Class 1A Football Preview-Quarterfinals
We look at all 4 matchups in the First Round of the Class 1A State Playoffs. All games are being played on Saturday. The road to Pueblo is in full swing! We will do games in Bracket order and good luck to all 8 teams.
#1 Buena Vista (10-0) vs #8 Meeker (8-2), Saturday at 1pm
How they got here…Buena Vista kicked off their Playoff Journey with a 48 to 14 win over Holyoke. Buena Vista jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead after the 1st Quarter and kept their foot on the gas taking a 27 to 7 lead into halftime. Buena Vista finished things off with a 21-point third quarter to get the win. Meeker opened up their Playoff Journey with a 41 to 18 win over Platte Valley at home. Meeker got the scoring started in the First Quarter and it would turn into a back-and-forth affair with Platte Valley scoring and then Meeker answered it taking a 14-6 lead after the first quarter. Meeker would outscore Platte Valley 12-6 in the Second Quarter taking a 26-12 lead into halftime. The second half would be more of a defensive struggle with Meeker outscoring Platte Valley 15-6 and getting the win.
Last Week…Buena Vista leaned on their rushing attack last week rushing for 305 yards as a team to just 64 yards passing. The rushing attack was powered by RB Eli Schuknecht who had 10 carries for 130 yards and 2 TDs, and RB Abel Flowers also contributed with 6 carries for 73 yards and 2 TDs. Casen Pridemore (5 carries for 53 yards) & Joe Bearss (5 carries for 52 yards) also contributed to the rushing attack. The passing attack was led by QB Hudson Wingo who threw for 64 yards and 2 passing TDs in the game. Defensively Buena Vista limited Holyoke in scoring. Buena Vista forced 1 turnover an INT by Abel Flowers and got a punt return for a TD by Caleb Pierce. Buena Vista also forced 3 sacks and had 8 TFL. The Demons tackle leaders were Abel Flowers (8 tackles & 4 TFL) and Casen Pridemore (6 tackles).
Meeker was powered by their rushing attack last week which racked up 327 yards and 5 rushing TDs. Meeker completed 3 passes for 18 yards in the game. RB Said Rodriguez led the rushing attack with 9 carries for 117 yards and 3 TDs while RB Tristin Rollins had 22 carries for 94 yards and a TD. QB Cade Mills (11 carries for 56 yards) and RB Tucker Chinn (8 carries for 54 yard, 1 TD) also contributed to the rushing attack. Defensively Meeker forced 3 turnovers in the game 1 Interceptions and 2 Fumbles. Meeker also got some special teams’ help as Said Rodriguez took a kickoff to the house. The Cowboys were led in tackles by Tristin Rollins (13 tackles & 2 TFL) and Lawson Anderson (8 tackles).
Series history… Buena Vista leads the series over Meeker 4-3. Their last matchup was a 28-7 win for Meeker in 2023.
#4 Centauri (9-1) at #12 Highland (7-3), Saturday at 1pm
How they got here…Centauri kicked off their playoff run with a 35 to 21 win over North Fork. Centauri was in a tight contest last week, taking a 6-0 lead after the first quarter. Centauri would get a key touchdown before halftime to extend their lead to 19 to 7. Centauri would come out with some momentum after halftime and score 16 answered points to extend their lead and get the win. Highland would pull one of the two upsets in the opening round to kick off their playoff journey. Highland would get a huge 41 to 35 shootout win over #5 Forge Christian. Highland would hold a 27-14 lead into halftime. Highland would keep things a two-score game after the third quarter making it 41 to 28. The fourth quarter would see both defenses tighten and Highland get the win.
Last Week…Centauri was balanced in their offensive attack last week racking up 146 yards passing and 198 yards rushing. QB Sean Jarvies led the passing attack with 146 yards and 2 TDs. WR Donovan Jarvies was the top target, catching 3 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD. The rushing attack was led by WR/RB Dallyn King who had 6 carries for 53 yards and RB Marcos Atencio who had 14 carries for 52 yards. RB Blake Johnson and QB Sean Jarvies also had a rushing TDs in the game. Defensively Centauri kept North Fork in check most of the game holding them to 7 points before the fourth quarter. The Falcons were led in tackles by Marcos Atencio (18 tackles), Blake Johnson (15 tackles) and Spencer Smith (13 tackles).
Highland had a big offensive day last week racking up 412 yards of total offense. The rushing attack led the way with 273 yards and 3 TDs. RB Elijah Elder led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 106 yards and 2 TDs and RB Wyatt Chase also pitched in with 21 carries for 83 yards. QB Tyler Varra led the offense with 139 yards passing, 3 passing TDs, while rushing for 84 yards and 1 rushing TD. Defensively Highland did give up some yards but held Forge Christian when it mattered. The Huskies were led in tackles by Wyatt Chase (13 tackles), Elijah Elder (9 tackles), and Tyler Varra (8 tackles).
Series history… These two teams have not played each other since 2004.
#2 Limon (9-1) at #10 Monte Vista (7-3), Saturday at 1pm
How they got here…Limon got their playoff run started with a 44 to 16 win over Flatirons Academy. Limon had an explosive first quarter, scoring 30 points in the first quarter. Limon got the clock running in the second quarter, adding 14 points and the win. Monte Vista got their playoff journey started with a 21-0 win over C.S Christian. Monte Vista used their rushing attack to control the clock and would take a 7-0 lead into halftime holding C.S Christian to just 7 total plays of offense in the first half. Defense led the way for both teams in the second half before Monte Vista added a offensive and defensive TD in the fourth quarter.
Last Week…Limon had a huge day running the ball racking up 304 yards rushing and 6 rushing TDs averaging 10.1 yards as a team. RB Jacob Jaklich led the way with 10 carries for 120 yards and 4 TDs and RB Camdyn Tacha also pitched in with 8 carries for 90 yards and 2 TDs. RB Liam Yoder (6 carries for 48 yards) and WR/RB Drey Tacha (2 carries for 43 yards) also contributed to the rushing attack. Defensively Limon held Flatirons Academy to just 119 yards of total offense. Limon recovered a couple onside kicks in the first quarter and forced 1 turnover in the game. The Badgers were led in tackles by Parker Harris (10 tackles), Joe Whtie (6 tackles), and Brady Trim (5 tackles).
Monte Vista had a big day rushing the ball last week rushing for 279 yards and racking up 318 yards of total offense. RB Judah Howe had a career day with 22 carries for 131 yards and a rushing TD. WR/RB Azariah Hurtado (1 catch for 33 yards, 1 TD, and 10 carries for 61 yards) and RB Kelby Mondragon (10 carries for 58 yards) also pitched into the rushing attack. Defensively Monte Vista forced 2 turnovers in the game a pair of INTS and 2 sacks. The Pirates were led in tackles by Jon Enderle (10 tackles), Chayse Bouet (9 tackles), and Kelby Mondragon (8 tackles).
Series history… Limon leads the series over Monte Vista 2-0. Their last matchup was in 2022 with Limon defeating Monte Vista 50 to 20.
#3 Burlington (8-2) vs #6 Wray (7-3), Saturday at 1pm
How they got here…Burlington got their Playoff Journey started with a 51 to 8 win over Manual in the first round. Burlington played physically in the game and would take a 32-8 lead into halftime. Burlington would add a pair of scores in the third quarter to make the score 44 to 8 and get the win. Wray would kick off their State Title defense with a 56 to 13 win over Rye. Wray would get started hot with 28 first quarter points and would add another 21 in the second quarter and would have running clock by halftime.
Last Week…Burlington used their rushing attack to maximum effort and would rack up 312 yards in the game. RB Jason Saucedo led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 106 yards and 3 TDs while RB Anthony Estrada would have 11 rushes for 64 yards and 1 TD. RB Noe Grajeda (1 carry for 86 yards, 1 TD) and QB Scout Humrich (5 carries for 39 yards, 2 TDs) would also contribute to the rushing attack. Defensively Burlington held Manual to 121 yards of total offense. Burlington would force 1 Interception and 4 sacks in the game led by Jason Saucedo with 2 sacks. The Cougars were led in tackles by Anthony Estrada (5 tackles), Scout Humrich (4 tackles), and Samuel Korber (4 tackles).
Wray got started quickly in the game and offensively racked up 312 yards of total offense. QB Austin Collins led the offense with 95 yards passing and 2 passing TDs while rushing for 101 yards and 3 rushing TDs. WR Aaron Tena also contributed offensively with 37 yards rushing, 2 rushing TDs and 26 yards receiving and 1 receiving TD and Wyatt Fonte also got going with 32 yards rushing and 69 yards receiving and 1 receiving TD. Defensively Wray was able to limit the scoring chances for Rye. Wray forced 4 turnovers in the game, 1 interception and 3 fumbles. The Eagles were led in tackles by Yariel Aguilar (7 tackles), Lance Buoy (6 tackles), and Brodie Riggelman (6 tackles).
Series history… Wray leads the series over Burlington 14-13. Wray defeated Burlington during the regular season 28 to 18.
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