MileHigh Prep Report

Class 2A Football League Predictions & Previews (Crossroads & Metro Leagues)

Class 2A has just 5 leagues this season.  We will break them into two articles and we will focus on the Crossroads and Metro League.  I will be giving my league predictions on who finishes where.  This is all in fun and I do not wish bad on any teams.  Good Luck to all teams this season. We will have our playoff teams picked on next article.

Crossroads League

1. Weld Central

2. Englewood

3. Kennedy

4. The Academy

5. Manual

6. Fort Lupton

7. Prospect Ridge

The Crossroads League is a new league forming with teams from League 7, East, 3A Metro, 1A Frontier, and 1A Central.  Weld Central is my pick to win the Crossroads League.  Weld Central went 6-3 last season finishing second in League 7 and just missing out on the playoffs.  Weld Central has their eyes fixed on a playoff berth this season and return key pieces.  Offensively, QB Luke Witzel and RB Braden Schellenberg return to lead the offense, but new weapons must step up at WR.  Defensively, Weld Central was hit the hardest by graduation, returning just 6 of their top 13 tacklers.  Weld Central will search for new leaders to step up losing 4 of their top 5 tacklers as well.  Look for Bryen Stalcup and Cristiano Ontiveros to be leaders this season.  Englewood is my pick to finish in second.  Englewood went 5-4 last year, finishing in 4^th place in the East League and missing the playoffs.  Englewood is hoping the new league will give them a shot at the playoffs.  Offensively, Englewood will turn to QB Daniel Cullin to make a big jump this season along with RB Nate Frausto and WR Nathan Owens.  Defensively, Englewood will return 7 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 5.  Englewood should make huge improvements and look for Kaloni Refuels and Michael Beulah to take a big leap this year.  Kennedy is my pick to finish in 3^rd.  Kennedy drops from Class 3A down into Class 2A this season and are coming off a 4-6 season.  Kennedy is hoping to make a push for a league title and possibly a playoff spot right away.  Kennedy returns QB Marcelis Allen to lead the offense along with RB Matthew Salazar and WR Urijah Garcia.  Defensively, Kennedy took the biggest hit returning just 6 of their top 13 tacklers including 2 of their top 5.  Joey Andazola and Damien Trevizo are a few names to watch for this season.  The Academy is my pick for fourth place.  The Academy went 2-7 last year finishing 5^th in League 7.  The Academy had a tough season a year ago and hope to bounce back this season.  Offensively The Academy will search for a new QB but whoever takes over will have plenty of weapons in RB Hector Mendoza, WR Amador Lopez and WR Cedric Rathbun.  Defensively, The Academy also took a hit for graduation and return just 6 of their top 13 tacklers including just 1 of their top 6.  Players like Ezekial Marquez and Lukas Sanchez could become players who could step up this year.  Manual is my pick to finish in 5^th.  Manual went 6-4 last season with a trip to the playoffs.  Manual will lose a very good senior class but hope to keep in the playoff hunt this year.  Manual offensively lose over 2000 yards of total offense but will look for players like Caleb Burrell, Ellis Namuweusi Clements, and Jeremiah Myles to step up this year.  Defensively, Manual will also search for new leaders to step up returning just 5 of their top 13 tacklers.  Aciano Wilson and Daveion McCool could see their roles increase this season.  Prospect Ridge and Fort Lupton round out the Crossroads League.  Fort Lupton went 2-7 last year and 2-3 in League 7.  Fort Lupton will have a few holes to fill mainly at QB.  Ilian Tovar could be the new QB for Fort Lupton but also look for RB Dominick Martinez and WR Donte Lenox to step up this season.  Defensively Fort Lupton returns 8 of their top 13 tacklers but lose their top 3 tacklers from a season ago.  Look for new leaders like Xander Ramirez and Dylen Hofferber to fill those holes.  Prospect Ridge went 3-6 last season, winning 3 of their first 4 games but going 0-5 in their final 5 games.  Prospect Ridge will move up to Class 2A this season.  Offensively new weapons must step up for Prospect Ridge as they lose over 1500 yards of total offense.  Players like Josh Ranijt, Jason Ranijt, and Elliot Hoyland could be some of those players.  Defensively, Prospect Ridge return 8 of their top 13 tacklers including key leaders like Wyatt Clubb and Jaden Markovitz. 

My predictions for the Crossroads League

League Champion: Weld Central

Playoff Contenders: Weld Central, Englewood, Kennedy

Dark Horse: Kennedy

Preseason Player of the League: Luke Witzel Sr. Weld Central

Others to watch for: Bryen Stalcup Sr. Weld Central, Braden Schellenberg Sr. Weld Central, Kaloni Refuels Sr. Englewood, Daniel Cullin Sr. Englewood, Nate Frausto Sr. Englewood, Marcelis Allen Sr. Kennedy, Matthew Salazar Jr. Kennedy, Urijah Garcia Sr. Kennedy, Hector Mendoza Sr. The Academy, Amador Lopez Jr. The Academy, Cedric Rathbun Sr. The Academy, Aciano Wilson Jr. Manual, Jeremiah Myles Sr. Manual, Caleb Burrell So. Manual, Xander Ramirez Jr. Fort Lupton, Donte Lenox Jr. Fort Lupton, Dominick Martinez Jr. Fort Lupton, Josh Ranijt Sr. Prospect Ridge, Wyatt Clubb Jr. Prospect Ridge, Jaden Markovitz Sr. Prospect Ridge

Metro League

1. Elizabeth

2. Forge Christian

3. Classical Academy

4. Strasburg

5. Denver West

6. D’Evelyn

The Metro League is a new league with teams of former leagues from the East, 1A Frontier, and Metro.  This version of the Metro League could be considered one of the tougher leagues in Class 2A.  Elizabeth is my pick to win the Metro League.  Elizabeth was your runner up a year ago going 10-3 and have a great run into the State Championship.  Elizabeth offensively will lose a lot of key pieces taking over 2000 yards of total offense.  Elizabeth though has been a staple of consistency reaching the playoffs every year since 2020.  Elizabeth will look for new players to step up like QB Joaquin Aviles, RB Ryker Atkins and RB Brody Aldridge.  Defensively is where Elizabeth is their strongest.  Returning 8 of their top 13 tacklers including 4 of their top 5.  Leaders like Tyler Hanak and Landon Edwards look to lead Elizabeth back to another deep playoff run.  Forge Christian is my pick to finish in 2^nd.  Forge Christian makes the move back into Class 2A after a two-year stint in Class 1A.  Forge Christian went 8-2 last year with a trip to the playoffs.  Forge Christian offensively could be explosive returning QB Jack Widdifield along with RB Raleigh Cleveland and WR Hayden Hall.  Defensively, Forge Christian will be a top unit returning 8 of their top 13 tacklers but will lose some leadership returning just 1 of their top 5.  Players like Danny Granillo and Evan Eytcheson look to make an impact this season.  The Classical Academy is my pick to finish in 3^rd.  TCA went 11-1 last season with a trip to the Semifinals falling to eventual state champions Wellington.  TCA lost a talented senior class taking with them over 3000 yards of total offense.  New players will be tasked with leading the offense like Wilson Grothe, RB Josiah Musilli, and WR Elijah Faughnan.  Defensively, TCA was also hit hard by graduation and return just 2 of their top 13 tacklers.  New players like Aaron Young and Sam Newman will be tasked with stepping up this year.  TCA is a staple in Class 2A and have not had a losing season since 2014.  Strasburg is my pick to finish in 4^th.  Strasburg went 10-1 last season with a trip to the Quarterfinals.  Strasburg will have a new head coach this season and lose a talented senior class taking their RB1 and most of their starting offensive line.  Offensively, Strasburg could be explosive returning, QB Brody Hopwood, WR Jayden Miller, and WR/RB Ayden Dodge.  The main question mark will be the offensive line.  Defensively, Strasburg was hit very hard by graduation and return just 4 of their top 13 tacklers.  Strasburg will turn to players like Reagan Rosier and Mason Dickens to be leaders this year.  Denver West is my pick to finish in 5^th.  Denver West went 8-2 last season with a trip to the playoffs.  Denver West will join a much tougher league this season and will hope to stay in contention.  Offensively, Denver West returns key pieces in QB Marcelo Ortiz, RB Abu Hussein, and WR Arturo Espino Gonzalez but may have lost 4 starters on the offensive line. Defensively, Denver West will return 6 of their top 13 tacklers and 2 of their top 5.  Denver West will look for players like Jovonee Flores and Pedro Jaramillo to step up this season.  D’Evelyn rounds out the Metro League.  D’Evelyn went 4-5 last season, going 2-2 in league.  D’Evelyn will look to build on last season but will need to figure things out offensively.  D’Evelyn will be searching for a new QB and look for Leo Vigil to possibly fill that role and players like RB Wes Zuniga and WR Tyler Woolley could help ease the transition.  Defensively, D’Evelyn should make the biggest improvement, returning 8 of their top 13 tacklers including their top 4 from last season.  Adam Diaz and Gabe Kernc look to continue to lead the D’Evelyn defense. 

My predictions for Metro League

League Champion: Elizabeth

Playoff Contenders: Elizabeth, Forge Christian, Classical Academy, Strasburg, Denver West

Dark Horse: Denver West

Preseason Player of the League: Brody Hopwood Sr. Strasburg

Others to watch for: Ryker Atkins Sr. Elizabeth, Brody Aldrige Sr. Elizabeth, Tyler Hanak Sr. Elizabeth, Raleigh Cleveland Sr. Forge Christian, Danny Granillo Jr. Forge Christian, Josiah Musilli Sr. Classical Academy, Wilson Grothe Jr. Classical Academy, Nathaniel Thorne Sr. Classical Academy, Jack Widdifield Sr. Forge Christian, Jayden Miller Sr. Strasburg, Ayden Dodge Sr. Strasburg, Marcelo Ortiz Sr. Denver West, Abu Hussein Jr. Denver West, Arturo Espino-Gonzalez Sr. Denver West, Wes Zuniga Sr. D’Evelyn, Tyler Woolley Sr. D’Evelyn, Adam Diaz Sr. D’Evelyn