League overview: This brand new Class 4A football grouping is a melting pot with five teams joining that played in five different leagues in 2021. Three of those teams made the 4A state playoffs last fall, though only Fruita Monument advanced to the second round. Aurora Central won the Metro 2 a year ago, with Broomfield finishing second in the Northern 1 and Fruita Monument second in the Southern 2. Adams City drops down from the 5A Metro, and Heritage moves over from the Southern 1.
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Adams City
Head coach: Wade Auld
2021 Record: 4-6 (2-3 5A Metro 1)
Returning All-State Players: None
Adams City won four games last fall, the team’s best showing in the past 21 years, according to Auld, entering his third season. The Eagles return more than 20 seniors from that team, though honorable-mention all-state running back Bo LaPenna graduated. Quarterback Levin Deaguero – who won a state wrestling title last winter – returns, as does running back/safety Seth Deaguero, wide receiver/defensive back Meiki Wright, and linemen Gabe Martinez and Micah Ortiz. Junior Ricardo Hernandez and sophomore Michael Victoria could also be primed for a big year, per Auld, who said he is hoping the Eagles can build off the momentum from last year.
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Aurora Central
Head coach: Chris Kelly
2021 Record: 8-3 (4-1 4A Metro 2)
Returning All-State Players: Cai’reis Curby, Lorenzo Johnson, Brandon Weatherford (Honorable Mention)
The Trojans rode a seven-game winning streak to the top of the 4A Metro 2 last year, reaching the playoffs before falling to Ponderosa. Three returning players earned all-state honors: running back/defensive back Cai’reis Curby (1,632 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in 2021), and linemen Lorenzo Johnson and Brandon Weatherford. Nine starters are back on both sides of the ball, including running back Simeon Veasley, Nicholas Portillo, Jesus Garcia, Jovannie Juarez, Marcus Saldana and TheKing Hills. Kelly, entering his second season, also pointed to underclassmen Chris Perkins, Dushawn Smith and Makai Unitt as players to watch. Kelly said discipline, especially in such a tough league, will be a big key for the team.
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Broomfield
Head coach: Blair Hubbard
2021 Record: 5-6 (4-1 Northern 1)
Returning All-State Players: Garrett Keeler (Honorable Mention)
A challenging non-league slate primed the Eagles for a strong showing in league, where the only loss came to eventual finalist Erie. The team played Longmont close in the first round before falling 25-22. As a junior, quarterback Cole LaCrue passed for 2,365 yards and 21 touchdowns, to go with 558 rushing yards and eight scores. Kadin Quintana led the team with 776 yards rushing, though the team lost a big target in Josh Dunn. Garrett Keeler had had 3.5 sacks as a junior.
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Fruita Monument
Head coach: Cameron Ross
2021 Record: 8-4 (Southern 2)
Returning All-State Players: None
The Wildcats put together a strong 2021 campaign, with the only regular season losses coming to state champion Chatfield, semifinalist Montrose and quarterfinalist Fountain-Fort Carson. The team won its playoff opener, but eventual runner-up Erie eliminated them in the second round. Senior Corben Rowell threw for 1,140 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for nine more scores. Wyatt Sharpe rushed for a team-high 987 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore, and Kaison Stegelmeier added 882 yards and seven scores. The Wildcats lost some key players on defense – including all-state linebacker Armony Trujillo – though Luke Bennett had 69 tackles and three sacks as a junior.
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Heritage
Head coach: Tyler Knoblock
2021 Record: 2-8 (1-4 Southern 1)
Returning All-State Players: None
Heritage struggled to gain traction last fall, though the team ended the season a high note with a victory over Air Academy. Ninth-year coach Tyler Knoblock said going into 2022 that the program is deeper on both sides of the ball than it has been in recent years, but the Eagles will need to be improved running the ball and at quarterback, while being able to get off the field defensively “on a higher percentage of short-yard situations.” Among those back for the Eagles are safety Rex Guthrie, running back/wide receiver Zyriq Siegler (who led the team in all-purpose yards last season), defensive lineman Cade Kunz, linebacker Hank Orr, wide receiver Este Marquez, running back Jayden Chaney and offensive lineman Blane Brakemeier. Among the underclassmen to watch: quarterback Isaac Freng, lineman Austin Perun, linebacker Nick Long and freshman tight end Camden Jensen.
