There is a lot of hype surrounding Friday’s clash between Palmer Ridge and Vista Ridge, as there should be. The Bears look like the top team in the state while the Wolves roster the top quarterback in the state.
Last year’s showdown saw Palmer Ridge come away with the win, but it’s a brand new year and quarterback Brayden Dorman has put up the numbers to indicate that he is ready to lead his team to an upset. And it would be the time to do it considering that regular season play in all of Class 4A wraps this weekend.
(1) Palmer Ridge at (8) Vista Ridge
The Bears have yet to capture a state title since moving up to 4A but this appears to be the year they can get it done. They’ve looked dominant all year, including during last week’s 56-26 win over Cheyenne Mountain. They scored 42 points in the first quarter and costed the rest of the way. Derek Hester threw for three touchdowns and the defense snagged two pick-sixes to seal the victory.
Despite two losses on their overall record, the Wolves have yet to fall to a 4A team. Their losses came against Legend and Pine Creek, both of which will make it to the 5A state tournament. Dorman has been the best pocket passer in the state in 2022 and his 3,318 yards and 46 touchdowns are evidence to prove it. He has thrown for 1,361 yards and 20 touchdowns in his last three games.
(2) Broomfield at (7) Heritage
The other marquee matchup for the week features a set of Eagles battling it out. Broomfield survived a tough test from Fruita Monument last week thanks to another productive day from Cole LaCrue. The senior threw for 186 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 81 yards and a score.
Noah Shoen also put together a solid dual-threat performance as Heritage rolled to a big win over Aurora Central. He threw for 101 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards with two rushing touchdowns. It should be a fun atmosphere with the two quarterbacks playing a similar style of football and trying to win a league title for their teams.
(3) Loveland at Longmont (Thursday)
Loveland captured the League 1 title last week and has one final non-league tuneup as it heads to Longmont. In last week’s winning effort over Windsor, Garrett Harstad threw just two passes, completing them both for 43 yards and a touchdown. Drew Foley led the rushing effort with 90 yards and three touchdowns.
The Trojans sit at No. 21 in the 4A CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index so a win would go a long way to guaranteeing a playoff berth.
Thomas Jefferson at (4) Denver South
A win here gives the Ravens the outright League 5 championship. They got themselves in good position thanks to a 17-0 win over Far Northeast last week. Unlike most games, it was the running game that took center stage as Chevelle Early went for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Pueblo West at (5) Montrose
The Red Hawks overcame their biggest hurdle for a league title last week when they got a 46-31 win at Mesa Ridge. Torrie Eckerman’s touchdown run on just the third play of the game set the tone and allowed Montrose to maintain control of the score the entire way.
Pueblo West had been ranked in the top 10 earlier in the season and would love to regain that status ahead of the 4A playoffs beginning next week.
Bear Creek at (6) Ponderosa (Thursday)
Ponderosa not only has a playoff berth locked up, but likely a first-round bye as well as long as they don’t stumble against Bear Creek. Without starting quarterback Zach Stryker last week, they managed a 7-6 win over Thomas Jefferson. Sevan Stryker completed just three passes, but one of them was the Mustangs’ only touchdown.
(9) Fruita Monument at Adams City (Saturday)
The Wildcats gave Broomfield a tough battle, but couldn’t quite come away with a win. Amari Wilson rushed for two touchdowns and should have a big game this week as Fruita looks to end the regular season with a win.
Greeley West at (10) Erie (Thursday)
After a 2-4 start, Erie still has a chance to wrap up a league title and take a ton of momentum into the 4A playoffs. The last three weeks, the Tigers have looked like the team many had them pegged as at the start of the season. In last week’s 44-21 win over Longmont, Blake Barnett threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for two touchdowns.
