MileHigh Prep Report

8-Man League Predictions (Leagues A, B, and C)

We move up into the 8-Man ranks and look at Leagues A, B, and C. We touch on every single team in these leagues. Also, Kerry Sherman will have a full Season Preview out next week!  We keep all of our previews and predictions free! I am splitting 8-Man into two articles and the next article will have the 16 teams we think make the playoffs.  Good Luck to all teams this season.

League A

1. McClave

2. Fowler

3. Las Animas

4. Holly

5. Springfield

6. Rocky Ford

League A had two teams qualify for the playoffs in McClave and Las Animas.  This is a new cycle for the leagues, and this is a new league that brings teams from the Ark Valley and Six County together.  McClave is my pick to win League A.  McClave went 11-1 last season with a trip to the Semifinals.  They look to be the preseason favorite to win a State Championship this year.  McClave will have a few key holes to fill on the offensive line and at RB.  Offensively, McClave will return QB/RB Drew Howe, RB Ryan Steinbrunn, and QB/RB Kolten Randel (transferred from Akron).  Defensively McClave returns 6 of their top 10 tacklers and look for Tuff Kelley and Kielan Mallard to step up this season.  Fowler is my pick to finish in second place.  Fowler went 5-4 last season finishing 2^nd in the Six County league and just missing the playoffs.  Fowler this season is loaded to challenge not only for a playoff spot but possibly a league title.  Fowler offensively returns QB Brock True, RB Bronson Damgaard, and WR Layton Sharon.  Defensively Fowler should take the biggest steps forward returning 8 of their top 10 tacklers including leaders like Titus Ballard and Garrett Pharr.  Las Animas is my pick for 3^rd.  Las Animas had one of their most successful seasons since 2004 going 7-3 and making the playoffs.  Las Animas will have a few big holes to fill mainly at RB and losing some seniors on the offensive and defensive line.  Offensively, Las Animas will return QB Braydon Ortiz, RB/WR Nicholas Duran, and WR Jerome Ethridge.  Defensively Las Animas should also still be a tough unit returning 6 of their top 10 tacklers but lose 3 of their top 4 tacklers.  Look for new leaders like Scott Banister, Jerome Ethridge, and Josiah Martinez to step up this year.  Holly is my pick to finish in 4^th.  Holly went 2-7 last year and missed the playoffs.  They will look to find their footing this year and return the talent to push for a playoff spot.  Holly returns QB Drayden Williams, RB Coy King, and RB/WR Leonardo Mendoza.  Holly defensively should improve this year returning 8 of their top 10 tacklers but lose key leadership.  Look for Brandon Herrera and Noel Lopez to step up this year.  Springfield is my pick to finish in 5^th.  Springfield went 6-3 and just missed out on the playoffs.  Springfield will lose a big senior class that takes multiple pieces away.  Springfield will have talent back to try and be in the playoff mix this season.  QB Coltin Woodhouse returns to lead the offense but new players around him must step up like Landon Spires and Dane Rosengrants.  Defensively Springfield was hit the hardest by graduation and return just 3 of their top 10 tacklers.  A few players to watch for this year are Jason Miller and Drew George.  Rocky Ford rounds out League A.  Rocky Ford went 3-6 last season and missed the playoffs.  Rocky Ford is playing there 3^rd year of 8-man football and hope to keep building towards success.  Offensively Rocky Ford has a few pieces to replace but look for QB Shayne Gonzales to break out this year along with RB Jake Baca and WR Leonel Ramirez.  Defensively Rocky Ford should also improve returning 6 of their top 10 tacklers including leaders like Mathias Harmon and Esteban Preciado.

My predictions for League A

League Champion: McClave

Playoff Contenders: McClave, Fowler, Las Animas, Holly

Dark Horse: Holly

Preseason Player of the League: Kolten Randel Jr. McClave

Others to watch for: Tuff Kelley Sr. McClave, Ryan Steinbrunn So. McClave, Drew Howe Jr. McClave, Brock True Sr. Fowler, Bronson Damgaard Jr. Fowler, Titus Ballard Sr. Fowler, Coy King Sr. Holly, Brandon Herrera Sr. Holly, Drayden Williams Sr. Holly, Landon Spires Jr. Springfield, Jason Miller Sr. Springfield, Coltin Woodhouse Jr. Springfield, Mathias Harmon Sr. Rocky Ford, Shayne Gonzales Sr. Rocky Ford, Jake Baca Sr. Rocky Ford

League B

1. Hoehne

2. Center

3. Sargent/Sangre De Cristo

4. Sierra Grande

5. Custer County

6. Walsenburg

League B has the most question marks of any league in 8-Man this year and considered by many to be one of the weaker leagues in 8-Man Football.  League B had Zero playoff teams in 8-Man a year ago with the only playoff team being Sierra Grande in 6-Man.  League B is going to be wide open this year.  Hoehne is my pick to win League B.  Hoehne went 4-5 last season missing the playoffs but were on the bubble most of last season.  Hoehne will lose their starting QB and at least one offensive linemen from a year ago.  Hoehne will return RB Brody Silvey along with WR Antonio Cantoria and WR Bracyn Seeders.  Defensively Hoehne will return key pieces on defense but lose their top tackler from a year ago.  Hoehne returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers with leaders like Alec Baca, Brody Silvey, and Bracyn Seeders all back.  Center is my pick for 2^nd place.  Center make the move from 11-man Football down to 8-Man Football and should be competitive right away.  Center lost just 3 seniors from last year’s team and return the skill players to make a big impact.  QB Devan Garcia is back to lead the offense along with RB/WR Jaiden Martinez and RB/WR Yanixan Padilla.  Defensively Center must make the biggest improvements, and they should returning 9 of their top 10 tacklers including leaders like Derriq Thompson and Elijah Garcia.  Sangre/Sargent is my pick for 3^rd place and my dark horse pick to win the league.  Sangre/Sargent is the biggest question mark with how this new Co-Op will go.  They have a new coach that will have to blend the talent that both teams bring back.  Sangre/Sargent offensively, does have key pieces back with QB Deklin Beiriger, RB/OL Joe Brown, and RB Kyler Jones.  Defensively both teams return key pieces to help them fly around Luke Brown, Zane Eskew, River Hodgson, and Donovan Heineman are a few names to look out for on defense.  Sierra Grande is my pick for 4^th.  Sierra Grande is the only team in the league that made the playoffs but that was in 6-Man.  Sierra Grande will make the jump up to 8-Man Football and is another team to watch for if they figure stuff out.  Coach Carona has turned this team into a power and can he translate it into the 8-Man game, it could take a year, but they will compete every play.  Key players to watch for Offensively and defensively, for Sierra Grande are Matthew Trujillo, Sammy Gonzalez, Carlos Maestas, and Aden Gallegos.  Rounding out League B is Custer County and Walsenburg.  Custer County went 3-5 last year finding some success but will lose some key seniors from last year.  QB Elijah Flynn and WR Agi Thomas return for the Bobcats but finding RBs will be key to offensive success.  Defensively Custer County returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers with key pieces back in Brayden Baker and Mason Simmons.  Walsenburg went 0-9 last season and will look to rebuild for this year and will have a new coach.  Walsenburg will look for RB Taylor Torres to lead the way offensively but other weapons must step up this year like RB/WR Landon Eccher and QB Malachi Luginbill.  Defensively, Walsenburg should make the biggest improvement, returning 8 of their top 10 tacklers.  Taylor Torres, Jiovanni Correnti, and Christian Maestas should lead the way for the Panthers.

My predictions for League B

League Champion: Hoehne

Playoff Contenders: Hoehne, Center, Sangre/Sargent, Sierra Grande

Dark Horse: Sangre/Sargent

Preseason Player of the League: Brody Silvey Sr. Hoehne

Others to watch for: Alex Baca Jr. Hoehne, Bracyn Seeders Jr. Hoehne, Derriq Thompson Sr. Center, Devan Garcia Jr. Center, Jaiden Martienz Jr. Center, Deklin Beiriger So. Sangre/Sargent, Joe Brown Sr. Sangre/Sargent, Kyler Jones Jr. Sangre/Sargent, Carlos Maestas Sr. Sierra Grande, Sammy Gonzalez So. Sierra Grande, Matthew Trujillo So. Sierra Grande, Elijah Flynn Jr. Custer County, Agi Thomas Sr. Custer County, Brayden Baker Jr. Custer County, Taylor Torres Sr. Walsenburg, Jiovanni Correnti Sr. Walsenburg, Landon Eccher Sr. Walsenburg

League C

1. Mancos

2. Norwood

3. Dolores

4. Sanford

5. Del Norte

League C is the remnants of the Mountain League from last season.  3 playoff teams are back from this league, and League C should be very competitive yet again this season.  Mancos is my pick to win League C.  Mancos went 7-4 last season reaching the playoffs and falling in the Quarterfinals.  Mancos does lose some key seniors from last season.  Mancos offensively has their leader back in QB Michael Resner but also look for RB James Potts and WR Traycer White to breakout this year.  Defensively Mancos is always a top unit, and they return 6 of their top 10 tacklers.  Look for Gavin Smith and Joshua Peterson to step up this year.  Norwood is my pick to finish in 2^nd and challenge for the league title.  Norwood went 8-3 last season with a trip to the Quarterfinals.  Norwood offensively has some key pieces to replace at QB and RB and will look for new players like Jackson McCabe, Cole Bray, and Holten McCluer to all step into bigger roles this year.  Defensively Norwood will have a top unit in 8-Man this year returning 7 of their top 10 tacklers including 3 of their top 5.  Players to watch out for on defense are Jacob Davis and Keegan Tackett.  Dolores is my pick for 3^rd place.  Dolores went 4-4 last season and was one of the last teams to miss the playoffs.  They will push for a playoff spot this year and return the talent to do just that.  QB River Wickstrom returns to power the offense along with RB/WR Darren Hicks and WR Ethan Miles-Brown.  Defensively Dolores will have some holes to fill but return 6 of their top 10 tacklers.  Look for Branson Lee and Daniel Jacket to have big seasons this year for Dolores.  Sanford is my pick to finish in 4^th but they are also my dark horse pick to challenge for the league title and playoff spot.  Sanford went 10-2 last season and reached the Semifinals.  Sanford lost a very good senior class, many who started since they were freshman and sophomores.  Sanford will turn to the next group up and look for players like Colton Reynolds, Huntley Duran, and Kaden Cary to step into bigger roles this year offensively.  On defense Sanford returns their top two tacklers from last year but lose a lot of depth behind them.  Rylan Mortensen will lead the way but look for Tyson Miller and Lucas Miller to step into bigger roles this year.  Del Norte wraps up League C.  Del Norte makes the move back down into 8-Man after playing in 1A.  Del Norte last played 8-Man in 2019, and their last winning season was while in 8-man in 2017.  Del Norte will hope to find success again in 8-Man.  Del Norte will lean on Brendan Hemmerling Liam Kreutzer, Asher Albright, and Morgan Howell to lead the way for Del Norte into the 8-Man ranks.  If Del Norte can adjust quickly into the 8-Man ranks they could start to challenge again for the league title.

My predictions for League C

League Champion: Mancos

Playoff Contenders: Mancos, Norwood, Dolores, Sanford

Dark Horse: Sanford

Preseason Player of the League: Michael Resner Sr. Mancos

Others to watch for: James Potts Sr. Mancos, Traycer White Jr. Mancos, Cole Bray Sr. Norwood, Jacob Davis Sr. Norwood, Daniel Zunich Sr. Norwood, River Wickstrom Sr. Dolores, Darren Hicks Sr. Dolores, Branson Lee Jr. Dolores, Colton Reynolds Jr. Sanford, Huntley Duran Jr. Sanford, Rylan Mortensen Sr. Sanford, Asher Albright So. Del Norte, Liam Kreutzer So. Del Norte, Morgan Howell Sr. Del Norte