EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW by Kerry Sherman

EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

For the second time in four years, Haxtun stood atop the eight-man world in 2024, as the Fightin’ Bulldogs won the ninth title in program history, beating Akron 46-20. As they hunt championship #10, the Fightin’ Bulldogs will have to navigate waters filled with tough challengers, looking to win a crown of their own. All teams are listed by their finish in their respective leagues in 2024.

ARKANSAS VALLEY

MCCLAVE (10-1 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

McClave rolled through the regular season undefeated, and won its opening round playoff game against Dayspring Christian 20-8. However, the Cardinals, who had won a wild 58-52 triple overtime contest against Simla during the regular portion of the season, came up short against the Bear Cubs in the quarterfinals, losing 48-8.

Mason Barr returns after rushing for just shy of 1100 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago. He’ll be huge in the offensive attack, as the Cardinals must replace last year’s starting QB. Drew Howe enters as the top passer back from last year, throwing for 84 yards and two scores. No matter who is at the helm, he’ll have a plethora of receivers to choose from. Tuff Kelley and Barr led the group with lines of 18/353/5 and 17/376/7. Overall, the Cards return their top six receivers from last season.

The defensive unit lost two of its top three tacklers, but returns JR Mungaray, who posted 86 stops last year, with a team-leading 6.5 sacks. Barr racked up 77, and Ryan Steinbrunn tallied 76. Kelley made 61 tackles, four of them sacks. Barr (5) and Steinbrunn (4) combined for nine of the team’s 15 interceptions.

SPRINGFIELD (7-3 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

Springfield is coming off a 2024 in which the Longhorns posted a 7-3 record, finishing second to McClave in the Arkansas Valley. It was the first winning season for the program since 2017. They made the playoffs, and dropped a 20-18 heartbreaker to Sanford in the opening round.

The Longhorns only return one player who attempted a pass last season, as Slayde Cohoon went 1-1 for 25 yards, with the completion going for a touchdown. Three of the top four runners graduated, leaving Gunnar Mackey as the most experienced option in the backfield. As a junior, Mackey finished second on the squad with 508 yards and three TD. Coltin Woodhouse added 134 yards on just a dozen carries as a freshman. Cohoon was the top receiver on the team with 14 catches for 332 yards.

Springfield’s defense could be a strength this year, with several key players returning. Wyatt Cohoon led the unit with 118 tackles, and Mackey followed with 77. S. Cohoon and Jett Konkel were fourth and fifth with 63 and 60 tackles, respectively.

HOLLY (5-4 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

Holly finished last season on a high note, winning its last two games after suffering losses to the top two teams in the division. In one of those victories, the Wildcats outscored Rocky Ford 90-76, putting 71 points on the board in the second half. The teams combined for 62 in the fourth alone.

The Wildcats spread the ground attack around, with six players recording triple digits for the season. Five return, led by Jessie Pizarro, who gained 661 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Noel Lopez (202) and Drayden McCray (201) combined for just over 400, while Brandon Pecina and Coy King both went for just over 100 yards. Holly has to replace its QB from last year, but McCray got some reps there, throwing for over 200 yards. If he ends up there, it takes away one of the top receivers, as he finished with 33 grabs for 507 yards and seven TD Pizarro caught 34 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns.

King is back to head up the defense after tying for the team lead last year with 66 tackles. Pizarro was just two off the lead. McCray and Pecina both piled up more than 50 stops, while Dryvor Hatcher and Lopez both went over 40 as freshmen. McCray (4) and Lopez (3) combined for all of the team’s interceptions.

LAS ANIMAS (5-4 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

The Trojans got out of the gates 3-0, but then endured a three-game losing streak. They closed the year with two wins in the final three, missing a shot at third in the league with a 24-8 defeat by Springfield in the finale.

Las Animas returns all but one player on offense who recorded a stat. Braydon Ortiz threw for just under 800 yards and eight TD, and gets back all of his receivers, led by Nicholas Duran (15/382/5). Orion Martinez gives the Trojans a strong threat in the backfield after rushing for 1362 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was also one of the leading receivers.

The Trojans get their top two tacklers back in Martinez (111), and Logan Servaes (61). Scott Banister makes it three of their top four, having recorded 45 stops while missing two games. Bryce Dupree led the unit with four sacks, while Giovanni Chavez had a team-high three interceptions.

ROCKY FORD (2-7 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

After going winless in their last season of 11-man, the Meloneers lost their first two eight-man games before getting into the win column against Walsenburg. They would add a 54-20 victory over Swink for their first “W” in league play.

Rocky Ford brings back plenty of depth in the receiving game, led by Shayne Gonzales, who caught 30 passes for 569 yards and eight scores, and Xavier Preciado (27/ 253/2). But, the Meloneers will have to find someone to throw to them, as no one on the roster completed a pass last season. They’re also without last year’s top runner, but do return a bit of experience in Oscar Ramirez (305 yards, 6 TD) and Zander Messick (119 yards, 2 TD).

Cayson Vandyk was tops on the defense with 74 tackles, and he’s joined by Ramirez (35), Gonzales (28), Preciado (27), Elias Munson (25), and Jake Baca (25). Preciado tied for the team-lead with two picks.

SWINK (0-9 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

After a near-win against Fowler (33-22 loss), Swink only had one more game decided by fewer than 20 points. The Lions were outscored 391-108 on the season, allowing 42 or more six times.

Kyler Lagergren returns as the leader on offense after catching 10 passes for 130 yards, and running for 211. Ryker White added 176 yards and a touchdown in the ground game. Hayden Reynolds is the only one of the roster to even attempt a pass last year, going 4-10 for 64 yards.

Lagergren averaged more than 15 tackles a game last year, piling up 139 for the season. The Lions were senior-heavy on defense, losing the next three leading tacklers. Logan Marshall was tied for fifth with 46, two more than White. Keegan Martin added 33 stops. Martin was credited with the team’s only interceptions, while White broke up 11 passes.

BLACK FOREST

BYERS (10-1 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

Byers got off to a fast start, rolling through a perfect non-league portion of the schedule. They would edge Simla 36-16 in the de facto league title game, and stay hot into the postseason. The Bulldogs picked up a 44-14 win over Merino in the opening round, but suffered a 44-20 loss to Mancos in the quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs were hit very hard by graduation, leaving a lot of holes on both sides of the ball. Offensively, of the four backs to gain at least 100 yards on the season, only Gabe Price (514 yards, 7 TD) returns. After serving as QB2 last year, completing 8 of 12 passes for just over 100 yards and two scores, James Maes is the top returning passer. Quincy Eacret provides a solid option in the aerial attack after catching 15 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

George Wyatt Earl gives Byers its third-leading tackler back, as he finished with 64. Krayton Ebert (43), Caleb Eastwood (35), and Parker Ebert (32) were also among the team leaders. Eastwood tied for the team lead with three fumble recoveries.

SIMLA (9-3 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

The Bear Cubs got hit with injuries at a couple key spots during last season, which gave younger players an opportunity to get some quality reps. They would finish second in the league and advance all the way to the semifinals with playoff wins over Dove Creek and McClave. The Bear Cubs turned it over three times in their 48-27 loss to Akron, ending their season.

One of those younger players who got his number called was Ethan Kissam, who finished fourth on the team with 218 rushing yards. Another was Evan Guy, who stepped in and threw for just under 200 yards. Simla’s big-play receiver, Tatum Kochera, returns after snagging 39 balls for 658 yards and nine touchdowns.

Kochera tied for second on the team with 70 tackles, and he’ll lead a unit that also returns Taylor Kissam (47), Nathaniel Cauthon (45), Hayden Pfost (42), and E. Kissam (41). Simla picked off 15 passes last season, three by Kochera.

CALHAN (4-5 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

Calhan opened the season with a pair of shutout losses, and suffered another two-game slide after a brief two-game winning streak. The Bulldogs eked out a 48-44 victory over Elbert in the season finale, giving them the tiebreaker for third place in the Black Forest.

Riley Cochran led the offense with 1108 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, and the attack gets Jeremy Billington (283 yards, 3 TD) and Bryson Mosher (202 yards, 3 TD) back as well. Mosher and Billington posted nearly identical receiving lines, with Mosher going 12/160/2, and Billington tallying 12/161/1.

The Bulldogs bring back a ton of experience on the defensive side of the ball, including leading tackler Billington, who had 74 a year ago. Brock Burnside and Cochran recorded 55 tackles apiece, while Samuel Mast (39), Damean Soucy (37), and Mosher (35) were all over 30 for the season. Burnside and Billington had four sacks each.

ELBERT (4-5 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

The Bulldogs bounced back from an early 14-12 loss to Springfield to win their next three and climb to 4-2. However, they finished on a three-game slide, including the narrow loss to Calhan.

Ethan Tesman racked up more than 1800 yards from scrimmage, throwing for 1060 and running for another 772. He had a hand in 24 total touchdowns. While his leading receiver from last year is gone, he’ll have Eli Cornell back, after Cornell caught 22 passes for 341 yards and three scores.

Elbert’s defense brings back a key trio in Kaleb Morano (69 tackles), Jeremiah LaChausse (46), and Tesman (41). Sam Cornell added 39 stops.

ST. MARY’S (5-4 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

Last season saw the Pirates win three close games, all by 12 or fewer points. They were part of a three-way tie in the league with Calhan and Elbert, but finished up fifth on tiebreakers.

Michael Trechter is back after throwing for more than 1100 yards and 11 TD, and will his top two targets returning in Jackson Beam (35/384/4) and Lance Mathews (25/479/5). Trechter was the team’s leading rusher last season, gaining 554 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. No one else on the roster gained more than 17 yards.

All three of those standouts were also important on defense, as Trechter led with 50 tackles, while Beam and Mathews followed with 44 and 42, respectively. Ethan Alvarez (24) and Russell Shirola (23) were also over 20 tackles. Mathews picked off four passes, and Beam snagged three.

SOUTH PARK (2-7 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

The Burros went 2-2 in the non-league slate, but once they started divisional play, things went bad in a hurry. They gave up 150 points in their first two Black Forest contests, and ended up forfeiting their last two, making it a five-game slide.

Niko Eaton was the most productive Burro on offense, throwing for 419 yards and running for 229. Michael Valenzuela was the lone receiver with triple digit yardage, catching six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Ventura only caught two passes, but averaged 29 yards on them.

Kyle Basnett leads the returnees on defense after stacking up 43 tackles a year ago. He’s followed by Gavin Fabel (38), Aiden Parker (34), and Ventura (33). Parker tied for the team lead in interceptions and fumble recoveries with two of each.

CENTRAL

CLEAR CREEK (7-3 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

In their first year of 8-man, the Golddiggers made the playoffs by winning the Central title. They ran off a five-game winning streak after starting 2-2, and gave Akron fits in the opening round, eventually falling by a 46-34 count.

The Golddiggers had six players reach triple digits on the ground last season and four of them return. That group includes Merrell Harvey with 276 yards and five touchdowns. Nathan Guerrero follows with 228 yards and six TD, while Skyler Clark (154 yards, 2 TD) and Ski Hall (116 yards, 1 TD) combined for 270 yards. Jacob Young threw for close to 1200 yards and a dozen touchdowns, and has Donovan Miller back after connecting 12 times for 265 yards and a TD.

Defensively, Clear Creek lost its top four tacklers, leaving Guerrero with 61 as the top returnee. Titus Easter racked up 46 tackles last season, and Harvey made 41. Miller picked off three passes for the team lead.

LYONS (3-6 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

The Lions dropped their first five games of the season, two by 16 or fewer points. They got hot late, winning three of their final four, including the last two. The lone loss in that stretch was against Clear Creek.

Almost half of the roster this year will be freshman, with only a handful of returning upperclassmen. Liam Bonner had 10 catches for 145 yards and two scores in five games for the Lions, and Jesse Kauffman finished with eight catches for 101 yards. Nick Barnes is one of the few returnees on defense after recording six stops.

FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN (4-5 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

Front Range Christian had an early three-game slide in the non-conference schedule, but the Falcons finished with three wins in their final five to get in range of a postseason spot. They would be left at home.

Lawson Edwards threw for just under 200 yards and is one of the few returning contributors from last year. Corbin Rounds is the leading ground gainer from a year ago with 75 yards. The top four receivers are gone, so Haedan Morton leads the group coming back with five catches and 73 yards. Cruz Mullins also had 73 yards, but on only two catches.

With the top three and five of the top seven tacklers removed by graduation, there will be a lot of inexperience on defense. Brody Mullins leads the unit with 32 tackles last year, and he’s followed by Morton, who had 27. Four of Morton’s were sacks.

GILPIN COUNTY (6-3 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

After winning one game over the previous three seasons, Gilpin County bounced back with six wins last year. The Eagles opened the season by winning three of four and closed by doing the same.

The offensive backfield looks to be in good shape, with QB Vincent Schoell (540 pass, 211 rush) back at the helm. The Eagles also return Mason Sechler (316 yards, 6 TD), Ryan Marr (235 yards, 4 TD), Justin Johnson (173 yards, 2 TD), and Jack Fisher (151 yards, 1 TD). Landon Church (23/406/3) caught more passes than the rest of the team combined.

Church and Johnson will lead the defense after compiling 48 and 44 tackles, respectively a year ago. V. Schoell (29), Fisher (22), Sechler (20), and Ben Bushey (20) all had at least 20 tackles. Bushey notched 4.5 sacks, and Johnson tallied 3.5, while recovering four fumbles.

BELLEVIEW CHRISTIAN (2-7 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Both of Belleview Christian’s wins came in the first half of the season, where they built a 2-3 mark. The Bruins could not get in the win column in the back half of the slate, finishing the year with four straight losses.

Graduation hit pretty hard, with the Bruins losing their top passers and two leading rushers. That could allow Daniel Canda (92 yards, 2 TD) to play a much larger role after finishing fifth on the team in rushing. He was also third in receiving, and the unit will also return Tobin Galaty.

With the top two defenders gone, Canda returns to lead the defense after racking up 74 tackles last season. Galaty (54) and Eli Batt (36) combined for 90 stops. Canda had a team-leading six sacks and five fumble recoveries.

JUSTICE (0-9 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

The Phoenix only had one game decided by fewer than 30 points, a 32-28 loss at South Park. In league play, they were outscored 264-58.

It’s historically been tough to know what Justice returns each year, as the roster has routinely seen a lot of turnover. However, if the top underclassmen return, there is hope to end the long losing streak. In part, Jordan Mack coming back would be a huge help following a freshman season in which he threw for 848 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for a team-leading 677 yards. Khalil Adamson caught 15 passes for 187 yards and one TD.

Adamson (60) and Mack (43) were the only underclassmen to finish with more than 20 tackles last season. Adamson recovered a fumble and Jaime Alvarado picked off a pass.

MOUNTAIN

MANCOS (10-2 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

Mancos pushed its winning streak in the Mountain division to 11 with an unbeaten run last season. It was the sixth time in the last seven years that the Bluejays posted at least nine victories. The lone time they failed to hit that mark was the COVID season of 2020. After picking up wins over Plateau Valley and Byers in the first two rounds of the postseason, Mancos was upended by Haxtun, 28-8.

The running game will likely be a big key for the Bluejays, with the return of Jonah Ritter, who was third on the squad last year 757 yards and eight touchdowns. No one on the roster completed more than two passes, so the team will break in a new starting QB. Whomever wins that job will have two of last year’s top receivers back in Michael Resner (14/299/4) and Ritter (8/237/3).

Ritter finished last season with exactly 100 tackles, second on the team. Resner tied for fourth with 57, and Jacob Martin added 51. Fifteen of Martin’s stops were sacks, placing him among the state leaders. Resner had a team-high three interceptions.

SANFORD (7-4 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

A playoff run was in the cards for Sanford, whose only league loss came at the hands of Mancos (34-20). Two of their losses were to Haxtun, who beat the Mustangs 60-0 in the regular season, and 54-8 in the state quarterfinals.

The Mustangs got 585 yards and nine touchdowns through the air from Trason Gartrell, who also ran for 1252 yards and 16 scores. He’ll share that backfield with the likes of JD Faucette (620 yards, 7 TD) and Rylan Mortensen (256 yards, 4 TD). The Mustangs return everyone who ran the ball last year. They also return all but two players who caught a pass, led by Kaden Cary (10/120/1).

Sanford’s defense should be pretty stout this season, with the top eight tacklers back from a year ago. Gartrell led the unit with 72 stops, and was followed by Ryan Cordova (59), JD Faucetter (58), Mortensen (39), Ben Faucette (39), William Malouff (37), James McCarroll (33), and Logan Miller (33). McCarroll was tops with three interceptions.

DOVE CREEK (7-3 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

Dove Creek also made the postseason, falling to Simla in the opening round. The only other losses in the season were to Mancos and Sanford. They were outscored 89-18 in those two league defeats.

Helping the offense will be the return of everyone who threw a pass last year, including Josh Kibel, who led the team with 498 yards and seven TD. He and Nicholas Aragon both ran for more than 900 yards and combined for 26 touchdowns. Trevan Ivie was one of the preferred targets, leading the way with 21 catches for 340 yards and three scores.

Aragon was one of two Bulldogs to top the century mark in tackles, finishing second with 103. Four were sacks. Teagan Larimore (74) and Ivie (73) were third and fourth. Ivie was high on the state sack list, recording 14. Kibel tied for the team lead in takeaways with six, three picks and three fumble recoveries.

NORWOOD (5-4 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

Norwood made a late push for the postseason, winning three of its last four, but ultimately, the Mavericks were doomed by their slow start to the season. They lost four of their first six.

Brycen Rummel is back after throwing for more than 1500 yards and 16 touchdowns. At his disposal will be last year’s top three receivers, led by Cole Bray (29/509/8). Owen Tackett (23/483/7) and Caylon Joseph (13/153/1) followed. Rummel and Tackett each went over 500 on the ground, with a dozen touchdowns between them.

The top six tacklers from a year ago return, all of whom recorded at least 54 stops. Bray was just two shy of triple digits, and Jackson Dinsmore was two away from 80. Keegan Tackett added 65; O. Tackett, 61; Jacob Davis, 59; and Coulter Shumway, 54. Shumway notched five sacks, and Dinsmore tallied four picks.

SARGENT (3-6 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Midway through the season, the Farmers stood at 3-2 following a little two-game winning streak. However, they would go on to lose all four down the stretch and finish under .500 on the year.

Sargent did not post any stats from last season.

DOLORES (2-7 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

The Bears had a nice non-conference run, going 2-2. But, things went awry once league play began, with Dolores losing every game against a Mountain division foe. It was the second straight 2-7 season for the program.

Last year’s top two ground-gainers are back in Michael Rantz (512 yards, 6 TD) and Darren Hicks (246 yards, 1 TD). The Bears also get back Riley Wickstrom, who threw for 164 yards and two scores in a back-up role. Rantz and Hicks led the team in receiving out of the backfield, with Rantz racking up 42 catches for 393 yards and five TD, and Hicks adding 18 grabs for 244 yards and one touchdown.

Rantz and Hicks were also highly productive on defense, leading the team with 80 and 71 tackles. Deven Winter tacked on 51 stops and three interceptions. Rantz led the unit with four picks and three fumble recoveries.

NORTHWEST

WEST GRAND (9-1 OVERALL, 6-0 LEAGUE)

West Grand ran the board during the regular season, but at times it wasn’t easy. The Mustangs had three games decided by 10 points or less. That included a wild 38-36 victory over Plateau Valley. They were shutout in the opening round of the playoffs by Sedgwick County, 24-0.

Dual-threat QB Blake Terryberry returns after throwing for 1695 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also rushing for 685 yards and 22 more scores. West Grand also return three more players who gained triple digits on the ground in John Butler (198), Ruben Hatcher (180), and Jack Burton (116). Each ran for one touchdown. The top two pass catchers are gone, leaving Walker Howell with four receptions are the leading returnee.

Terryberry finished second on the team with 82 tackles, including a team-leading six sacks. Butler added 66 tackles, and Howell chipped in 57. Terryberry also had a team-high four fumble recoveries.

PLATEAU VALLEY (7-3 OVERALL, 5-1 LEAGUE)

After that overtime loss to West Grand, Plateau Valley reeled off four straight wins to qualify for the postseason. The Cowboys would go on to fall in the opening round to Mancos, 48-6.

Colter Ralston is back following a junior season in which he threw for just over 1800 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was also the second-leading runner with 254 yards and four scores. London Mitchell (34/658.11) and Hunter White (26/365/8) were last season’s leading receivers for the Cowboys.

Three of last year’s top five tacklers return, led by Austin Grundy with 81. White tallied 66, and Ralston picked up 62. Grant Bevan tacked on 50, and Riley Junge followed with 40. Junge had a team-high 8.5 sacks, while White led with six interceptions.

RANGELY (5-4 OVERALL, 3-3 LEAGUE)

The Panthers had their share of close games, including a 22-20 OT loss to Dove Creek, and the 24-14 defeat by West Grand. Their chances of snagging a postseason bid dissipated with three losses in their final five games.

Rangely did not enter stats for the full season, but with what was available, they return one of their leading passers in Bradley Lambros, who was also one of the top rushers for the Panthers. Chase Cochrane also played a role in the running game as a top-four rusher. No one who caught a pass returns.

Braden Lucas is back for Rangely on defense after finishing third last season. He’ll be called upon heavily to lead a group that lost eight of its top nine defenders to graduation. Lucas tallied six sacks and two blocked punts.

HAYDEN (4-5 OVERALL, 3-3 LEAGUE)

Like Rangely, Hayden had its hopes of clinching a spot in the postseason bracket dashed by a late stretch that included losses in three of its last five games. That included a 36-12 loss to the Panthers.

Peyton Johnson paced the Tigers with just under 700 yards passing, to go with seven TD. He put up similar numbers in the ground attack, rushing for 658 yards and 10 touchdowns. Danek Demorat (228 yards, 3 TD) and Carson Campbell (219 yards, 4 TD) were also over 200 yards on the ground. Campbell was the second-leading receiver with 20 catches, while gaining a team-high 310 yards.

Campbell and Demorat tied for third on defense with 51 tackles apiece. They combined for eight picks with Campbell snagging five. Brody Frentress finished with 45 tackles, four of them sacks. Ryder Weber led the team with five sacks in only six games.

VAIL CHRISTIAN (5-4 OVERALL, 3-3 LEAGUE)

Part of the jumble in the middle of the Northwest standings, Vail Christian went through a late three-game slide before ending the regular season with a shutout (55-0) over Lake County. It was the sixth winning season for the Saints in the last seven seasons, with the only non-winning campaign coming in the COVID season. They finished .500 that year.

Vail Christian did not enter any stats last year.

SOROCO (1-8 OVERALL, 1-5 LEAGUE)

The Rams had a rough year, dropping their first seven games, all by 26 or more points. They broke the slide with a 48-36 win over Lake County, but ended the season with a loss to Plateau Valley.

Joseph Cordova threw 667 yards and six touchdowns to lead the aerial attack. Cavit Gregory was his top target, snaring 18 receptions for 303 yards, while also running for 113 yards. Brayden Dudley went for more than 1000 yards from scrimmage, leading the Rams with 673 yards and four TD in the running game, and adding 16 grabs for 371 yards and four more scores.

Complete defensive stats were not provided last season.

LAKE COUNTY (0-9 OVERALL, 0-6 LEAGUE)

Speaking of rough years, Lake County was outscored 415-62, with one forfeit going in the books as a 2-0 defeat. The Panthers were shutout in three of their last four games.

With no one who threw a pass last season returning, the Panthers could lean heavily on the running game. However, they only return one of their top four rushers in Brendan Sandoval, who tallied 111 yards and no touchdowns.

None of the top returnees on defense finished with more than 16 tackles. Victor Galarza put that number in the books. Sandoval and Hunter Diamond added 13 apiece.

PLAINS

As noted in the open, Haxtun won its second title in the last four years with a win over Akron in the championship game. The Fightin’ Bulldogs lost their opener to Melrose (44-36), who went on to win the New crown in New Mexico with an unbeaten season. Prior to the 46-20 win over Akron, Haxtun had given up a total of 16 points in the postseason, blanking Hoehne in the opening round, and then allowing eight points apiece to Sanford and Mancos.

The Fightin’ Bulldogs lost their top two runners, but return Zach Statz, who ran for close to 1000 yards as the third option. The now-senior scored 14 TD. In Grant Firme and Colin Cone, Haxtun brings back two more runners with more than 300 yards last season. Cone also finished as the top passer with 557 yards and four scores. Chase Goddard gives him last year’s top receiver after catching 20 passes for 473 yards and six touchdowns.

Firme was one of two defenders with triple digit tackles, registering 124. Statz followed with 80, and Seth Seger notched 72. Cone added 56, and Corbin Andersen tallied 54. Cone led the unit with four interceptions, while Statz pounced on three fumbles.

AKRON (11-2 OVERALL, 3-1 LEAGUE)

Both of Akron’s losses came against Haxtun, with the Rams dropping the league contest 48-0. Before the championship loss, the Rams had beaten Clear Creek, Sedgwick County, and Simla in the playoffs. It gave them a six-game winning streak between defeats.

The Rams have to replace a nearly 1600 yard rusher, but bring back plenty of pieces on offense. Jace Curtis did a bit of everything last year, running for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns, passing for 588 yards and four TD, and catching 12 balls for 139 yards and four scores. His passing yards came while Kolten Randel was out for five games with a wrist injury. Randel still finished second on the team with 518 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 244 yards and two TD. Akron also brings back Jakzon Livesay, who was third in rushing and second in receiving.

Gone are a pair of triple digit tacklers, but Curtis finished third with 95. Mason Porteus followed with 86, and Livesay added 79. Porteus had a team-high nine sacks, while Curtis (8), Randel (4), and Livesay (2) combined for 14 interceptions.

SEDGWICK COUNTY (5-6 OVERALL, 2-2 LEAGUE)

The Cougars opened the season 3-2, but dropped two of four to close the regular season. Still, the strength of schedule helped them make the postseason, where they knocked off West Grand in the opening round 24-0. They would run into Akron in the quarterfinals, when their season came to a close with the 28-0 loss. Akron had beaten Sedgwick County 20-6 in the earlier meeting.

Sedgwick County has to replace its leading rusher and the only player to throw a pass last season. The Cougars will return a solid pair of backs in Owen Harris (501 yards, 5 TD), and Brady Mollendor (385 yards, 4 TD). Mollendor was the only Cougar to catch more than eight passes, finishing with 24 for 274 yards and three scores.

Harris broke the 100 tackle mark, recording 107. Noah Harens tacked on 74, and Mollendor notched 58. Tate Renquist recovered three fumbles, and Bryce Kinnie forced two.

MERINO (4-6 OVERALL, 1-3 LEAGUE)

Despite a pair of two-game losing streaks during the regular season, the latter of which was part of three losses in four games, Merino punched its ticket into the playoff field. The Rams would fall to Byers 44-14 in the opening round.

Jacob Frank will be a big part of the offense again, after finishing second with 615 yards and eight touchdowns, and leading the Rams with 28 receptions for 473 yards and five TD. Zavier Trenkle is the only player back on the roster to attempt a pass, and he threw two. He also averaged close to 20 yards on nine catches, with two touchdowns.

Frank was second on the defense with 89 tackles, while Jordan Rose and Trenkle were fourth and fifth, with 82 and 64, respectively. Trenkle registered two interceptions, and Casey Kaus blocked a punt.

DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN (4-6 OVERALL, 0-4 LEAGUE)

The Eagles were solid in the non-conference portion of their schedule, with a non-league loss to Akron being their only regular season defeat in that slate. However, they could not get over the hump in league play. Dayspring Christian used the strength of its schedule to earn a playoff spot, but it came up short in the opening round against McClave, 20-8.

Elijah Martin (1266 yards, 12 TD) and Jackson Polk (302 yards, 2 TD) return to lead the running game for the Eagles, who have to replace last year’s QB. Polk, who was second to Max Krehbiel (14/286/6) with 13 catches for 180 yards and two scores, completed two of three passes last year for 42 yards to have the most completions, attempts, and yards coming back.

Polk and Martin tied for the team lead on defense, with each registering 131 tackles. Hawkins Flanagan finished with 113 as a freshman. The Eagles also return AJ Soucie (77), Krehbiel (52), and Gracen Bryant (49) on that side of the ball. Polk led the squad with six sacks.

SIX-COUNTY

HOEHNE (6-4 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

Hoehne dropped three of its first four games, but put together and unbeaten run through league play to be become the Six-County’s lone playoff representative. The Farmers had their five-game winning streak snapped in the opening round by Haxtun (60-0).

Jake Magninat gives Hoehne and experienced QB, who threw for 939 yards and six TD, while also rushing for 341 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’ll have Anthony Sandoval back to hand the ball to. Sandoval ran for just under 1300 yards and 17 scores. Brody Silvey is the only player on the roster who registered double digit receptions, hauling in 24 for 669 yards and five touchdowns.

Jayson Guzzo led the defense with 80 tackles, four of them sacks. Connor Knezel tallied 63 stops, and Sandoval added 60. Matteo Moltrer checked in with 41. Knezel had a team-high seven sacks.

FOWLER (5-4 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

The Grizzlies struggled in the non-league part of their schedule, only going 1-3, but once they got into divisional play, they got hot. Fowler won four of its final five games, with only the loss to Hoehne blemishing their record in that stretch. It wasn’t enough to get the Grizzlies into the postseason.

Brock True came close to a 2000 yard season, throwing for 1038 with 10 TD, and running for 950 with 18 more touchdowns. The Grizzlies also return Bronson Damgaard, who was second on the team with 258 rushing yards as a freshman. Their top receiver is gone, but the Grizzlies return Bryce Froman and Demetrius Alvarez, who combined for 21 catches, 470 yards, and seven touchdowns.

True and Alvarez are back for a defensive unit that lost its top two tacklers. True registered 78, while Alvarez notched 58. Titus Ballard was one behind, and Froman posted 53. Wade Clemmensen got in on the action with 49. Alvarez led the squad with three picks.

CROWLEY COUNTY (4-5 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

Crowley County got off to a rough start, losing its first three games. However, the Chargers bounced back with wins in four of their next five, giving themselves a chance to finish above .500 with a victory at Fowler. The Grizzlies won that one 39-22, sending Crowley County to third place in the league.

The Chargers did not post complete stats last season.

WALSENBURG (4-5 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

After alternating wins and losses over the first eight games, Walsenburg found itself in a similar position at Crowley County, needing a win in the finale to finish over .500 for the year. The Panthers also came up short, falling to Hoehne by a 50-6 count.

Taylor Torres is back after finishing second with 575 yards and five touchdowns in the ground game. Adrian Vallejos also returns with 426 passing yards and seven TD. Torres was the only Panther with double digit receptions, snaring 10 passes for 112 yards and two scores. Landon Eccher was a big play in the making, catching five balls for 100 yards and two TD.

Torres was one of three defenders with more than 90, recording 93, but he’s the only one of the three to return. Eccher tallied 49, and Vallejos added 36. Vallejos was second on the team with two interceptions, and Torres recovered four fumbles.

SANGRE DE CRISTO (2-6 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Returning from a stint in 6-man, Sangre de Cristo found points, and win, hard to come by. The Thunderbirds lost five in a row at one stage, scoring six or fewer points in three of them. They would get back in the win column with a 54-16 decision over Custer County in the finale.

The Thunderbirds did not report any stats last year.

CUSTER COUNTY (0-9 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

The Bobcats were held to 16 points in the season-opener and the finale, and did not score more than eight points in any of the seven games in between. They were 474-64 on the season.

Elijah Flynn threw for 504 yards and four scores as a freshman, and Mason Simmons added 451 yards and three more touchdowns through the air. Flynn is also the top returning runner, having finished with 128 yards. Agi Thomas had a big season catching the ball, racking up 39 receptions, 600 yards, and five TD. Wade Pierce caught a dozen passes for 166 yards, and one touchdown.

Taylor Bradford had 33 tackles in five games for the Panthers, who  also got 13 from Thomas and 11 from Jacob Tomassoni.