Four play. Two to the show. Snap it! Let’s go!
By the time we sit down for a second round of turkey soup and sammies on Saturday night, we will become aware of which two squads advanced to the Class 4A championship game scheduled for December 1st.
We already know that neither match-up is a repeat from the 2018 regular season. None of these four remaining teams will be making repeat championship game appearances from 2017. Two of them have not played at Colfax & Federal since the big class title contests were moved to the Denver Broncos home game facility in 2005.
Let us temper the walk-up hype with more information about the Class 4A football semifinals:
 
Saturday, November 24, 100pm: (9) SKYLINE at (5) PONDEROSA
”In order to advance in this tournament, you have to be playing your best football.” — head coach Mike Silva
Consider that this Skyline (9-3) squad finished their regular season getting worked by undefeated Loveland, 42-14. Fess up and admit the premature conclusion that this was a really good story about offensive talent rebuilding the Falcons into a playoff program… but that’s it. Bam! Then they go and drop Ls on a pair of historically tough and successful teams in consecutive weeks — including the 21-20 victory over the 1-seed, Pine Creek, in frigid conditions away from home.
Insert your cliché tweet, “Wait. What?”
The Falcons didn’t wait for our expectations to improve as they flew by better seeds in the bracket. “They are a very confident bunch right now,” says Silva. And it is not all about fancy skills stats this postseason. LB Ethan Drewes appears to be playing with a length and energy that playoff opponents can’t handle. Drewes showed his opportunistic instincts during the win over Pine Creek by pouncing on a 3rd quarter fumble created by DT Ricky Childers. Silva adds that NG Nick Black is handling business on the LOS and the dynamic contributions of DE Nate McGregor are a must mention for the improved defensive play.
Of course, their offense still has all those fun parts. Notable during the victory over Pine Creek was the determined effort of RB Jeremy Hollingsworth. The third quarter sequence with Hollingsworth bursting 19 yards to the 2-yard line and then scoring the go-ahead touchdown on the next play showcased a next level athlete performing like a playoff winner. And now this team has won two straight postseason games after a 19-year drought.
R1: (9) Skyline 32 (8) Pueblo West 23
QF: (9) Skyline 21 (1) Pine Creek 20
“This is kind of a cool semifinal match-up. It involves two teams that not many expected to be here.” —Jaron Cohen
Remember when Ponderosa (10-2) dropped two games in August? Through the course of their 2018 story, the Mustangs also lost a first-team cornerback, a two-way rusher/tackler, and a starting quarterback. “We are not really a dude dependent team,” Cohen adds as we discussed how his squad has run down ten consecutive opponents.
Their 31-24 quarterfinal victory over Chatfield backs up what I’m gettin’ at here: The first Ponderosa score was an athletic snag in the end zone by junior WR Kayden Johnson. Public stats show Johnson has just two receptions this season. Junior DT James McMahon-Carter — who has played eight games — recovered a 4th quarter fumble for a squad that has now collected 26 takeaways this season. An emergency QB who had not taken a snap all season, Bode Jensen, ran in a 4-yard TD during the final quarter surge. And a cornerback that wears an 84 jersey returned an interception for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. That was the third time this season junior CB Mikee Barker has gone pick-six and the sixth time a Pondo’ defender has done so in 2018.
Overall, there are qualified and consistent parts that drive a Mustangs defense that can take and tackle forcefully. LB Ryder Blair recorded 17 total takedowns in the quarterfinal victory. LB Jeorge Maxie is a playmaker. CB Mason Maggio is a leader in the secondary. DE Ethan Waite and junior DE Ben Beecher deliver impact up front. For high entertainment value, my radar is going to be on this D working against a Skyline offense that averages a balanced 403 yards per game.
R1: (3) Ponderosa 50 (12) Longmont 20
QF: (3) Ponderosa 31 (13) Chatfield 24
Note: Ponderosa and Skyline have one previous postseason meeting, 1985.
 
Saturday, November 24, 100pm: (2) LOVELAND at (6) MONTROSE
“It’ll be a business trip for us and we’ll get after it. This is no vacation into the mountains.” — head coach Wayne McGinn
Instinct says that anybody who has witnessed the Loveland (12-0) team operate this season would not be surprised if players rode the 340-mile interstate route to Montrose in full pads and eye-black. This is a well-prepared, veteran group of Indians who repeatedly dominate opponents — including the 43-7 quarterfinal win over Fruita Monument.
QB Riley Kinney — who McGinn agrees may be under-the-radar as a 6’4, 190 lb. football athlete — scored three touchdowns last Saturday against Fruita. Staff also posted 103 yards, 2 TD for WB Cody Rakowsky and 157 yards, 1 TD for RB Zach Weinmaster as the most productive rushing offense in Class 4A racked up 344 yards on the 7-seed last Saturday.
During that quarterfinal win, Rakowsky also recorded an interception for a defense that has now collected 29 turnovers in 2018. LB Michael Deschene and his fellow defenders have allowed merely 10.4 points per game versus five playoff qualifiers this year.
“It’s a privilege. It’s not a bummer.” McGinn and his crew are happy to be active during Thanksgiving week as they attempt to earn their second state championship appearance in four years.
R1: (2) Loveland 45 (15) Rampart 14
QF: (2) Loveland 43 (7) Fruita Monument 7 
“We are excited for the opportunity to play what most people consider to be the best team in the state.  To be the best, you have to beat the best. We will get that opportunity on Saturday.” — head coach Brett Mertens
The Western Slope Indians earned their semifinal opportunity with another sharp and steady effort in their quarterfinal road win at Greeley West, 28-14. Sophomore OL Colten Brueggeman and junior OL Elias Gabaldon pushed open a gap for RB Chris Eckerman to score the go-ahead 4-yard TD in the 3rd quarter of that game. (Eckerman ran for 123 yards.) Junior RB Emmert Kastendieck (173 yards) ran for the other three Montrose touchdowns — including the 4th quarter clincher. Then their defense locked down late threats by the 3-seed Spartans with an impact blitz by junior safety Riley Barnhill and a deal-breaking interception from junior CB Aaron Dietrich with 2:01 remaining on the clock.
This squad now has seven wins over 2018 postseason qualifiers.
“Our D-Line has done a good job of just doing their job every snap,” Mertens mentions when sharing about the team success. The strength of play through the middle from DT Thomas Ceniceros, junior LB Ben Robuck, and junior LB Cole Simmons is noticeable.
“Everyone is very excited to host a semifinal game here in Montrose.” I believe that! The imagined #RockyMountain #HSFB visuals going through my brain are folklore vivid. Tweet your pics to our editor guy with the neighborly vibes at @ColoradoPreps. Thank you.
R1: (6) Montrose 26 (11) Dakota Ridge 14
QF: (6) Montrose 28 (3) Greeley West 14
Note: Montrose and Loveland have met in the postseason four previous times — most recently in 2006. The lone playoff win for Montrose over Loveland was the 1978 Class 3A semifinals.