Is 2022 the year of the underdog in the Class 3A state football playoffs?
The answer to that question will likely come Saturday.
The first round of the state tournament certainly leaned that way though, as only three of the top eight seeds in the bracket advanced to this weekend’s quarterfinal round. Three double-digit seeds notched upsets, none bigger than Palisade’s 14-7 road triumph over No. 4 Northridge. Seeds six through eight also went down at home.
Palisade was – and still is – the only team in the postseason without a winning record, but that didn’t stop the Bulldogs (5-6) from putting together a gritty defensive performance. No. 11 Frederick and No. 10 George Washington, which played for the League 6 title the previous week, each advanced in high-scoring affairs.
That isn’t to say the favorites weren’t quick to make statements of their own. The field’s two undefeated squads, No. 1 Roosevelt and No. 5 Green Mountain, posted shutouts. No. 2 Durango and No. 3 Lutheran also moved on with ease.
All four quarterfinal contests will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Here is a quick look at each game:
(9) Evergreen at (1) Roosevelt, 1 p.m., Saturday
Roosevelt (11-0) has scored at least 35 points in all but one game this season, and that held true in last Friday’s victory over Discovery Canyon. But the Roughriders’ defense put up its first shutout since Sept. 9 in the 41-0 rout. Xavier Ramirez was the catalyst, putting together a five-touchdown showing while rushing for 159 yards on only 12 carries. Discovery Canyon managed only 83 yards of offense and turned the ball over twice.
Next up for Roosevelt though is 3A’s most prolific passing offense in Evergreen, which advanced with a 16-13 victory over Thompson Valley. Senior Tommy Poholsky leads 3A in attempts (281), completions (175), yards (2,293) and touchdown passes (35). The quarterback was 16-of-28 for 225 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles, but it was the lowest scoring output of the season for the Cougars (9-2). It was only the third time this season Evergreen had a game decided by five points or less, but the first time the team came out on top in that scenario.
(13) Palisade at (5) Green Mountain, 1 p.m., Saturday, Jeffco Stadium
If Green Mountain felt slighted by the No. 5 seed despite being undefeated, the Rams didn’t show it. Instead, Green Mountain (11-0) went out and proved why it’s one of the classification’s top teams on both sides of the ball, rolling past Resurrection Christian 58-0 last Friday. It was the team’s sixth shutout of the season, and the Rams have only allowed 61 points in 11 games overall. Blake Weslin had two interceptions, and on the other side of the ball, Green Mountain rushed for 313 yards and seven touchdowns – three of which came from Anthony Digrazia.
That offensive output will be tested against the aforementioned Bulldogs, who have played their best football of the season over the past three games. Even in a loss to No. 2 Durango, Palisade only gave up a touchdown, which it repeated against a Northridge team that had only lost to Roosevelt. Palisade controlled the clock with 59 rushing attempts against the Grizzlies, grinding out 283 yards. Quarterback Malakhi Espinosa scored both touchdowns, and four players had at least 14 carries. Keeping Green Mountain’s offense off the field will be a must, and Palisade’s offense will have to find a way to finish drives against a stingy Rams defense.
(11) Frederick at (3) Lutheran, 1 p.m., Saturday
Since a September loss to Montrose, Lutheran has been on a tear with six consecutive victories, each by at least three touchdowns. That included last Friday’s 49-6 victory over Pueblo East, as the Lions (9-2) moved into the quarterfinals. While Lutheran’s passing offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders as normal, the ground game piled up 241 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Kenny and Chase Sorenson each went for more than 100 rushing yards and two scores, and Sorenson also threw a touchdown pass. Junior Joe Ciccio caught 10 passes for 112 yards and a score, and Kenny intercepted a pass.
Frederick’s offense has put up at least 35 points in each of the past seven games, including last Friday’s 41-21 victory over No. 6 Summit. River Lakey found the end zone four times, rushing for 155 yards, and Cruz Zamudio added 77 yards and a score. Three sacks and three turnovers limited Summit’s offense as the Golden Eagles (8-3) advanced to meet the Lions for a spot in the Final Four.
(10) George Washington at (2) Durango, 1 p.m., Saturday
Durango hadn’t played since the 7-0 shutout of Palisade on Oct. 29, but the Demons (10-1) started strong and never looked back in a 42-13 victory over Harrison last Saturday. Tyler Harms tossed four touchdown passes, three to Tagert Bardin, and Jeric Baruch rushed for two scores. The Demons forced four turnovers, with Jaxon Fancher intercepting two passes. Similar to Green Mountain, Durango’s defense has been nearly untouchable, allowing only 87 points all season.
Then there is George Washington, which last played in the postseason during the spring campaign in 2021. The Patriots (10-1) ran the table in league play, then opened the playoffs with a 38-24 victory over No. 7 Holy Family, the first playoff win for the program since 1979. A 24-point second half made the difference, as Marcellus Honeycutt Jr. rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns and Gabe Smith had a pair of touchdown passes to Silas Evans. George Washington forced four turnovers and added three sacks, but now have to make the long trip to Durango.
