!
Class 1A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Limon HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Limon reached the Semifinals a year ago before falling to runner up Forge Christian. Limon will look to get back to the pinnacle of Class 1A and have a loaded roster. POY Candidates: RB Jakob Jaklich, QB Aiden Kollath, and RB Camdyn Tacha all return for the Badgers. The offensive line should also be a strong suit as at least 4 starters return. Defensively Limon returns 11 of their top 13 tacklers including their top 6. Liam Yoder and Keagan Mellott will look to shine on the defensive side of the ball. |
| #2 | Buena Vista HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Buena Vista reached the Semifinals a year ago before falling to eventual State Champions Wray. Buena Vista will be a top contender this season but have a few holes to fill losing 12 total seniors. Buena Vista returns POY candidates; QB Hudson Wingo, RB Eli Schuknecht, and WR Tucker Montoya. The offensive line for Buena Vista also returns as least 3 starters and has some depth back as well. Defensively Buena Vista returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Abel Flowers, Knox Reid, and Carter Stromer are a few names to keep an eye on. |
| #3 | Wray HS Defending State Champions | Wray is the defending State Champions from last season. They lost a very talented senior class but the Eagles have the tradition to still be a state title contender this season. Wray will look for QB/RB Austin Collins to step up and be a leader this season along with WR Aaron Tena, and RB Bryson Lewis. The offensive line will have some reworking as they lost 3 or 4 starters from last year. Defensively Wray returns 7 of their top 13 tacklers but just 1 of their top 6. A few names to keep an eye on this year are Wyatt Fonte, Brodie Riggleman, and Brody Richards. |
| #4 | Meeker HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Meeker reached the Quarterfinals last season. They had a lot of growing pains early in the year and paid off with a trip to the Quarterfinals. Meeker will lose 7 seniors from the team last year mostly skill position players and key leadership. Meeker will look for QB Cade Mills to take a big step forward this season along with RB/WR Said Rodriguez. The offensive line for Meeker will be a strength returning all 5 starters from last year. Defensively Meeker returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Tristin Rollins and Samuel Conrado are back leading the Cowboy defense. |
| #5 | Burlington HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Burlington made the playoffs last season falling in the first round to Buena Vista. Burlington was young last season, and it shows with just 5 total seniors graduating. Burlington is locked and loaded at many positions and return key leadership in QB Weston Schall, RB Scout Humrich, and RB Anthony Estrada. The offensive line for Burlington returns at least 4 starters and will be a huge strength for the Cougars. Defensively Burlington returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Jason Saucedo and Edward Marolf are a few names to watch on defense this season. |
| #6 | Highland HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Highland had a solid season a year ago reaching the Quarterfinals. Highland lost some key seniors from a year ago mainly at QB. Highland this year will look to RB Wyatt Chase, RB/WR Tyler Varra, and WR Brogan Palmer to step up. The offensive line for Highland should also be a strength returning 11 Jr/Sr Offensive & Defensive Linemen. Defensively Highland will be a top unit returning 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. Brogan Palmer, Wyatt Chase, and Elijah Elder will be the leaders of the Huskies defense. |
| #7 | Monte Vista HS Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Monte Vista made the playoffs last season falling in a shootout to Meeker in the opening round. Monte Vista lost key skill position players from a year ago including their QB and top RBs. This year Monte Vista will look RB Kelby Mondragon, RB Nehe Sandoval, and POY Candidate WR Azariah Hurtado to be leaders. The offensive line for Monte Vista will be a strength returning 4 starters from last season. Defensively Monte Vista returns 7 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Jon Enderle, Mason Mondragon, and Manny Jiron are a few names to keep an eye on for the Pirates. |
| #8 | Centauri HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Centauri made the playoffs last season getting upset in the opening round by Holyoke. Centauri will look to get past the first round this year and have the talent back to make a big push. Centauri lost just 6 seniors last year, but they were key pieces on both sides of the ball. Offensively POY Candidate Sean Jarvies is back along with his top target WR Carson Shawcroft. The offensive line for Centauri also returns at least 3 starters and should be a strength for the Falcons. Defensively Centauri returns 10 of their top 13 tacklers including 3 of their top 6. Ryder Norton and Spencer Smith are a few names to watch for Centauri this year. |
| #9 | Platte Valley HS Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Platte Valley made the playoffs last season and pushed Limon to the brink but fell in the opening round. Platte Valley was hit hard by graduation losing 11 seniors and most key contributors on defense. Defensively Platte Valley returns just 5 of their top 13 tacklers but 3 of their top 5. Alejandro Perez, Jackson Bauer, and Mason Hunt are a few names to watch for the Broncos. Offensively Platte Valley returns key pieces with POY candidate QB Regan Edstrom back along with RB Ben Cockroft and WR Jason Harrison. The offensive line will have a few holes to fill but return 6 Jr/Sr Offensive & Defensive linemen. |
| #10 | North Fork HS Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | North Fork made the playoffs last season as the #16 seed and fell in the opening round. North Fork had some inexperience last season but this year it’s different. North Fork lost just 5 seniors last year and they should be loaded for a big year. Defensively North Fork returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers but new leadership must step up returning just 2 of their top 6. Payson Miller and Bo Eves are two names to keep an eye on for the Miners. Offensively QB Braeden Flores is back along with RB Derick Sievertsen & RB Joe Hollembeak. The offensive line for North Fork should also be a strength returning at least 3 starters from a year ago. |
| #11 | Forge Christian Runners Up | Forge Christian was your runners up from a year ago. They lost in the state championship to Wray. Forge Christian was hit hard by graduation losing 14 seniors and most key contributors. Offensively Forge Christian will be searching for a new QB & RB but they will have some weapons with WR Quentin Torres and WR Treysen Eye back. The offensive line for Forge Christian will also be a strength returning at least two starters from last year. Defensively Forge Christian will be reloading returning just 5 of their top 13 tacklers and just 1 of their top 6. Sam Granillo and Danny Meisel are a few names that could stand out this year. |
| #12 | Cedaredge HS Missed the playoffs, went 6-3 | Cedaredge did not make the playoffs last season, going 6-3 but they did finish in third place in the Western Slope League. Cedaredge is hoping to make a return trip to the playoffs this season. Offensively QB Logan Sanders is back along with RB Kolter Mann both must step up as leaders this season. The offensive line for Cedaredge should also be a strength with at least 3 starters back for the Bruins. Defensively Cedaredge returns 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. Liam Martin, Kolter Mann, and Logan Sanders appear to be the leaders for the Bruins next year. |
| #13 | Yuma HS Made the playoffs, lost in the first round | Yuma made the playoffs last season falling in the first round. Yuma lost key seniors from last year including most of their offensive yardage. This year Yuma will look to RB Daden Beauprez and RB Christian Thomson to step up and take over as the main offensive weapons. Yuma offensive line should also be a strength with at least two starters back. Defensively Yuma will have a top unit returning 9 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. Iaan Duran, Jesus Gordo, and Marvin Duarte are a few names to keep an eye on. |
| #14 | C.S Christian HS Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | C.S Christian made the playoffs last season but fell in the first round. C.S Christian will be losing key offensive pieces including their QB and top two WRs from last season. RB Daniel Hoggard will look to step up this season along with WR Mikey Orawiec and RB Micah Akpata. The offensive line for C.S Christian should also be strong returning at least 2 starters from last season. C.S Christian this coming season will lean on their defense as they return 11 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 6. Mikey Orawiec, Daniel Hoggard, and Brock Oneal are back as leaders. |
| #15 | Wiggins HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Wiggins made the playoffs last season falling in the Quarterfinals. Wiggins lost a big senior class, losing 14 total seniors. Wiggins will have some reloading to do at many positions including their QB, RB, and WR. Offensively Wiggins will look for new players to step up like Arath Carrazco & Michael Adamson. Wiggins offensive line will return at least two starters but will look for some players to step up this season. Defensively Wiggins returns 3 of their top 13 tacklers but all three in the top 6. All-State returner Mark Walker and Michael Adamson must step up and be leaders on defense for Wiggins. |
| #16 | Holyoke HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Holyoke was the big surprise a season ago upsetting Centauri in the opening round to reach the quarterfinals. Holyoke lost 8 seniors from last season and will be doing some reloading. Holyoke does not have many stats loaded from last season. A few players to keep an eye on Offensively will be Colby Weber and Elbin Padilla both will have to step up for Holyoke. Defensively Gustavo Goytia and Hudson Koellner are a pair of names that could be leaders for the Dragons. |
| Other Teams to Watch | Flatirons Academy, Rye, Ignacio, Ellicott, Peyton, Olathe, Platte Canyon, Trinidad, Manual |
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