With nine unbeaten clubs and six others with just one loss, the race for a playoff berth in Class 4A is a crowded one. Some separation could occur this week as the schedule includes a battle of teams without a loss and two others where an unbeaten club is challenged by a one-loss opponent. A fourth shapes up as an elimination game where two 3-1 teams collide. PHOTO BY MARK MOTICHKA
The main attraction is found in Northern Colorado as #6 Broomfield visits #9 Windsor. Both teams are 4-0 and have common opponents in Heritage and Silver Creek. Windsor has the edge in margin of victory as they’ve won those two battles by a combined 64 points compared to 37 for Broomfield. Still we expect a very tight game between two teams battling to nail down a playoff berth.
When facing Windsor, the key defensively is getting their running game off schedule. When operating at a high level, the Wizards like to gain four to six yards per carry, move the chains and then pop a big play in the passing game. If that strategy works, then Windsor likely comes out on top. If Broomfield can force the Wizards into third and long on a regular basis, they should end the game at 5-0.
Dax Polka has had the hot hand of late for Windsor; gaining 349 yards with eight touchdowns over the past two weeks. Jaden Thomas has added 366 yards and two scores on the season. QB Jake Coakley has completed just seven passes all season but three have gone for touchdowns. On defense, the Wizards are led by Connor Waite (34 tackles) and Hunter Peck (32) who have combined for 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
That unit will face a very good Broomfield offense that is led by QB Cole Lacrue. The sophomore has responded well since becoming the starter when senior Zac Kapushion transferred out of state; a move that was made after CHSAA originally decided to cancel the fall football season. In his first three starts, Lacrue has thrown for 623 yard and seven touchdowns. Five of those TD passes have gone to Josh Dunn. Lacrue has also scored three times on the ground.
Hall Edmonds is the Eagles leading rusher (180 yards) and also tops the defense with 36 tackles. Blake Naranjo has added an interception and fumble recovery. The defense was very stout against the run in last week’s win over Heritage; giving up just 39 yards on 21 carries. But they also surrendered 291 yards and two scores through the air.
In such a jumbled race, Thursday’s winner will not clinch a playoff berth and the loser will not be eliminated. Both have quality opponents lined up for week six as well; Broomfield meets Erie and Windsor battles Brighton.
Next up are two more attractive pairings as #5 Fountain Fort Carson (4-0) goes to Rampart (3-1) and #4 Ponderosa (4-0) entertains #10 Montrose (3-1). As unbeatens, the Trojans and Mustangs have a small margin for error while Montrose and Rampart could be entering a must win weekend.
Montrose is coming off a tough 42-20 loss to Palmer Ridge last week. The Indians led 14-0 in the first and 14-7 at intermission before the Bears exploded for 28 third quarter points. Miscues on special teams and defense cost the Indians. In hitting the road back to the Metro area for another key matchup this week, the Indians will again look to control time of possession with a running game that averages well over 300 yards an outing.
For Ponderosa, this is their second game of the season against a quality opponent that wants to run the football. And there was good and bad news in the first game. The Mustangs rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to stun Fruita Monument 28-21 but also allowed 375 yards rushing. They’ll look to reduce that number against Montrose this week.
On offense, the Mustangs seem to be clicking. QB Jack Hanenburg continued his stellar 2020 season with 315 yards passing and 99 rushing in the win over Grand Junction. He was involved in five touchdowns. Carter Motichka (4) and Kolton Miller (3) have combined for seven touchdown receptions this season and Cael Porter has chipped in 286 yards and three scores on the ground.
Rampart is just two points away from being the 10th unbeaten team in Class 4A. Their only blemish is a wild 32-31 overtime loss to Vista Ridge that puts them in their tough spot this week. And even if the Rams upset FFC, their work is not done as they have Pueblo West on the week six schedule.
Against Fountain Fort Carson, the Rams defense must find a way to slow down Q Jones; something no defense has been able to do this season. Jones has rushed for 998 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 84 attempts. He scored three times and totaled 294 yards rushing in last week’s win over Pueblo West.
The Trojans defense is also filled with playmakers. Tai Faavee and Nick Neely each have 20 tackles and the group overall has 26 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Curtis Jackson also has four interceptions.
Rampart will look to move the football with the running game and keep the Trojans offense off the field. QB Cale Cormaney (450 yards) and Logan Candeleria (361) provide a solid one-two punch on the ground and have combined for 14 scores. Cormaney has also tossed three TD passes.
Pueblo West heads to Vista Ridge in what we consider an elimination game. Both clubs are 3-1 and while the winner remains in position for a playoff berth, the loser probably ends up outside the pairings at seasons end. Each suffered their lone loss to Fountain Fort Carson; Pueblo West by 14 last week and Vista Ridge by 43 earlier in the year.
The game is a big contrast in style. The Cyclones, with the trio of Jeremiah Sanchez (389 yards), Hunter Johnson (358) and Cole Brinkley (274) want to run the football while the Wolves, with QB Brayden Dorman (1,529 yards) will throw it on almost every down.
Just a sophomore, Dorman is already considered one of the top quarterbacks in the state. His numbers from last week are eye-popping as he finished with 516 yards and seven touchdowns in the 47-7 win over Mesa Ridge. Dorman has thrown for at least 332 yards and four touchdowns in every game this season. The Wolves have run the football only 59 times in their four games.
Top targets are Keyon Burris and Brandon Hills. Burris has 39 catches for 539 yards and nine scores; Hill averages 23 yards per catch on his 23 receptions including eight touchdowns.
Four other top 10 teams could get pushed this week. #3 Pine Creek (2-0) may have the toughest test as they face 5A unbeaten Legend but #2 Palmer Ridge, #7 Loveland and #8 Skyline all face quality opponents that look to play the role of spoiler.
For Pine Creek, the game with Legend is by far their most difficult test of the season. Previous wins are against Chaparral and Doherty; two teams that yet to score a win between them. Legend convincingly beat Regis (31-7) two weeks ago and a win over the Eagles should get them into the big school playoffs. We preview the game more in-depth in our 5A report.
Palmer Ridge heads to Fruita Monument with plenty of momentum from last week’s win over Montrose. The Bears had won their first three games by a combined 139 points but experienced their first punch to the mouth against Montrose and responded in a big way. Trailing 14-7 at home at halftime, the Bears scored four times in the third to take control. The Bears started the comeback with a successful onside kick then Luke McAllister tossed two quick TD passes to Anthony Costanzo and Nathan Robinson. Backup QB Jimmy Thomas then connected on a 97-yard scoring pass to Cam Jones; giving the Bears a two-score lead. The final third quarter score came on a 15-yard dash by Robinson.
Against Fruita Monument, they will again face a team that wants to run the football. The Wildcats average 276 yards rushing per game with Armony Trujillo (504 yards) leading the way. Fruita must also figure out how to hold leads. They led Montrose 14-0 and Ponderosa 21-14 but came up short at the end in both outings.
Loveland (4-0) survived Monarch 14-3 last week and now faces a completely different offense against Longmont this week. Monarch generates most of their yardage on inside power runs while Longmont’s spread attack forces a defense to cover the entire field. Loveland held Monarch to 125 yards on the ground with Ian Loomis (21) and Jadyn Tafoya (19) combining for 40 tackles.
Longmont’s attack features Keegan Patterson and Caleb Johnson. Patterson has thrown for 1,507 yards and 12 touchdowns. Johnson has 50 catches, many on jet sweeps. Justice Lillie, with 25 receptions, is also a key target for Patterson.
Monarch is the next opponent for Skyline. The Falcons (4-0) have been pushed just once this year; outscoring Longmont 51-38 two weeks ago. They’ll want a high scoring affair as the Coyotes could have trouble matching the Falcons score for score. Skyline averages 534 yards per game with a nice split between running (317) and passing (217). Chase Silva has combined for 1,133 yards and 16 touchdowns and Grayden Bridwell needs just 82 yards rushing to reach 1,000 for the season.
Top ranked Dakota Ridge should get to 5-0 as they host Golden (1-3) on Saturday. The Eagles rolled up 405 yards of offense in last week’s 57-3 win over Wheat Ridge. They split the scoring equally; earning four touchdowns apiece on the ground and in the air. Ben Gultig tossed all four TD passes and finished with 225 yards. Charlie Offerdahl scored twice in the run game and ended up with 100 yards on just eight carries.
