8-Man League Predictions Update & Playoff Projections Week 6

8-Man League Predictions Update & Playoff Projections Week 6

Every year during the preseason I give my league prediction. This year I am going to update them just one time before we enter league play. I will have my original predictions so you can compare from the preseason. I will also update the 16 teams I think make the playoffs. At the end I will have the playoff projections for if the season ended today! Good Luck to all teams.

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Ark Valley League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 McClave	#1 McClave
#2 Springfield	#2 Las Animas
#3 Las Animas	#3 Springfield
#4 Holly	#4 Rocky Ford
#5 Rocky Ford	#5 Holly
#6 Swink	#6 Swink

I think three teams from the Ark Valley League is a good possibility. Biggest thing will be needing to avoid upsets from the bottom half of the league. Lots of teams will be in the hunt so being in the top two could be the ticket into the playoffs.

My predictions for the Ark Valley

League Champion: McClave

Playoff Contenders: McClave, Las Animas, Springfield

Midway-Player of the League: Drew Howe So. McClave

Others to Watch: Ryan Steinbrunn Fr. McClave, Tuff Kelley Jr. McClave, Orion Martinez Sr. Las Animas, Braydon Ortiz Jr. Las Animas, Coltin Woodhouse So. Springfield, Gunnar Mackey Sr. Springfield, Juan Murillo Sr. Rocky Ford, Cayson Vandyk Sr. Rocky Ford, Coy King Jr. Holly, Jessie Pizarro Sr. Holly

Black Forest League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 St. Mary’s	#1 Simla
#2 Simla	#2 Elbert
#3 Calhan	#3 Byers
#4 Elbert	#4 Calhan
#5 Byers	#5 St. Mary’s
#6 South Park	#6 South Park

This league is going to be super competitive, and I worry that could hurt the number of teams that get in. The top 5 teams all have a realistic shot at the playoffs, but I think 3 teams could get in from this league.

My predictions for the Black Forest

League Champion: Simla

Playoff Contenders: Simla, Elbert, Byers, St. Mary’s, Calhan

Midway-Player of the League: Ethan Tesman Sr. Elbert

Others to Watch: Evan Guy So. Simla, Ethan Kissam So. Simla, Tatum Kocerha Jr. Simla, Eli Cornell Sr. Elbert, James Maes Jr. Byers, Gabe Price Jr. Byers, Michael Trechter Sr. St. Mary’s, Jackson Beam Sr. St. Mary’s, Riley Cochran Sr. Calhan

Central League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 Clear Creek	#1 Clear Creek
#2 Gilpin County	#2 Gilpin County
#3 Lyons	#3 Lyons
#4 Belleview Christian	#4 Belleview Christian
#5 Front Range Christian	#5 Front Range Christian
#6 Justice	#6 Justice

Clear Creek & Gilpin County look to be the only playoff contenders from this league. They must finish 1^st and 2^nd to both have a shot at the playoffs, at least right now.

My predictions for the Central

League Champion: Clear Creek

Playoff Contenders: Clear Creek & Gilpin County

Midway-Player of the League: Jacob Young Sr. Clear Creek

Others to Watch: Nathan Guerrero Sr. Clear Creek, Vincent Schoell Sr. Gilpin County, Landon Church Sr. Gilpin County, James Baer Jr. Lyons, Grady Pickering Sr. Lyons, Daniel Canda Jr. Belleview Christian, Lawson Edwards So. Front Range Christian

Mountain League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 Sanford	#1 Sanford
#2 Mancos	#2 Mancos
#3 Dove Creek	#3 Norwood
#4 Norwood	#4 Dove Creek
#5 Dolores	#5 Dolores
#6 Sargent	#6 Sargent

As we enter into the main part of league play, I would say 5 of the 6 teams in the Mountain League have a shot at the playoffs. I think 3 maybe 4 teams will get into the playoffs, but this will be a very competitive league.

My predictions for the Mountain League

League Champion: Sanford

Playoff Contenders: Sanford, Mancos, Norwood, Dove Creek, Dolores

Midway-Player of the League: Trason Gartrell Sr. Sanford

Others to Watch: JD Faucette Sr. Sanford, Michael Resner Jr. Mancos, Jonah Ritter Sr. Mancos, Brycen Rummel Sr. Norwood, Owen Tackett Sr. Norwood, Nicholas Aragon Sr. Dove Creek, Teagan Larimore Jr. Dove Creek, Michael Rantz Sr. Dolores, Jayce Capron Sr. Sargent,

Northwest League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 West Grand	#1 West Grand
#2 Plateau Valley	#2 Plateau Valley
#3 Hayden	#3 Hayden
#4 Vail Christian	#4 Vail Christian
#5 Rangely	#5 Rangely
#6 Soroco	#6 Soroco
#7 Lake County	#7 Lake County

The Northwest league is already underway and that has influenced this a bit. It has been a competitive battle between the top teams and looking forward to the rest of the year. 4 teams will be in playoff contention.

My predictions for the Northwest League

League Champion: West Grand

Playoff Contenders: West Grand, Plateau Valley, Hayden, Vail Christian

Midway-Player of the League: Blake Terryberry Sr. West Grand

Others to Watch: Jake Trail Sr. West Grand, John Butler Sr. West Grand, Colter Ralston Sr. Plateau Valley, Austin Grundy Sr. Plateau Valley, Hunter White Sr. Plateau Valley, Peyton Johnson Jr. Hayden, Carson Campbell Jr. Hayden, Asher Morris Sr. Vail Christian, Rayman Romanin Jr. Vail Christian, Bradley Lambros Jr. Rangely, Kacey Allred Jr. Rangely, Joseph Cordova Jr. Soroco, Cavit Gregory So. Soroco, Josh Sweet Sr. Lake County

Plains League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 Haxtun	#1 Haxtun
#2 Akron	#2 Akron
#3 Sedgwick County	#3 Sedgwick County
#4 Dayspring Christian	#4 Dayspring Christian
#5 Merino	#5 Merino

This is a very competitive league, and I think all 5 teams will be in the hunt for the playoffs. I do believe 4 teams will get in the question will be can all 5 get into the playoffs.

My predictions for the Plains League

League Champion: Haxtun

Playoff Contenders: Haxtun, Akron, Merino, Sedgwick County, Dayspring Christian

Midway-Player of the League: Coleman Firme Sr. Haxtun

Others to Watch: Colin Cone Sr. Haxtun, Zach Statz Sr. Haxtun, Seth Seger Sr. Haxtun, Kolten Randel So. Akron, Jakzon Livesay Sr. Akron, Jace Curtis Sr. Akron, Mason Porteus Sr. Akron, Brady Mollendor Sr. Sedgwick County, Owen Harris Jr. Sedgwick County, Noah Harens Jr. Sedgwick County, Hawkins Flanagan So. Dayspring Chrisitan, Elijah Martin Sr. Dayspring Christian, AJ Soucie Sr. Dayspring Christian

Six County League

Preseason Predictions	Week 6 Predictions
#1 Hoehne	#1 Fowler
#2 Fowler	#2 Hoehne
#3 Fowler	#3 Sangre De Cristo
#4 Walsenburg	#4 Crowley County
#5 Custer County	#5 Walsenburg
#6 Sangre De Cristo	#6 Custer County

Six County League is probably only going to get the league champion into the playoffs. A second team could emerge if a team like Sangre De Cristo finishes in second place, but Hoehne could also still get in the mix but their loss to Springfield could hurt.

My predictions for Six County

League Champion: Fowler

Playoff Contenders: Fowler, Hoehne, Sangre De Cristo

Midway-Player of the League: Brock True Jr. Fowler

Others to Watch: Bronson Damgaard So. Fowler, Demetrius Alvarez Sr. Fowler, Jake Magninat Sr. Hoehne, Brody Silvey Jr. Hoehne, Deklin Beiriger Fr. Sangre De Cristo, Kolby Shellabarger Sr. Sangre De Cristo, Carlos Cerrato Sr. Sangre De Cristo, Julian Marquez Fr. Crowley County, Levi Gibson Fr. Crowley County, Derreck Buford Sr. Crowley County, Taylor Torres Jr. Walsenburg, Adrian Vallejos Sr. Walsenburg, Taylor Bradford Sr. Custer County, Doc McCoy Sr. Custer County

Playoff Predictions

Because 8-man is so uncertain I am doing my playoff prediction teams a bit different. I am going to have teams I think are locks to make the playoffs, In the Mix, and uncertain. Uncertain will have a lot of teams in this category. A lot will be decided by league play and that is why I will have so many teams in this category. The second half of 8-Man will be a blast!

Locks-McClave, Haxtun, Akron, Mancos, Sedgwick County, Sanford, Clear Creek

In the Mix-Plateau Valley, Dayspring Christian, Elbert, Norwood, West Grand, St. Mary’s, Springfield, Las Animas, Simla, Byers

Uncertain-Dolores, Merino, Sangre De Cristo, Gilpin County, Dove Creek, Calhan, Hayden, Vail Christian, Hoehne, Fowler, Rocky Ford, Custer County

I am very unsure about the second half of the field of 16 in 8-man currently. You could see teams really take a tumble if they are upset. I think the first two week of league play really shows us who is in the mix and not.

8-Man Football Playoff Projections Week 6

This year to reach the playoffs is simple. Either win your league title or be inside the top 16 of the CHSAA Seeding Index. After they select the 16 teams that make the playoffs, they use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed the playoffs. This week I will be giving my predictions on who makes the playoffs, but I will also look at if the season ended today who would make the playoffs at the end. Good Luck to all teams.

8-Man Playoff Projections (IF the Season Ended Today)

This is if the season ended today 10/4/2024. Using the CHSAA Seeding Index I will come up with the Playoff field. League Champions selected with my Predictions. I will seed & select the bracket with the CHSAA Seeding Index. Remember this is still very early and things will change. The league champions I selected are at the top with the at-large berths following.

https://chsaanow.com/sports/2022/7/20/chsaa-postseason-seeding-index.aspx

League Champion Predictions ()=CHSAA Seeding Index

Ark Valley: McClave (1)

Black Forest: Simla (17)

Central: Clear Creek (8)

Mountains: Sanford (11)

Northwest: West Grand (12)

Plains: Haxtun (2)

Six County: Fowler (29)

At Large Teams (Selected using 10/1 Seeding Index)

#8 Akron (3)

#9 Mancos (4)