Two matchups of league leaders between Ponderosa-Montrose and Grand Junction Central-Pine Creek headline the 4A football schedule for week 10. Many teams also on the playoff bubble collide to help determine which 16 clubs qualify for the post-season.
Top Five Games
Ponderosa (5-3) at Montrose (8-0)
This is a very important Metro league contest for both clubs. Ponderosa is 14th in RPI and could use a high quality win to boost their playoff chances and to also keep league title hopes alive. The league title hopes go away with a loss as a Montrose win gives the Indians a conference crown. The Indians also need to keep winning to nail down the top overall playoff seed. They’re currently first in RPI.
The matchup pits a high scoring Montrose offense against a recently stingy Ponderosa defense. The Indians have totaled 175 combined points in league wins over Heritage, Denver South and Gateway. After putting up 76 points at Denver South two weeks ago, the Indians got back on the bus to the Metro area last week and tallied 50 in a wild win over Gateway. Overall, Montrose has outscored eight opponents 310-154 with wins over five possible playoff teams.
Ponderosa meantime has given up just 29 points over the last month and that group has led them to the current four-game winning streak following a tough 1-3 start. Ben Beecher, with 90 tackles, paces the defense and James McMahon-Carter is next with 75 including 11.5 for loss. On the season, the Mustangs have 42 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and have forced 15 turnovers. 11 of those are interceptions but this week the Mustangs will be more focused on the Montrose running game.
Despite sitting 14th in RPI, the Mustangs still control their own championship hopes. They also face Heritage next week and wins in both games put them at the top of the Metro league standings. Montrose has already beaten Heritage and that’s why they have a chance to clinch this week.
Brighton (6-2) at Broomfield (8-0)
This one lost a touch of luster with Brighton falling to Longmont last week (20-16). If the Bulldogs had rallied for the win, then the matchup with Broomfield this week would likely determine the league champion. Instead, Broomfield goes into the contest alone in first with a one game lead on the Bulldogs, Windsor and Longmont. The Eagles also face Longmont in the final week so they can only clinch with a win this week if the Trojans are upset by Mountain View.
Both clubs have been very good on defense this year. Broomfield has allowed 88 points and Brighton 89. The difference is in turnovers as the Bulldogs have forced 13 compared to just three for Broomfield. Still the Eagles have not allowed any opponent more than 17 this season while Brighton has given up 42 to Chatfield and 20 to Longmont; both losses.
Broomfield’s defense is paced by Antonio Welch-Soto with a team high 48 stops. Zachary Zerr is next on the list with 39. Their defense is also aided by a top notch running game that churns out 271 yards per game and controls the game clock. Caden Peters is the top runner with 1,662 yards and 16 TD’s. On his own, he’s averaging over 200 yards per game.
Justice Kaneta, with 85 tackles, is Brighton’s top defender. Isaiah Madrill is second with 59. In addition to the 13 turnovers, the Bulldogs have also recorded 22 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. They did allow 303 yards to Longmont with 182 through the air and 121 on the ground.
RPI wise, both teams are very solid in the playoff chase. Broomfield is 5th and could be higher but their strength of schedule (.424) is ninth lowest in Class 4A. Brighton is 9th in RPI and a win this week could move them close to hosting a first round contest.
Fruita Monument (5-3) at Standley Lake (3-5)
Coming off a 56-17 loss to Vista Peak, Standley Lake is maybe in a must-win situation. With a loss, the Gators would drop out of the conference title chase and be left waiting for a wildcard invitation. They head into the weekend 19th in RPI and have some room to make up there as well. Fruita Monument is 11th in RPI and open the game tied for the Pioneer lead with Vista Peak. They play in the final week and the game will determine the league champion if both are winners this week. Vista Peak is heavily favored against Thornton.
Fruita seems to be rolling at the right time. They lost to Montrose 21-14 to close out non-league play but have since rolled past Centaurus, Thornton and Hinkley by a combined 147 points. Over those three games, the Wildcats have rushed for at least 245 yards each time including 317 vs Centaurus. In last week’s blowout of Hinkley, the Wildcats defense also chipped in five turnovers including four fumble recoveries.
The Gators gave up 399 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground to Vista Peak so they will need to be much better this week. They’ll also look to improve on the 167 yards rushing they produced in the loss.
Pine Creek (7-1) at Grand Junction Central (4-4)
The records and RPI standings are quite a bit of different but most importantly each club is 3-0 in league play so the winner takes over the top spot in the Southern chase. Central in fact, clinches the conference crown and a playoff berth if they spring the major upset. Pine Creek can only clinch with a win if Vista Ridge also falls to Palmer. If not the Eagles will need to also get past the Wolves in week 11 for another league title.
Ironically, both teams earned forfeit wins last week so each club comes into the game well rested. Pine Creek though is heavily favored. They blew past Mesa Ridge 49-14 two weeks and posted tremendous offensive numbers in limited chances. Gavin Herberg threw for 282 yards and four TD’s on just six completions while the running game added 209 yards and three scores on just 14 carries. David Moore topped that charge with 183 yards.
Central is only 22nd in RPI so winning the league title seems to be their best hope of making the 16-team playoff bracket. They opened 0-4 but have won four straight including a nice win over Vista Ridge. The Warriors trailed 10-0 in the first quarter and rallied for the 24-21 win. They limited the Wolves 50 yards on just 26 attempts.
Rampart (4-4) at Air Academy (6-2)
Neither team is higher than 23rd in RPI so both have a complete focus on winning the Pikes Peak crown to earn a spot in the bracket. Air Academy is in the tougher position as they fell to Pueblo West 42-14 last week. Rampart held off Coronado 48-41 last week and a win here sets up a big matchup with West next week.
Despite the loss, Air Academy’s Sam Beers continued his impressive freshman campaign. He now needs just 56 yards this week to reach 1,500 for the season after totaling 149 against the Cyclones. The rest of the team though managed just 19 yards rushing and nine passing so more balance will be need to upset the Rams.
Rampart ran for 290 yards against Coronado including 132 from Chris Yoo and 126 from Cale Cormaney. They combined for four touchdowns including three from Yoo. Cormaney added 169 yards and three more TD’s in the passing.
The Rams are battle tested with losses to Dakota Ridge, Chatfield, Monarch and Vista Ridge so their win-loss record could be considered misleading.
Other Games to Watch
Silver Creek (4-4) at Monarch (3-5)
This could be the most important game for teams sitting just outside the RPI Top 16. Monarch is 18th this week with Silver Creek 20th. The winner moves closer to earning a post-season berth.
Grand Junction (4-4) at Chatfield (6-2)
Despite last week’s loss to Dakota Ridge, Chatfield remains #3 in RPI so they need to keep winning to solidify the chance to play at home in round one. The Chargers also need a win to keep pace with Golden in second place in the Jeffco. Golden finishes their schedule with league leading Dakota Ridge next week.
Grand Junction is only 1-2 in the conference but at #15 in the RPI, they’re in the playoff bracket right now. They look to run the football to keep the Chargers offense on the sideline.
Wheat Ridge (5-3) at Dakota Ridge (7-1)
Dakota Ridge is coming off a huge win over Chatfield last week that put them alone atop the Jeffco standings. Typcially a team off such a big win may need to focus on avoiding a letdown but up this week is another Jeffco rival. Wheat Ridge is just 21st in RPI and hurt by their opponents winning record (38 percent) which is among the lowest in 4A.
