With traditional playoff teams Basalt, Rifle, Faith Christian, Kent Denver and Classical Academy all waiting to play in the Spring, the Class 2A Fall season could feature several new faces joining the playoff picture. Defending state champion Sterling and fellow finalist Delta will be threats again but programs in Lamar, Eaton, Platte Valley and Resurrection Christian among others will also be in the mix.
Our 2A preview looks at quite a few teams across the state and capsules on each are listed below in alphabetical order. Those clubs and all others will push for a condensed number of available playoff berths. The bracket is only eight teams this year and league champions are NOT guaranteed a berth. All eight clubs will be selected based on a formula that combines RPI and polls from MaxPreps, CHSAA and Packard.
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.
ALAMOSA MEAN MOOSE: Despite a six-win season, the Moose were left out of the playoff bracket in 2019 due to a late loss to Pagosa Springs. They will need several new faces to step up this year as the Moose lost their top two rushers and top three receivers to graduation. Also lost was QB Brendon Madril who threw for 1,337 yards and 15 TD’s a year ago. Kasey Jones could step in nicely there. He threw for 431 yards and four TD’s as a freshman. Cash Mueller (233 yards) is the top returning rusher and Kane Absmeier (10 catches) the top receiver. Up front, the Moose welcome back three starters including third-year starter Dustin Curto. Mueller, with 66 tackles and 12 sacks, will be expected to lead the defense. He will get help from Donovan Ramirez (48 tackles) and Roman Salinas (3 Interceptions).
BAYFIELD WOLVERINES: After several years of reaching the state semifinals and winning a state title, the Wolverines dropped off to 4-5 a year ago. But they were very young last season and much of the core offensive group returns. QB Isaac Ross threw for 686 yards and seven scores; Cael Schaefer (739 yards) and Cade Carlson (318) should form a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield while Crosby Edwards (14 catches) returns to lead the wide receivers. On defense, three of the top four tacklers were lost to graduation but Hunter Bayles (4 sacks) returns there. Bayles should also anchor the offensive line.
DELTA PANTHERS: A state finalist a year ago, the Panthers have more than enough talent back in the fold to make another title run. The biggest hole may be on the outside where all six players who caught a pass a year ago graduated. Otherwise, most of the lineup is intact. QB Nolan Bynum threw for 2,556 yards and 34 TD’s as a junior and will be back to direct the attack. He added 329 yards rushing and will serve as a nice compliment to RB Timothy Horn who ended last year with 430 yards on the ground and two scores. Three returnees, Eli Miramontes, James Groff and Esteban Berrelleza are back on the offensive line. Groff also led the Panthers in tackles last year (97) and is joined there by Colton Johnson (67), Colton Johnson (67) and Hunter Groff (56). The defense also intercepted 22 passes last year but 16 of those graduated.
D’EVELYN JAGUARS: With the league realignment for 2020, the Jags step forward as the top challenger to Resurrection Christian in the Patriot West. And the two rivals meet in week one (October 9th) so that’s a very important contest for both clubs. Anthony Rankin is the new head coach. He succeeds Jeremy Bennett who made the move to 5A Mullen in the off-season. Headed up by QB Shane Bishop, a good crew returns for Rankin. Bishop missed 2,000 yards by just 11 last season and tossed 18 TD passes. He added another 331 yards on the ground. Jude McIntyre is another top threat. He’s the top returning receiver (26 catches) and also picked up 264 yards rushing. Gabe Jackson, who collected 23 passes for 334 yards and 4 TD’s as a freshman, should be even better this season. On defense, seven of the top 10 tacklers return including Jacob Rose (77). Jaden Waller added nine sacks and Kase Sundarapura five interceptions.
ENGLEWOOD PIRATES: A regular season win over Kent Denver pushed Englewood into the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Their run ended with a first round loss to Rifle and the immediate goal is to make the final eight this year. That may be difficult as the Pirates lost QB Mason Robertson (1,694 passing) and RB Yakez Daughtry (923 rushing) to graduation. Top WR Nick Gravagno, with 58 catches for 982 yards and 16 TDs, but the Pirates must find a new signal caller to get him the ball. On defense, the top two tacklers graduated but almost everyone is back so that should be a strength of the team. Julian Galvan (51), Shawn Fox (47) and Gravagno (43) are among the returnees along with Nathan Abeyta (4 fumble recoveries) and Timothy Maestas (3).
EATON REDS: The Reds have been shifted from the Patriot West to East for the season so the schedule is bit more difficult but they also face many of their long-time rivals. A veteran group should be ready for the bump up in opponents. Scott Grable will be in his third year as starting QB and he’s coming off a junior season of 693 yards and six TDs. Gage Butler (461) and Ethan Florez (382) were 1-2 in the running game and combined for 15 scores. Salvador Rojas, with 341 yards, provides depth there. Three returnees can be found on the offensive line; Tanner True, Lucas Cass and Trey Lawrence. On defense, Morgan Tribbett is one of four returning starters and could be in line for another breakout season. He was second on team in tackles (67) and added 5.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries as a freshman. Juan Maravilla (65 tackles) is another key returnee along with True and Butler.
ELIZABETH CARDINALS: It might be difficult for the Cards to repeat their six wins and playoff appearance in 2019. The Cards lost a starting quarterback, their top four rushers and four of the top five receivers to graduation so they’re almost starting over on that side of the ball. Jace Perez (21 receptions / 4 TD’s) will likely be the top threat. On defense, Ryan Connelly returns after leading the team with 85 tackles as a junior. Perez also finished with four interceptions.
LA JUNTA TIGERS: Grant Sisson takes over the coaching reigns for the Tigers who again hope to make a playoff push. They finished at 5-5 and ended the season in the first round of the playoffs. QB Nathan Frankmore returns to direct the offense while RB Mitch Peabody should get the most touches in the running game. Peabody, Anthony Torrez and Anthony Aguilar could be defensive leaders.
LAMAR SAVAGES: Coming off an 8-3 season and their first playoff win since 1995, the Savages have high hopes for the 2020 season. The defense returns seven starters including three of their top four tacklers from a year ago. Jesus Gonzalez (99 tackles) is the top returnee along with Devyn Kincaide (70) and Blake Buxton (51). Buxton and Damian Ramos each collected four interceptions and Zane Rankin added three. Kincaide also finished with 4.5 sacks. The same names will be offensive leaders as well. Rankin is a three-year starter at QB and finished his junior season with 1,726 yads and 21 TDs. He was also third in rushing yards with 350. Jesus Reyes returns after picking 629 yards and eight scores a year ago. Buxton tops all returning receivers with 40 catches including eight scores. Both were team highs a year ago. Damian Ramos (19 catches) is also a top target. He scored five times in the passing game. Up front, Kincaide and Pedro Gomez are returning starters as is TE Luis Dela Torre.
PAGOSA SPRINGS PIRATES: The Pirates won the IML crown last year but were bounced from the playoffs in the opening round by Delta. Still there is a good set of talent returning; a group led by QB Grant Aucoin. He threw for 787 yards with seven touchdowns and added 455 yards on the ground. His top target, Mitch Lewis, also returns. He caught 22 passes and reached the end zone six times. On the ground, the Pirates lost a 1,000-yard rusher but returns Will Aucoin (463 yards) who should pick up some of the slack. The defense should also be strong as four of the top five tacklers return including Grant Aucoin (73) and Lewis (55). Other contributors are Skyler Hill (46) and Caleb Laverty (43).
PLATTE VALLEY BRONCOS: Going into the 2020 season, the Broncos offense may be a bit farther along than the defense. The defense lost their top five tacklers to graduation but will look to the likes of Weston Meyer (84 tackles) and Devyn Lauer (71) to make even more stops this year. The duo also has big play ability as they combined for five interceptions. On offense, triggerman Kade McDaniel is back as leader. He threw for 930 yards with 14 scores last season. He was also second on the club with 496 yards rushing. Jordan Korte (15 catches) and Lauer (12) were his favorite targets. One big hole left from graduation is Josh Yancey who led the Broncos with 1,234 yards rushing.
RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COUGARS: The Cougars ended 2019 with a 10-2 record and two losses to state champion Sterling including a semifinal setback. Tanner Applebee is the player to watch for the Cougars. He led the defense with 121 tackles, seven fumble recoveries and a whopping 32 sacks. With opponents double and sometimes triple-teaming Applebee, space is freed up for the likes of AJ Goldfain (71 tackles) and Justin Hawthorne (65). Hawthorne added 12.5 sacks while Eddie Lemos, with seven interceptions, also made several big plays. The offense must replace standout QB Buck Coors who ended his high school days with 1,427 yards and 21 TDs through the air. He also led the team with 744 yards rushing with another 14 scores. While the Cougars find his successor, look for Applebee (498 yards rushing) and Braycen Buxman (277) to get some carries. Will Schrotenboer, with 23 catches and eight scores, is the leading receiver.
STERLING TIGERS: After a stunning absence from the 2018 playoffs, the Tigers rebounded in a huge way by claiming the state championship last Fall. The Tigers held off Delta in the finals and while they will push for another playoff berth, there are some holes to fill on both sides of the ball. On defense, the Tigers lost their top three tacklers but also return Peyton Rose (59 tackles), Brady Albrandt (58) and Keaton Knaub (58). Knaub added nine sacks for a big play defense that also forced 20 interceptions. Tucker Meyers and Jackson Keil combined for nine of them. On offense, the strength will be on the outside with receivers Myers (30 catches), Keil (26) and Rose (16). The trio combined for over 12-hundred yards and 15 TDs. A new face will be throwing them the football as Brock Shalla graduated following a senior season of 1,918 yards passing and 20 TDs.
UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS: The Bulldogs won five games last season and finished just outside the playoff bracket. Roster wise, they’re similar to Englewood as they feature a high-level receiver (Tayt Chacon) but need to find someone to get him the ball. QB Chayden Cox was a four-year starter who ended his senior season with 1,671 yards and 17 TDs. Chacon caught 28 passes for 509 yards and five TDs last season. Caden Measner though led the Bulldogs with 32 catches for five scores and is also the top returning rusher with 311 yards.
WELD CENTRAL REBELS: The Rebels ended 2019 below five hundred (4-5) but could be a team on the upswing. Back is Zayne Stam who collected 575 yards rushing a year ago. He’s also the top returning tackler with 54 stops.
WOODLAND PARK PANTHERS: The Panthers haven’t made the playoffs since 2000 but coming off their five-win season in 2019, they could end that drought later this fall. Most of the offensive skill talent returns including QB Collin Kucera. He threw for almost 16-hundred yards with 18 TD’s as a junior. His top receiver graduated, but Bryson Cox (27 catches) and Tyler Baldus (23) both return. They combined for 12 touchdowns. Braden Roskam is also back after leading the ground game with 398 yards and five scores. The defense also features a good returning group. Jacob Wilkinson (90) comes back after leading the team in tackles last season. He’s joined by Roskam (60) and Bryson Cox (55). Andrew Hooper also picked off three passes.
