MileHigh Prep Report Preseason 8-Man Football Rankings
Football practice kicks off Monday and we are almost complete with our preseason rankings. Here is my top 16 preseason rankings. 8-Man will be a battle this year with plenty of talent returning. Plenty of holes exist on many teams and I am very interested to see how 8-Man turns out. We are doing a media poll once again if you are interested in voting shoot me a message. We are also still looking for a few more sponsor/advertisers for the year, if interested shoot me a message. I move to 6-Man Football next week. Good Luck to all teams this season!
8-Man
The preseason rankings are the top 16 teams not necessarily who I think make the playoffs. Those predictions come out in two weeks.
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Haxtun HS Defending State Champions | Haxtun is your defending state champions from last season. They are looking to defend their state title and will have the talent to do so this season. Haxtun lost a great group of seniors, but the Bulldogs reloaded and look to win back-to-back title. Haxtun offensively returns QB Colin Cone, RB Zach Statz, and WR Chase Goddard. Defensively Haxtun returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Coleman Firme, Seth Seger, and Corbin Andersen will be some of the leaders of the Haxtun defense. |
| #2 | Akron HS Runners Up | Akron reached the state title game last season falling to Haxtun in Pueblo. Akron will look to make another deep run this season and finish the job. Akron lost 5 seniors from last season taking a few key pieces from last year’s run. Akron will have plenty of weapons back offensively with QB Kolten Randel, RB Jace Curtis, and RB/WR Jakzon Livesay. Defensively Akron should be a top unit as they return 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Jace Curtis, Jakzon Livesay, and Mason Porteus will be the leaders of the Akron defense. |
| #3 | Sanford HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Sanford made the playoffs last season falling in the Quarterfinals to eventual state champions Haxtun. Sanford knows what it takes to reach the state championship and will have their entire roster back to make the push this season. Sanford offensively will be very physical up front returning 3 All-State offensive linemen. Sanford also returns QB Trason Gartrell & RB JD Faucette. Defensively Sanford returns their top 10 tacklers including their top 5. Ryan Cordova, JD Faucette, and Trason Gartrell are the defensive leaders for Sanford. |
| #4 | Mancos HS Made the playoffs, lost in the Semifinals | Mancos was unable to defend their state title last season but made a push into the Semifinals and this year look to win it all. Mancos lost 4 seniors from last year’s Semifinal run and return 5 All-State players from last season. Mancos offensively have their entire offensive line back plus RB Jonah Ritter & WR Michael Resner. Defensively Mancos returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers but leadership will have to step up returning just 2 of their top 5. Jacob Martin, Ethan Wyatt, and Gavin Smith could be a few names to stand out defensively for Mancos. |
| #5 | McClave HS Made the Playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | McClave made the playoffs last season reaching the Quarterfinals before falling to Simla. McClave will return a loaded roster and look to build off last season’s success. McClave lost just 4 seniors from last season but some key pieces especially on defense. Offensively McClave will be searching for a new QB, but return RB Mason Barr, RB Ryan Steinbrunn, and TE/WR Tuff Kelley return. Defensively McClave should be a top unit again this season returning 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. JR Mungaray, Mason Barr, and Ryan Steinbrunn are the leaders back for McClave. |
| #6 | Sedgwick County Made the playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Sedgwick County made the playoffs a season ago, falling in the Quarterfinals to Akron. Sedgwick County will once again be a big threat losing just 3 seniors from last season. Replacing their QB will be the big hole to fill offensively. Sedwick County will return RB Owen Harris and RB Brady Mollendor along with most of their offensive line. Defensively Sedgwick County returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Owen Harris, Noah Harens, and Tate Renquist are a few names to watch for Sedgwick County. |
| #7 | Dayspring Christian Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Dayspring Christian made the playoffs last season falling in the opening round to McClave. Dayspring Christian is locked and loaded for a deeper run this season and lost just 3 seniors from last year’s team. Replacing their QB is the main hole for Dayspring Christian but after that they return nearly everything else. Offensively RB Elijah Martin, RB Jackson Polk, and WR Max Krehbiel are back. The offense was a run first attack last year and don’t look for that to change much this year. Defensively Dayspring Christian returns 9 of their top 10 tacklers including their top 5 from a season ago. Elijah Martin, Jackson Polk, Hawkins Flanagan, and AJ Soucie are a few names to watch. |
| #8 | Hoehne Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Hoehne made the playoffs last season falling in the opening round to Haxtun. Hoehne got back into the playoffs last season and will look to build off last season and make a deeper run this season. Hoehne offensively is loaded with returning talent brining back most of their offensively line. RB Anthony Sandoval, QB Jake Magninat, and WR Brody Silvey all return for Hoehne. Defensively Hoehne returns 8 of their top 10 tacklers including 4 of their top 5. Jayson Guzzo, Connor Knezel, and Anthony Sandoval are back to lead the Hoehne defense. |
| #9 | Dove Creek Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | Dove Creek made the playoffs last season falling in the opening round to Simla. Dove Creek is a perennial playoff team, and I don’t expect that to change much this season. Dove Creek will have some key holes to fill mainly on defense and the offensive line. Offensively Dove Creek will return QB Josh Kibel, RB Nicholas Aragon, and RB Teagan Larimore. The offensive line will have the most question marks for Dove Creek. Defensively Dove Creek returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers, including 3 of their top 5. Trevan Ivie, Nicholas Aragon, and Teagan Larimore are a few names to keep an eye on defensively. |
| #10 | West Grand Made the playoffs, lost in the First Round | West Grand made the playoffs last season, getting upset in the opening round by Sedgwick County. West Grand was hit hard by graduation losing 8 seniors and some key offensive/defensive pieces. West Grand will look to reload around senior QB Blake Terryberry and RB John Bulter could be one of those pieces. Defensively West Grand returns 4 of their top 10 tacklers but have key leadership back returning 3 of their top 5. Blake Terryberry, John Butler, and Walker Howell are the leaders back for West Grand. |
| #11 | Plateau Valley Made the Playoffs, lost in the First Round | Plateau Valley made the playoffs last season, falling to Mancos in the opening round. Plateau Valley will look to build off last season but will have a few key holes to fill losing 6 seniors from last year including key pieces at RB and the offensive line. Plateau Valley will have plenty of weapons back with QB Colter Ralston, WR London Mitchell, and WR Hunter White all back. Defensively Plateau Valley returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Austin Grundy, Grant Bevan, and Hunter White are back to lead the Plateau Valley defense. |
| #12 | Springfield Made the Playoffs, lost in the First Round | Springfield made the playoffs last season falling in the opening round to Sanford. Springfield will look to make a return trip to the playoffs this season but lose a few key pieces from last year mainly at QB & RB. Springfield offensively should still be tough returning key pieces on the offensive line plus RB Gunnar Mackey & WR Slayde Cohoon. Defensively Springfield still could be a top unit returning 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 4 of their top 5. Wyatt Cohoon, Gunnar Mackey, and Jett Konkel are back to lead the Springfield defense. |
| #13 | Norwood Missed the Playoffs, went 4-5 | Norwood missed the playoffs last season, going 4-5. Norwood finished in 4th in the Mountain League and that league will be tough yet again. Norwood lose just 1 senior from last season and will be loaded at nearly every position. Offensively Norwood returns QB Brycen Rummel, RB Owen Tackett, and WR Cole Bray. Defensively Norwood returns 9 of their top 10 tacklers including their top 5. Norwood will look for leaders like Cole Bray, Jackson Dinsmore, and Keegan Tackett to push this defense to a top unit this season. |
| #14 | Fowler Missed the Playoffs, went 5-4 | Fowler missed the playoffs last season, going 5-4 and being just outside the top 16 in the CHSAA Seeding Index. This season Fowler will have their eyes on a return trip to the playoffs and have the talent back. Defensively Fowler should improve but replacing their top two tacklers will be key. Fowler returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Demetrius Alvarez, Titus Ballard, and Bryce Froman are the names to watch for Fowler. Offensively Fowler returns most of their weapons including QB Brock True, RB Bronson Damgaard, and WR Bryce Froman. The offensive line will have a few holes but look for the Grizzlies to try and push for the playoffs. |
| #15 | Byers Made the Playoffs, lost in the Quarterfinals | Byers made the playoffs last season reaching the Quarterfinals before falling to Mancos. Byers will be losing a very talented senior class but will still have the weapons to try and reach the playoffs yet again. Defensively Byers returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers including 2 of their top 5. Jack Earl, Krayton Ebert, and Caleb Eastwood should be leaders for the Byers defense. Offensively Byers will have a few holes to fill but look for QB James Maes and RB Gabe Price to step into the main roles this season. |
| #16 | Las Animas Missed the Playoffs, went 5-4 last season | Las Animas missed the playoffs last season going 5-4 and being just outside of the top 16. Las Animas had one of their most successful seasons in a long time and will look to build of the success. Las Animas did lose a few key pieces from last season mainly on the offensive line and that is the major question mark for the Trojans. Offensively Las Animas returns QB Braydon Ortiz, RB Orion Martinez, and WR Nicholas Duran. Defensively Las Animas returns 8 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5. Orion Martinez, Logan Servaes, and Scott Banister are all back for Las Animas. |
| Other Teams to Watch | St. Mary’s, Merino, Crowley County, Clear Creek, Hayden, Elbert, Gilpin County, Calhan, Holly, Lyons |
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