Quality depth remains on display in Class 4A as 11 teams enter week four still sporting unbeaten records. That list includes each member of the latest top 10 CHSAA poll and Windsor which cannot crack into the rankings despite a 3-0 start and last week’s double overtime win against Erie. The number of unbeatens though will be reduced this week as four of them clash in two highly important contests.
The two anticipated matchups find #2 Palmer Ridge hosting #7 Montrose and #8 Pueblo West at home against #9 Fountain Fort Carson.
Our 4A preview begins with the second game as the Trojans (#1) and Cyclones (#3) are in the top three of the most recent RPI standings. The winner also stands to gain the top record in their conference and move very close to locking down a playoff berth. Montrose and Palmer Ridge both will have games remaining with Ponderosa before seasons end so the result this week will determine if either or both climb into the eight-team playoff bracket.
The Fountain Fort Carson–Pueblo West contest may be decided on whether the Cyclones defense can control or at least slow down the high scoring Trojans offense. West opened the season with shutouts of Cheyenne Mountain and Air Academy before allowing 20 in last week’s win over Mesa Ridge (42-20). In those three wins, the Cyclones have allowed only 385 combined yards. But this week, the defensive unit meets a Fountain Fort Carson offense averaging 54 points a game.
Q Jones has been the workhorse and will be the focus of the Pueblo West defense. Jones has 704 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. The rest of the team has totaled 324 yards on 48 carries with six scores.
Pueblo West could get help defensively by running the ball effectively on offense and controlling time of possession. They have the running game to do that; rolling for 436 yards in last week’s win. Three players went over 100 yards; led by Jeremiah Sanders with 174 and Hunter Johnson with 148. Cole Brinkley ran for 107 from his quarterback spot.
The Cyclones offense though faces a Fountain Fort Carson defense that has pitched two shutouts of their own and is building a reputation for making big plays. They’ve recorded 26 tackles for loss as a defense and returned a fumble and interception for a touchdown. Curtis Jackson leads the way with four interceptions. Tai Faavee and Nick Neely are the top tacklers with 20 apiece.
A similar scenario could be the story between Palmer Ridge and Montrose. The Bears feature an explosive offense that can score from anywhere on the field while the Indians prefer to run the football with long time-consuming drives. Through three games, the Indians have rushed for 1,169 yards which leaves them just 31 shy of averaging 400 per game. That’s right on the pace set last year where they averaging 397 yards per outing.
They may need every one of those yards to keep the Palmer Ridge offensive sidelined. The Bears can run the football also but most of their explosive plays come in the passing game. Luke McAllister has compiled 761 yards with 13 TD’s in wins over Golden, Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central. The senior also has the option of many weapons to throw to including Kaden Dudley, Anthony Costanzo, Marcellus Reed and Cameron White.
Dudley leads the team with 10 catches and is a Division I recruit. The other three have each caught three touchdown passes and would likely be the number one option on any other club. Reed is the deep threat; averaging 34 yards per catch on his nine receptions.
The Bears defense is also solid and we expect Kelenn O’Connor (18 tackles) and Saxon Wright (17) to be heavily involved in trying to slow down the Montrose ground game.
Playing at home, the Bears have to be favored. They won the last three state championships in Class 3A before bumping up to the 4A bracket this year. Over that stretch and the first three weeks of this season, Palmer Ridge is 41-4.
#4 Ponderosa will watch the outcome with great interest and for scouting purposes. The Mustangs meet Montrose in week five and then close with Palmer Ridge. First up is a road trip to Grand Junction this weekend. The Mustangs have momentum from a high quality 28-21 win over Fruita Monument last week where they rallied from a 21-14 deficit at halftime. Jack Hanenberg hit Carter Motchika on a fourth down play for the tying touchdown and then Cael Porter ran in the winning score on a four-yard run. Porter had a big day overall, running for 95 yards offensively and picking up 18 tackles on defense.
#1 Dakota Ridge looks for a 4-0 start as they’re favored against winless Wheat Ridge. The Eagles have won all three games by at least 34 points and could use a tight game to get post-season ready. Wheat Ridge though has scored just 13 points in three games and probably won’t be able to keep pace with the explosive Dakota Ridge offense.
#3 Pine Creek finally got on the field last week and had some rust in a 17-7 win over 5A Chaparral. The Eagles missed the first two games of the season with COVID issues plus they’re breaking in an almost completely different offensive lineup. QB Josiah Roy made his first start and hit 7 of 10 passes for 107 yards. Brason Vanaman added 59 yards rushing with a touchdown and the second score came on the ground from Elias Rogers.
Up this week, the defending state champions meet Doherty. The Spartans were blanked in their first two games but tallied 24 in last week’s three-point loss to Douglas County. Dylan Mercer (135) and Kaden Becker (100) combined for 235 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
#5 Loveland could get a tough test from Monarch. Both teams look to wear down opponents with a physical running game. The strategy has worked for the Indians as they have 158 points in three games. Monarch has totaled 101 points but have dropped two of their first three contests. Their first win came last week against Greeley Central (51-13).
Cole Lacrue threw for a career best 294 yards and two scores in leading #6 Broomfield past Silver Creek (38-14) last week. One of those scores went to Dom Bustamente who finished the night with eight catches for 169 yards. Bustamente also scored in the running game and added another 46 yards there.
The Eagles close with Windsor and Erie over the final two weeks but could face a stern test with Heritage this week. Heritage is 0-3 but no team has played a more difficult schedule. Losses are against Loveland, Windsor and Brighton who enter this week a combined 8-1. Regardless of record, they’re always a tough team to beat.
Offensive numbers for #10 Skyline last week were almost unbelievable. The Falcons gained a whopping 775 yards of offense in a wild 51-38 win over in-city rival Longmont. Grayden Bridwell ran for 384 yards and QB Chase Silva combined for 418 yards of offense and was involved in six touchdowns. The senior threw for 239 and two and ran for 179 and 4.
Overall, the Falcons have gained 1,734 yards and 153 points in three games this season. Those numbers could even increase as they line up against a rebuilding Greeley Central team that has surrendered 154 points in their first three contests.
Windsor is not in the rankings but is the 11th unbeaten team through the first half of the regular season. They ran for 334 yards in the double overtime win against Erie last week. Dax Polka danced his way for 154 yards and four touchdowns while Jaden Thomas picked up 117 yards on his 13 attempts.
This week, the Wizards tangle with Silver Creek and then close with Broomfield and Brighton. Win all three and they’re assured of a playoff berth. A win this week and at least a split in the last two could also be enough.
Outside the rankings is a probably elimination game between Erie and Brighton. Both teams are 2-1 on the season and a second loss could drop them out of playoff contention; especially in a division featuring 11 unbeaten clubs. Brighton is #13 in the coaches poll this wee and the Tigers #16.
Erie looks to rebound from the frustrating loss to Windsor. They got a big effort from Mason Veve who ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a third score. The Tigers were without talented freshman QB Blake Barnett but junior Alex Austin stepped in nicely completing 9 of 16 passes for 73 yards.
Brighton has wins over Longmont and Heritage sandwiched around a week two loss to Broomfield. They close with Silver Creek and Windsor so winning out puts them in strong position to gain a spot in the playoff bracket. Vershon Brooks continues to be the top running threat for the Bulldogs; gaining 96 yards against Heritage to bring his season total to 247.
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