League overview: Boulder and Fort Collins, two teams that had been longtime Front Range League programs, find themselves back with other Boulder/Fort Collins area schools in a newly-combined football league. Boulder and Fairview can renew its city rivalry, while Fort Collins can do the same with Fossil Ridge, Poudre and Rocky Mountain.
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Boulder
Head coach: Casey Geiger
2021 Record: 4-6 (3-2 Metro 1)
Returning All-State Players: None
The Panthers graduated a number of key seniors, including 1,000-yard rusher Declan Culberson and quarterback Tristen Langenegger. The Panthers return some experience on the defensive side of the ball – defensive back Ethan Kunkel had 56 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles as a junior.
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Fairview
Head coach: Tom McCartney
2021 Record: 6-5
Returning All-State Players: Zach Lewis (Honorable Mention)
Fairview returns eight starters on offense and six on defense from a team that won six games a year ago. Sophomore Bekkem Kritza was MaxPreps’ top freshman QB in the country a year ago, with Kritza leading 5A in passing yards with 3,192, tossing 22 touchdowns but has departed the Knights and moved to California leading to a question mark at the position. His top target was also a freshman, Jordan Rechel, who snared 57 catches and 10 touchdowns. Zach Lewis led the team in rushing and was all-state as a linebacker with 104 tackles. Brock Kolstad had 57 tackles and two sacks as a freshman defensive end. Some players to watch this fall include wide receivers Ben Holly and Naz Valdaez-Benavente and offensive lineman Russell Hutchens. Coach McCartney said the team is young and needs to develop maturity.
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Head coach: Matt Yemm
2021 Record: 9-3 (5-0 Metro 1)
Returning All-State Players: None
The Lambkins enjoyed a strong 2021, winning their league and winning a first-round playoff game before falling to eventual runner-up Valor Christian. Yemm has to replace 18 starters though, in addition to joining a new league. Among the key returns for Fort Collins are quarterback EZ Campos, running back/linebacker Jaziah Elmore, tight end/linebacker Joe Van Metre, wide receiver/defensive back Nicky Maguire and lineman Jamar Mitchell and Henry Carson. Elmore figures to help replace Max Jones, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 12 scores in 2021. Among the key underclassmen to watch are Joe Cottingham, Quincy Elore, Dmarco Sanchez Ferguson, Ben Hopper, CJ Johnson, Trennon Price and JP Straubing.
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Fossil Ridge
Head coach: Jeff Fulton
2021 Record: 5-6 (4-1 North)
Returning All-State Players: Tyler Kubat (Honorable Mention)
The SaberCats got off to a rough start last fall, dropping four of their first five before winning four of the next five. Tyler Kubat earned all-state honors after passing for 3,116 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior. His top three targets were also juniors in Mac Busteed (77 catches, 1,154 yards and 11 TDs), Domenic Leone (53/779/8) and Trek Keyworth (46/878/5). On defense, the team has to replace Nathan Hallmark, who had 19 sacks as a senior.
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Poudre
Head coach: Eric Tonkin
2021 Record: 3-7 (1-4 North)
Returning All-State Players: None
After struggling to score points early last season, the Impalas’ offense improved down the stretch. Tonkin’s crew hopes to build off that success this fall, utilizing the team’s speed while limiting turnovers. Among the key returners on offense are wide receiver Jordan Niesent and tight ends Colton Mills-Younger and Logan Correll. Defensively, free safety Jones Thomas, linebacker Brody VanCleave, cornerback Luke Olson and Mills-Younger (defensive end) will help hold down the fort in a challenging league.
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Rocky Mountain
Head coach: Mark Brook
2021 Record: 5-5
Returning All-State Players: Ethan Thomason (Second Team)
The Lobos missed out on the postseason in 2021 after dropping three of its final four games. Three of the team’s six losses overall though only came by six points each. Back for Rocky Mountain in 2022 is second-team all-state offensive tackle Ethan Thomason (6-foot-8, 325 pounds). He’s charged will helping to protect Gage Brook, who passed for nearly 1,700 yards as a junior with 13 touchdowns. Nate Eliason and Owen Wentz were two of his favorite targets as juniors. The defense was senior-heavy, though defensive end Will Pryor did have four sacks as a junior.
