16 teams make up the Class 3A bracket for the Colorado Spring football season and each of those clubs open the schedule with game one either Friday or Saturday. Several teams familiar with making deep playoff runs are in this class and they’re joined by teams hoping to improve on their records from 2019.
EASTERN DIVISION
DENVER WEST (1-8): The Cowboys only posted a few stats on a few games to MaxPreps but top players heading into the spring season should be Hezekiah Mosely and Na’Marcus Williams. Mosely led the team in rushing as a junior while Williams averaged 40 yards on his five receptions. He also provided 18 tackles on the defensive side.
LITTLETON (0-10): Like many other programs in the spring, the season may give the Lions a nice chance to build some success within their program. They lost their leading rusher and receiver but welcome back QB Tekola Cometet who threw for 336 yards passing last season. Defensively, they have a nice group headed up by Caius Krohnfeldt (51) and Isaiah Moore (50) who combined for 101 tackles and finished third and fourth on the team a year ago.
FAITH CHRISTIAN (9-2): The Eagles work their first season under coach Micah Connor who steps in for Vince Siravo after he led the program to nine wins in 2019. Four-year starting QB Isaiah Kroll has graduated so they will look for his successor this season. New faces will also have to step forward in other phases as the Eagles also graduated their top rusher, top receiver and top four tacklers. Cody Connor did record 44 tackles as a sophomore and was fifth on the team.
SAND CREEK (0-10): The Scorpions are coming off a winless season but they do have some nice talent returning as they look to compete for a playoff berth. QB Syncere Loftis threw for 343 yards in three games and also tossed three touchdown passes. Greg Garnett also ran for 605 yards in just four games and led the Scorpions with 12 catches for 129 yards. He and Tim Newton should also top the defense.
CLASSICAL ACADEMY (6-4): This is a club that should be in the championship mix. Cade Palmer ran for 1,355 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore and will again be the main offensive weapon. He’s joined by Sam Guilez and Aiden Timson at key spots. Guilez threw for 516 yards and three scores in limited time as a sophomore and should be the starter this year. Timson managed 12 catches as a junior in a run-first option. On defense, Ethan Brunk had 60 tackles which was second best in the club. Alex Nelson was third with 54.
KENT DENVER SUN DEVILS (3-6): The Devils are coming off a very rare non-playoff season and may have more rebuilding in store this year. Several new names will need to be found on offense as the Devils graduated five of their top six rushers and starting quarterback. They also return just one receiver with more than three catches. The defense was younger last year as the top two tacklers return in Sander Sveen (98 tackles) and Peter McDermott (63). Finn Cooper was fourth with 57 and is also back.
ACADEMY WILDCATS (5-4): Two late losses to Resurrection Christian and University may have cost the Wildcats a 2019 playoff bid but they could build on their above five hundred record. Charlie States is back after leading the team with 247 yards rushing and top receiver Gabriel Espinoza also returns after pulling in a team-best 47 catches. The Wildcats must find someone to get him the ball as QB Brandon Boston (1,794 yards – 14 TDs) graduated. Dylan Kohlbrenner is back on defense. He led the club with 118 tackles a year ago. Ryland Boehmer (92) and Isaiah Elliott (80) are also expected to return.
NORTHFIELD NIGHTHAWKS (1-9): Still a very new program, the Nighthawks look to surprise this Spring. The top returnee is Lunden Augusta who topped the club with 22 catches and was second in tackles with 35. Julian Stover was second with 17 receptions. They do not return a quarterback who attempted a pass last year and they must also replace their top two rushers.
WESTERN DIVISION
RIFLE (10-1): The Bears put together another solid season with 10 wins in 2019 but lost a ton of talent from that club. However, it’s a not situation they are unfamiliar with as it seems every two years, the Bears lose quality kids but then find more to keep the winning tradition going. We expect that again this year. They averaged 330 yards a game on the ground in 2019 but lost their top four rushers so new faces will again be asked to step up there. Josh Straw is back to anchor the defense after leading the Bears with 64 tackles as a junior.
COAL RIDGE (1-8): Some good components return for the Titans as they look to increase their win total from 2019. Karsen Dubois is back at quarterback; he finished with 506 yards passing as a junior. Jackson Wade was his top target as a junior with 10 catches. Wade was also the defensive leader with 89 tackles which was 32 more than any other player.
BASALT (9-3): Ranked number one in the preseason polls, the Longhorns are a team to contend with for a state championship. They were very young in 2019 but still strung together nine wins and reached the state semifinals. The offense is in good hands with Matty Gillis after he threw for 1,279 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. He can also hand off to either Cole Dombrowski (693) and Gavin Webb (336) who combined for 1,059 yards and 14 TD’s rushing as juniors. One huge loss is Jackson Rappaport. He caught 56 passes and caught 11 TD’s last season. Sam Sherry and Pettr Zimmer return on defense after finishing 1-2 in tackles with 78 and 77 respectively.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS (4-6): A young team that won four games in 2019 returns a bit younger and stronger as they compete with several local rivals for the Western division crown. The Demons will look to QB Evan Heyl to direct an offense that also features top rusher Blake Nieslanik and top receiver Wheatly Nieslanik.
ASPEN (4-5): The Skiers did not post stats to MaxPreps for 2019 but look to battle traditional conference rivals and some 3A local teams for a playoff berth.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS (3-7): There was some success for the Sailors in 2019 as coach Shawn Baumgartner got the program pointed back in the right direction. And more wins could come their way in 2021 as they return talent at the offensive skill positions. Cade Gedeon threw for 936 yards and five scores as a freshman and should have complete command of the offense in the spring. He’s joined by Finn Russell who led the team with 635 yards rushing as a junior and Jackson Beal who caught 11 passes which was second best on the club.
MONTEZUMA CORTEZ (1-8): Some good building blocks are back for the Panthers including Ty Blackner, Korie Likes, Cole Gropp and Kyler Krob. Blackner must cut down on turnovers, but he still threw for 1,228 yards and four scores last season. Likes was his favorite connection as he led the team with 421 yards and all four TD catches. Gropp led the defense with 56 tackles and Korb was third with 47. Noah Harris was fifth with 37 and also returns.
SALIDA (1-8): Braden Collins seems to be the top returnee. He’s the lone returnee among the top four rushers last year (184 yards) and also has the most catches of any returnee with 15. Three of those crossed the goal line. Collins was also third in tackles last year with 56. He’s joined on that side of the ball by Raymond Clinton who was fourth with 33.
