Heading into the final week of the regular season, teams know where they stand in their chase for a playoff spot, thanks to CHSAA’s release of the seeding index data on Tuesday. This showed how all four points of data will be used, and how the formula will be applied. There are interesting scenarios in play, not only at the bottom of the potential bracket, but also the top and middle.  PHOTO BY BRIGGSDALE SCHOOLS

Entering this week, Fleming (4-0) holds the top spot, but Stratton/Liberty (4-0) and Cheyenne Wells (5-0) are both within striking distance. This Saturday was supposed to provide a showdown between the latter two, as they were to fight for the East division crown. That contest was canceled after Stratton/Liberty went into remote learning in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the Stratton community. Cheyenne Wells was left without an opponent, as an odd number of teams were left this week. So, those two will need a loss by Fleming, and help from the teams that they have played, to improve their positioning.

Speaking of Fleming, the Wildcats were originally slated to face Weldon Valley (2-2) this week, but the Warriors were forced to shut down two weeks ago, so that left a void in the schedule. Coupled with last week’s game against Briggsdale being canceled because of COVID issues with the Falcons, the Wildcats were facing the prospect of having two weeks off before beginning the postseason. Granada (5-0), currently fifth in the seeding index, also had its opponent for week six, Cripple Creek-Victor (0-3) end its season prematurely. Athletic directors for both Fleming and Granada were able to work out the details and they will be playing on Friday afternoon.

Fleming has held three of its four on-field opponents to just a single score, with only Peetz (2-3) scoring more than eight against the Wildcats. The Bulldogs lost 68-19 two weeks back, but 12 of their points were scored in the second half, when the game had already been decided. Also, Fleming’s offense has scored 54 or more points in three of four. Prairie (4-1) held them to 32 in week three.

Four backs have between 16 and 19 carries on the season, as the Wildcats have spread out the offensive load. Nolan Japp leads the ground game with 221 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries. Charles Hobbs has 178 yards and four TDs on 17 attempts, while Blake Feather (16/168/3) and Chris Goss (18/140/4) have combined for just over 300 yards and seven scores on 34 attempts. Kade Comstock has only been asked to throw the ball 25 times, and the senior has completed 16 of those passes, for 330 yards and five TD. The Wildcats also have a weapon in the kick return game, in senior Brady Kuntz. Kuntz has only had two opportunities to return this season, and he’s taken both back for scores, giving him 10 in his career. That’s tied for the all-time record.

Granada leans heavily on its star QB, junior Dominic Coleman. He’s thrown for 938 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, with 12 of those TD passes coming in the last two weeks. He also leads the team with 480 yards and eight rushing scores, and he’s caught three passes for another 55 yards. John Hainer, the 250 pound sophomore, has added 360 yards and four scores in the ground attack, and his 14 receptions are best on the team. Ivan Yanez has caught 13 balls for 308 yards, with nine touchdowns. Half of freshman Lupe Martinez’s 12 catches have gone for TDs.

A win by Granada would jump the Bobcats ahead of Prairie for the fourth spot, and potentially into a top three position. Fleming can solidify the #1 overall seed with a victory of their own. It’s the first meeting between the two programs.

Prairie has a very slim lead over Granada going into the weekend, and the Mustangs will host Peetz in the regular season finale on Friday night. With the Bulldogs being back in 17th position, it would be hard for the Mustangs to generate enough points in the seeding index to hold off the Bobcats, if both come away with wins. The Mustangs are coming off a 47-20 victory over Arickaree/Woodlin (2-3) last week, and are hoping to get back to full strength this week. Arek Wulf, Maverik Mertens, and Levi Troudt have all missed significant playing time due to injuries and illness this season. Those are three of the top four running backs for Prairie.

Peetz got senior QB Sterling Sorensen healthy last week, as he saw his first action of the season. However, none of it was as the quarterback against North Park (3-2). Sorensen finished the 46-27 loss with 14 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Nolan Hill had a game-high 19 stops. Peetz dropped last year’s meeting with Prairie (56-45) but is 4-2 in the last six against the Mustangs.

Eads (3-2) had to call of the remainder of its regular season due to COVID concerns, but the Eagles will remain eligible for the postseason. They are sixth in the seeding index, .08 out of fifth and only .05 ahead of #7 Cheraw (5-1). The week off could prove to be beneficial, as star running back Damien Barnes left last week’s 42-18 loss with a hamstring injury on the second offensive series.

Behind another stellar passing game from sophomore QB Cade Phillips, Cheraw overcame a gutty first half effort by Manzanola (1-4) last week. Manzanola led 32-30 at the half, but the Wolverines put together a very impressive second half and claimed an 82-38 victory. Phillips threw for 292 yards and seven touchdowns, giving him 14 scoring passes in his last two games. He has 24 on the season. Trey Pearce has been one of his top targets, as the senior has hauled in 27 passes for 384 yards and 11 touchdowns. With Braeden Harris being limited to just 23 yards on the ground, Phillips provided a spark there, gaining 156 yards on just four carries.

The Wolverines host Branson/Kim (2-3) on Friday, needing a win to hold onto their spot in the postseason. The Bearcats are 18th in the seeding index, so a win by Cheraw could move the Wolverines into the sixth spot, but a loss could drop them completely out of the bracket. Branson/Kim put up a season-high 79 points last week, beating La Veta by 59 points. Peyton Cranson ran for a career-best 207 yards and four touchdowns, while freshman Brock Doherty had a career-high 104 yards and a TD.

Briggsdale (2-1) had two straight games called off because of COVID issues, the first by Idalia two weeks back, and then last week because of concerns in their own school. The Falcons need to play Saturday’s game at North Park just to be postseason eligible. Prior to the start of the season, it was determined by CHSAA that a team would have to play a minimum of four games to qualify. Braden Krise has thrown for just under 500 yards this season, with eight TD and only one interception. Malik Carlson has stuffed the stat sheet, running for 395 yards, catching 10 passes for 162 yards, and throwing for another 114 yards. He’s also had a hand in eight offensive touchdowns.

After losing its top three runners to graduation, North Park has rebuilt its backfield this season with Evan Pieper (565 yards, 13 TD), Ale Nugent (333 yards, three TD), Makeon Crum (162 yards, one TD), and Jayden Dailey (160 yards, two TD). Hunter Sessions has thrown for 344 yards and seven touchdowns, with Montgomery Ramsey hauling in six passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns. The Wildcats had won three straight match-ups against Briggsdale before falling 41-39 last season. North Park led that contest 26-14 at the half.

Mountain Valley (3-0) heads into Saturday’s game at Sierra Grande (3-2) needing a win and some help to reach the postseason. The Indians had a third of their season wiped out early by COVID issues, but they’ve returned with wins over La Veta (74-14) and Hanover (47-28). In that victory over Hanover last week, Salvador Vigil completed 21 of 27 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Tristan Martinez caught seven passes for 105 yards and two scores, and Kodiak Reigel snagged four passes for 138 yards and two TDs. Reigel also contributed two points on defense by recording a safety.

Sierra Grande picked up a non-league game at Granada last week after its game with Cripple Creek-Victor was canceled, and the Panthers took one on the chin, 81-33. That loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Panthers. They allowed 314 yards on 39 rushing attempts, and also surrendered seven passing touchdowns in the defeat. The Panthers sit 14th in the seeding index, meaning a postseason appearance is a very long shot, but it would ruin the hopes of Mountain Valley.

After missing two weeks because of injuries, Kit Carson (2-1) returns to the field this Friday, as the Wildcats host Hi-Plains (2-1), who are also seeing their first action after two weeks off. Kit Carson is 10th in the seeding index and is close enough to snag a postseason spot with a win and stumbles by a few teams ahead of them.

Genoa-Hugo (3-2) is in a similar position heading into its finale at Miami-Yoder (1-3) on Friday. The Pirates are 11th in the seeding index and within striking distance of the eighth spot. They would need a win and a lot of help to avoid missing the postseason for the second straight season.

Below are official seeding standings as released by CHSAA on Tuesday.  They total up the votes from Packard, MaxPreps, CHSAA and RPI to develop the overall rankings which will be used to determine playoff qualifiers.  New standings will be compiled and released before brackets are announced by CHSAA on Sunday.

 

SIX MAN RATING RECORD
1 Fleming 0.976 (4-0)
2 Stratton/Liberty 0.954 (4-0)
3 Cheyenne Wells 0.932 (5-0)
4 Prairie 0.779 (4-1)
5 Granada 0.776 (5-0)
6 Eads 0.697 (3-2)
7 Cheraw 0.646 (4-1)
8 Briggsdale 0.603 (2-1)
9 Mountain Valley 0.574 (3-0)
10 Kit Carson 0.558 (2-1)
11 Genoa Hugo 0.535 (3-2)
12 North Park 0.508 (3-2)
13 Idalia 0.437 (1-2)
14 Sierra Grande 0.421 (3-2)
15 Hanover 0.423 (2-3)
16 Arickaree/Woodlin 0.408 (2-3)