League overview: If recent history is any indication, the Central West League is going to provide hard-fought games on a weekly basis. Both Durango and Palisade reached the Class 3A state quarterfinals last year and an argument could be made that Summit belonged in the postseason as well. There is enough talent sprinkled in with Battle Mountain, Eagle Valley and Glenwood Springs that should provide entertaining matchups through the duration of the season. Anyone believing that the best football in the state is confined to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains should pay attention to what’s going on with these teams throughout the course of the year.
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Battle Mountain
Head coach: Jim Shuppler
2021 Record: 3-7 (2-3 Central West League)
Returning All-State Players: None
There is certainly plenty of talent that the Huskies can work with this season. The biggest problem is going to be the lack of experience at the varsity level. Orlando Castillo will bring back vital experience at the running back position and will likely be called upon often. The Huskies head into the fall with a quarterback battle on tap between Kitz Petrovski and Garret Ast. Keller Woodworth will emerge as a receiving threat for the winner of that competition and will also prowl the secondary as a cornerback. From a non-league perspective, the Huskies will battle Aspen for the Ski. The trophy is a ski from the 1940’s and the game between the two teams is the “10th Mountain Division” game to honor the mountain resorts and histories of the two towns. Winning that game in Week 4 might be the spark that the Huskies are looking for to try and keep pace with Durango and Palisade.
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Durango
Head coach: Todd Casebier
2021 Record: 9-3 (5-0 Southern 1 League)
Returning All-State Players: Joshua Bates (First Team), Zach Haber (Second Team)
It was always going to be tough for Durango to repeat as the 3A state champion in 2021. The Demons lost too much talent from that title winning team in 2020, but they continued to play at a high level last fall. There is a good chance that they take a step forward in 2022 considering they get starting quarterback Tyler Harms back after a productive sophomore season. They also get back Zach Haber, a second-team All-State running back who went for over 1,300 yards last year while scoring 19 touchdowns. Josh Bates provides talent on the offensive line which should bolster both the running and passing game. Defensively, Luke Wesley will be a huge asset after picking off two passes and recovering a fumble last year. Durango’s returning talent and bolstered experience should help them contend for a league title and a deep playoff run.
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Eagle Valley
Head coach: John Davis
2021 Record: 3-6 overall (0-4 Central West)
Returning All-State Players: None
Eagle Valley’s 3-0 start last season came to an abrupt halt as the Devils lost six in a row to end the season. The loss of several senior contributors will force players like Julius Petersen to step into a larger role. Petersen rushed for 149 yards last year which leads all returning players. Junior Peter Boyd added 143 rushing yards and also caught four passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Although playing around a few seniors last year, his numbers suggest that he could be one of the most productive offensive players for the team in 2022. The Devils open the season against a couple of 2A teams in Basalt and Delta before easing getting into the 3A opponents on their schedule.
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Glenwood Springs
Head coach: Tory Jensen
2021 Record: 5-5 (2-3 Central West)
Returning All-State Players: None
New coach Tory Jensen is heading into the season with a mission. He wants his players to compete on the foundation of belief. He has a slew of returning talent, including quarterback Joaquin Sandoval. As a sophomore he threw for 838 yards and rushed for 199. He led the team with eight rushing touchdowns, solidifying himself as a dual-threat quarterback which can be a key equalizer at the high school level. The Demons have an emerging standout on defense as sophomore Mason Markovich returns after recording 29 tackles a freshman, second best on the entire roster. His progression will be very helpful in Glenwood staying competitive in both league and non-league games. The Demons want to remain competitive enough to reach the fall playoffs for the first time since 2014. They made the spring playoffs in 2020 before losing to eventual champion Rifle in overtime.
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Palisade
Head coach: Joe Ramunno
2021 Record: 9-3 (4-0 West Central)
Returning All-State Players: Malakhi Espinosa, Rhett Ward (Honorable mention)
The Bulldogs put together a solid 2021 campaign where they advanced to the 3A quarterfinals. If not for an unexpected loss to Grand Junction Central, they could have gotten themselves a higher seed and perhaps made a deeper run in the postseason. This year, they expect to have one of the best ground games in the state. Malakhi Espinosa and Rhett Ward each earned all-state status and combined to rush for 1,998 yards and 27 touchdowns. Add in Phallen Salvati’s 1,011 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and that’s a lot for opposing defenses to deal with this fall. Ward should be a factor on both sides of the ball as he totaled 135 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception on defense. Tyrus DeSpain is also a defender to keep an eye on. He was third on the team in tackles last year with 58 and also had a pair of interceptions. Palisade starts its season off against Roosevelt, a team that advanced to the 3A semis last year.
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Summit
Head coach: James Wagner
2021 Record: 7-3 (4-1 Central West)
Returning All-State Players: Eli Krawczuk (Honorable mention)
Summit was one of the best 3A teams to not make the postseason in 2021. The 7-3 record could look similar this year despite the loss of all-state receiver Aidan Collins. Jack Shierholz is back at quarterback after throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and rushing for another 461. Zach Elam could emerge as Shierholz’s top target after catching 12 passes for 193 yards and two scores. Eli Krawczuk retruns to give the Tigers some talent and experience on the offensive and defensive lines. Rather than dipping into several 2A teams in their non-league schedule, the Tigers will see Thompson Valley, Confier, Wheat Ridge and Lincoln. They open the season at home against Woodland Park. Last year served as a bit of a rebound season for the Tigers and they hope to ride that momentum into a state tournament appearance in November.
