2020 shapes up to be a very competitive year in Class 1A as several quality clubs are expected to battle for one of the limited playoff spots. Limon and Strasburg have combined to win the last four state championships and while those two programs are in the mix again this year, they will also face strong challenges from programs familiar with making deep playoff runs.
The season lays out differently this year. Following a six-week regular season, only eight teams instead of the normal 16, will advance to the post-season. And in contrast to past years, league champions are not guaranteed a playoff berth as all eight clubs will be selected based on a formula that combines RPI and polls from MaxPreps, CHSAA and Packard.
Since conference races are not a factor in the playoff chase this year, our season preview is a bit different as we simply go through our thoughts on the top teams in no particular order. We will have a companion story a bit later which provides our predictions for which eight clubs will make the playoffs. These predictions will be a weekly feature in each football classification.
LIMON BADGERS: The two-time defending state champions have a few holes to fill but return a very solid nucleus for a run at a three-peat. QB Trey Hines threw for 1,038 yards and 11 TD’s as a sophomore and he returns to lead a talented backfield that also includes returning Player of the Year Kory Tacha and Jeremiah Leeper. Tacha ran for 1,469 yards with 15 TD’s a year and Leeper picked up 1,082 yards with 21 scores. The Badgers also return the next three top rushers. TE Alex Carr is also back after leading the team with 19 receptions and four TD’s a year ago. Another key returnee in the passing game is WR Brady Rockwell. Up front, the Badgers lost all-stater Logan Marx to graduation but the other four starters return in 2020. On defense, four of the top six tacklers return including leader Ky Bandy. He collected 138 tackles as a sophomore. Tacha was fourth with 70 and Kasen Schmidt was fifth with 64. Carr and Trey Jeffries were next with 59 tackles apiece.
STRASBURG INDIANS: State champions in 2016-17 and runners-up in 2018-19, the Indians are well equipped to reach the finals for a fifth consecutive season. They return their top three offensive weapons in Collin Russell, Trystan Graff and AJ Hemphill. Russell threw for 1,299 yards and 17 TD’s and added 499 yards and 11 scores rushing a year ago. Graff led the team in rushing yards (1,331) and receptions (24) while combining for 20 touchdowns. Hemphill led the club with six touchdown receptions and finished 2019 with 19 catches for 346 yards. Another solid weapon outside is Jack Swanson (10 catches-3 TD’s). There are some starters to replace along the offensive line as the Indians return just two starters there. Coach Brian Brown also welcomes back five quality defensive starters who all finished in the top six in tackles a year ago. Hemphill led the club with 106 stops while Matthias Brown was next with 67. Brown is also one of the returning starters on the offensive line.
CENTAURI FALCONS: Few programs have dominated their league as Centauri as the Falcons enter 2020 with a 30-2 league record since the start of the 2013 season. Their last conference loss came in 2016 and they’re expected to get by all their traditional league opponents this year. The Falcons graduated their starting QB and top rusher from a year ago but there’s plenty left in the cupboard. Mason Claunch, with 965 yards and 16 TD’s as a sophomore, may get more carries this year. More production should come from Zach Buhr (370 yards) and Jordan Martin (205). And if a new QB is developed, he will have the trio of Baron Holman, Bryon Shawcroft and Peyton Polzin all return. They combined for 44 catches, 557 yards and 11 TD’s last season. Adam Chacon (149 tackles) is a huge loss on the defensive end, but six of the top 10 tacklers from 2019 return for the Falcons. Buhr (83), Claunch (75) and Danny Brady (63) will anchor the unit which forced 24 turnovers a year ago. Among those were six interceptions from Holman.
MEEKER COWBOYS: Scoring should not be an issue for the Cowboys as they welcome back Ryan Phelan, Jeremy Woodward, Kelton Turner and Colby Clatterbaugh. Phelan is arguably the best QB in Class 1A as he threw for 2,396 yards and 22 TD’s as a junior. He’s a three-year starter. Woodward (797 yards) and Turner (697) combined for nearly 15-hundred yards and 15 TD’s on the ground while Clatterbaugh collected 28 catches for 430 yards and four scores. Turner and Woodward also added 27 catches and three TD’s in the passing game. The Cowboys return two offensive line starters. Clatterbaugh (82), Turner (80) and Woodward (71) also are the returning defensive leaders. They finished 2-4 in tackles a year ago. Turner also picked off seven passes while Zachary Eskelson provided 4.5 sacks.
FLORENCE HUSKIES: The Huskies running game generated 2,659 yards a year ago and since only 36 of that total was lost to graduation, they could produce even bigger numbers in 2020. Owen Busetti (1,472 yards and 21 TDs) is the top returnee and will be the focus of every defense the Huskies face this season. Jacob Kennedy added 687 yards and eight TDs while QB Josh Martinez provided 391 yards and seven scores. Martinez attempted just 58 passes a year ago but must develop some new targets as six of the top seven receivers were lost to graduation. Coach Jeremy Nix is also in good shape up front with four returning starters along the offensive line. Defensively, it’s also a good group as seven starters are back. Busetti was the top tackler (83) with Jian Aguilar (61) and Blake Reeves (52) also making big plays. Aguilar recovered five fumbles and Reeves led the Huskies with 5.5 sacks.
COLORADO SPRINGS CHRISTIAN: Much of the news around the Lions camp in pre-season is how to deal with the loss to Peyton Brones who rushed for 3,000 combined yards over the last two seasons. That’s a huge gap in the offense but the remaining skill cast all returns. QB Caleb Stockton is a three-year starter and tossed 13 TD passes as a junior and added 425 yards rushing. Joe Dunn was a very effective number two option behind Brones and finished with 774 yard and 8 TD’s. Both of those numbers could be much higher this year. Outside, Andrew Knedler returns after pacing the Lions with 14 catches a year ago. Three offensive line starters are also back. The Lions were also aggressive defensively last season and many of the “big-play” guys return. Elijah Burkett recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks; Severin Grundvig added five sacks and Stockton had four interceptions.
HOLYOKE DRAGONS: Coming off a semifinal appearance and an 11-win season, there is plenty of momentum in the Dragons camp. Their strength offensively this year could be upfront where they return four of five starters. That group however will be blocking for virtually an entire new group of skill players. QB Miles Sprague returns after throwing for 2,173 yards and 19 TD’s as a sophomore but the Dragons graduated four of their top five rushers and the top six receivers from 2019. On defense, five starters return including Aidyn Shaffer (91 tackles) and Joey Beckner (8 sacks).
HIGHLAND HUSKIES: It was a very good 2019 for the Huskies as they won seven games including a rugged first-round win over Hotchkiss (14-7). Enough talent returns for another playoff run but the schedule is much more difficult as Highland has been moved to the North Central where they will face four returning playoff clubs. Holden Morgan is the top offensive threat. He led the club with 1,357 yards and 17 TD’s rushing and also caught a team-best 13 passes. QB Sam Hnizdil is back for his junior season after throwing for 881 yards and eight scores a year ago. Colton Pettit (10 catches) is also back. Morgan (93) and Pettit (53) are the top returning tacklers and Daniel Shaffer added 45 stops.
BENNETT TIGERS: Back in the division after a two-year visit to Class 2A, the Tigers should become an immediate threat in Class 1A. Mac Copeland (992 yards) and Jorden Despues (401) finished 1-2 in rushing a year ago and combined for 16 TDs. They will also be running behind an experienced offensive line that returns four starters. QB Mikey Babi is also back after throwing for 386 yards on just 51 attempts. Copeland (102) and Despues (46) should also lead a defense that returns six starters. That group also gets big plays from Gael Guzman who recorded five sacks and three fumble recoveries.
WRAY EAGLES: The Eagles avenged a stunning 2018 playoff loss to Florence by doing the same to the Huskies last year (13-10). They then finished their season with a quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Limon. Returnees are used to success as many of them compete for the state champion Wray wrestling squad. QB Tyler Collins is a dual threat as he led the team with 532 yards passing and is also the top returning rusher (580). He also combined for nine touchdowns. Junior Arambula finished last season with 394 yards rushing but was the top receiver with 25 catches. Jordan Dodsworth and Hagan Smith could also step forward as offensive threats as well. Three of the top five tacklers were lost to graduation but Alexis Aguilar is back after registering 88 tackles. Arambula added 76 tackles and four interceptions. A rising star could also be Tell Wade who picked up four sacks as a freshman.
HOTCHKISS BULLDOGS: The Bulldogs were a strong second place team in the Western Slope a year ago and could easily push Meeker again in 2020. If they find a replacement for Jace Peebles (1,774 yards rushing), the Bulldogs are a definite playoff threat. As new running threats are developed, the offense may lean on QB Yahir Chavez even more. He was second to Peebles with 508 yards rushing last season and also threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns. Traycer Hall (364 yards rushing) may be the first option to succeed Peebles. Three starters return on the offensive line; a group anchored by returning all-conference standout Coulson Hollembeak. Adam Smith (133) and Hall (112) led the Bulldogs in tackles a year ago and combined for 35 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Oliver Mendoza returns after grabbing six interceptions.
BURLINGTON COUGARS: New coach Mick David has a good group of returnees as he moves up from assistant to the top job. He replaces the very successful Glyn Higgs. The Cougars lost their top rusher and receiver but get back QB Michael Gutierrez (613 yards – 8 TDs) and RB Braxton Erker (382 yards). The top two tacklers also graduated but Skye Perry (61 tackles), Mikel Long (57), Parker Franz (56) and Tyson Mireles (47) all return.
RYE THUNDERBOLTS: Six starters on offense and seven on defense return so the Thunderbolts will be a tough out for every opponent this year. But the few graduation losses were to key players. Four of the top five rushers and the top three tacklers all graduated so those who return will need to be even more productive this season. A player to watch is Hayden Polk who provided over 200 yards of offense and 45 tackles a year ago. Daniel Indgjer was fourth in tackles (47) and Caleb Hurne added 27 as a freshman.
YUMA INDIANS: Coming off their first playoff appearance since 2013, the Indians are hoping to build on that success. QB Chase McCreath is a big loss to graduation but the Indians may rely on Clay Robinson even more this year. He was second on the club in both rushing yards (556 yards) and TD’s (4) a year ago and is the top receiver this year (7 catches).
PEYTON PANTHERS: A good core returns for the Panthers as they look to build on last year’s 5-4 record. A huge graduation loss was QB Colton Murray who led the team in rushing but both Brandon Hussey (511 yards) and JR Hart (252) return after combining for 12 TD’s. Murray also paced the Panthers with 120 tackles a year ago but the next five players on that list are all back. That group includes Zak Cobb (82), Hussey (74) and Robert Graham (61). Illey Tuttle, who collected three interceptions, is also back.
ROCKY FORD MELONEERS: The Meloneers were a playoff team for the first time since 2010 but getting back there will prove the difficult. The bracket is reduced to just eight teams this year and the Meloneers must also find a new signal caller. Isaiah Garcia graduated after finishing up with 1,139 yards and 13 TD’s passing. Returning standouts include Chance Finish (546 yards rushing) and Dru Jones (24 receptions). The top six tacklers from last year’s defense have graduated.
CENTER VIKINGS: The Vikings hope this is the year they move past Monte Vista and become the top challenger to Centauri in the Southern Peaks region. They won just four games last year but that number could improve as they return three of their top four tacklers and all three major offensive weapons. Habran Delacruz (822 yards passing – 10 TDs) is back to direct the offense; Abraham Echauri (573 yards – 5 TDs rushing) is back as is top receiver Carlos Almeida (23 catches – 415 yards – 8 TDs).
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