Sedgwick County has won the last six championships in eight man football and the Cougars are again expected to be in the mix. They’re ranked number one in the preseason by the coaches but Sanford, Mancos, Merino and many others hope to challenge SedgCo’s dominance. Colorado Preps looks at EVERY team in the division with our preseason capsules. Games open this week.
ARKANSAS VALLEY
CROWLEY COUNTY CHARGERS: The first season in eight-man was a bit of a mixed bag for the Chargers. They won their first three games of the year and qualified for the postseason, but ended up 3-2 with a first round loss to Sedgwick County. The Chargers rode the legs of Adam Schultz, but he’s graduated. That puts more of the load on Tack Brewer, who ran for 200 yards and threw for just under 300. Skeater Baker and Rashaun McNeil will help in the backfield, and McNeil is a key weapon in the passing game. Brandon Geringer is the top returning defender, with Brewer hot on his heels.
FOWLER GRIZZLIES: Fowler rode an unbeaten record into the postseason last year, but the Grizzlies had to escape with narrow wins over Crowley County and Holly down the stretch. That caught up with them in a close loss to Merino in the opening round of the playoffs. Graduation hit the Grizzlies extremely hard, as they lost their top two passers, five of six top runners, top three receivers, and four of their top five defenders. Gage Gottbehuet is the only one on the roster to throw a varsity pass last season, and if he ends up with the QB job, he’ll have Erick Hernandez, who ran for almost 200 yards last season, alongside in the backfield. Sophomore Scott Mobbley is the top returning tackler after recording 22 stops as a freshman.
HOEHNE FARMERS: The Farmers weren’t able to play during the fall season last year, due to local COVID restrictions. Instead, they participated in Season C during the spring, and the Farmers rolled to the title with a perfect 7-0 mark. That included a 64-40 win over John Mall in the championship game. Dario Vezzani got some QB reps last season and should step in for the departed Weston Hill. He’s also the second leading returning runner, behind Michael Armijo. They both went for just over 200 yards last season. Armijo is the top tackler coming back from this spring, and along with Andrew Santistevan and Vezzani, should keep the Hoehne defense stout this fall.
HOLLY WILDCATS: After getting off to a 2-0 start, Holly dropped its final three games of the season to miss the playoffs. The Wildcats go into the fall with quarterback Dakota Eaton back for his season year. Eaton threw for more than a thousand yards last year and he’ll have his top three targets back with him. Fernando Dominguez, Josue Avalos, and Colby Swopes combined for 35 catches, more than 700 yards, and six touchdowns. Eli Ramos and Donovan Pecina, the top two rushers last season, also return. Ramos, Gabe Neugebauer, and Pecina were the top three tacklers last season.
LAS ANIMAS TROJANS: Like Hoehne, Las Animas participated in the spring season, and the Trojans enjoyed a nice measure of success, going 3-2. Markus Vigil threw for 357 yards and five scores, and added 360 yards and one TD on the ground, and he’ll be a senior this season. Caden Morlan led the team with 616 rushing yards, and he also returns for one final season. Leading tackler James Zook will look to spearhead the defense, and he will be aided by Dayton Morlan, Shad Chavez, Rome Martinez, and Roper Nichols.
MCCLAVE CARDINALS: Last year was a struggle for the Cardinals, as they limped to an 0-5 mark. They allowed at least 55 points in four of those five losses. Ayden Gomez is back after throwing for 1053 yards and eight scores, but the Cards will need to be more effective in the ground attack this season. Braden Marks led the team with 132 yards rushing, and he returns as a junior. Aiden Martinez finished the campaign with 42 catches for 772 yards and three scores. Martinez led the defense with 80 tackles. Marks was next with 37.
SPRINGFIELD LONGHORNS: Springfield started the 2020 season with four straight losses, but righted the ship with wins in its last three games. It wasn’t quite enough to get into the postseason. The Longhorns took some big hits to graduation, but return Kyler Crane, Treven Batterton, Jason Campbell, and Cooper Stolebarger. Campbell recorded 50 tackles last season and is the top returning player on that side of the ball.
WILEY PANTHERS: Wiley opened and closed the 2020 season with a pair of losses. Sandwiched between was their lone win over McClave. The Panthers nearly upset Springfield in the regular season finale, falling by two points to the Longhorns. Devon Jacobs is the top returning player on the offensive side of things after running for 142 yards and one touchdown, and catching three passes for 39 yards. The Panthers graduated their top four tacklers from last season, leaving Cooper Tixier and Riley Comer as the top guys coming back.
CENTRAL
BYERS BULLDOGS: The Bulldogs went 3-1 in league play last year, but finished 3-3 overall, missing the playoffs. QB Dean Kerns threw for 622 yards and five touchdowns as a junior and is looking for even better numbers in his final go round. Byers lost their top runner, but return everyone else who carried the ball. Rocco Messer, who tied for the team lead with 10 receptions, will give Kerns a target with whom he has chemistry. Messer led the defense with 45 tackles, and tied for the top honor with two forced fumbles and two recoveries.
ELBERT BULLDOGS: Elbert dropped its opener last year and then rolled to four straight wins, putting the Bulldogs on the precipice of reaching the postseason. A blow-out loss to Gilpin County in the finale ended those dreams. Terran LaFollette is the only player on the roster to have thrown a pass last year, and he was 0-1. He’s the top runner coming back for the Bulldogs after registering 217 yards last season. Gavin Rose led the team with 12 catches and 168 yards as a junior. LaFollette is the lone player on the squad who recorded double digit tackles last season, as the Bulldogs lost five of their top six on that side of the ball.
FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN FALCONS: The Falcons were part of the group of teams that played this past spring, and they bowed out in the opening round against John Mall. Gone is QB Luke Hiltman and his more than 1500 passing yards, leaving Ben Bolz as one of the most experienced players still on the roster. Bolz was second on the squad with 21 catches, 330 yards, and five scores. Nolan Potts (32/733/9) led the team in all three categories. The Falcons should be strong on defense as they return their top five tacklers from last season.
JUSTICE PHOENIX: Justice participated in the spring season and finished at 2-4 after dropping three of its final four games. Two of those were to Plateau Valley, including in the first round of the playoffs. The Phoenix were loaded with seniors, with only a few underclassmen seeing major reps. Anthony Valdez is one of the top returning players, on both sides of the ball.
LYONS LIONS: What started out promising for Lyons, with wins in two of three games, ended on a sour note, as the Lions lost four straight to finish 2-5 last fall. This season could see a big improvement by the Lions, with experience returning at key positions. Joel Uecker saw plenty of reps at QB last year, finishing with 257 yards and three touchdowns. Frank Percarpio was second on the team with 482 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, and the Lions return all but one receiver. Defensively, Lyons must replace tackling machine Monte Pickering, but they bring back Wyatt Bashor (53 tackles).
SOUTH PARK BURROS: South Park dropped its first four games last fall and never recovered, finishing the campaign at 1-5. With the Burros losing both quarterbacks from last season, they’ll have to lean a little more heavily on Silas Newton, who led the squad with 584 yards and four scores in 2020. Newton also led the defense with 61 tackles as a sophomore, while classmate Monte Downare was second with 45.
MOUNTAIN
DOVE CREEK BULLDOGS: The fall season saw Dove Creek make another playoff run, eventually falling to Sedgwick County in the semis. Chorbin Cressler will be back after registering 633 yards rushing and 271 passing. He had a hand in 10 touchdowns offensively. The Bulldogs will have to replace his top target, but they return several players who caught at least two passes, so they have options. Blane Johnson is the top returning tackler after finishing second on the team last year with 60 stops. Kade Hankins, Tyson Beanland, and Cressler were all in the top ten for the squad.
MANCOS BLUEJAYS: Mancos got started on the right foot last fall, getting out to a 3-0 start. Things went south down the stretch as they finished with two losses. The latter of those came against division rival Sanford in the opening round of the playoffs. Ayden Matthews is back at QB after throwing for 348 yards and eight touchdowns. He’ll have a workhorse to hand it to, with Chase Moore (1125 yards, 18 TD) back for a senior season. Wayman Kail and Moore are the top tacklers coming back, as they were third and fourth on the team last year. Kail also had a team-high three interceptions as a freshman.
NORWOOD MAVERICKS: In what has been a rarity, Norwood was not in the postseason in 2020. The Mavericks only played four games and went 1-3. Jamar Rankins and Carson Gardner return to fill larger roles on offense after combining for almost 300 yards on the ground. Steele Arnold will give the new QB a top target, as he was second on the squad with seven catches for 218 yards as a freshman. Jarrett Sinks is back to lead the defense after averaging just short of ten tackles a game last season.
SANFORD INDIANS: Sanford came up one win short of capturing the school’s first-ever state title in football, as they were downed by Sedgwick County in the championship game. The Indians scored first and held a 12-8 lead before the Cougars responded with a 72-32 victory. Sanford will have several key pieces returning as it makes another run at school history. QB Josh Holman (642 yards passing, 404 yards rushing) and RB Kelton Gartrell (1322 yards rushing, 23 TD) both return for their senior seasons, but the Indians will need to replace last season’s leading receiver. They also were leaders on defense last year, combining for 179 tackles and six takeaways.
SARGENT FARMERS: The 2020 season got off to a fast start for Sargent, as the Farmers took down Gilpin County. That would be the only trip to the winner’s circle. They finished with four straight losses, all in league play. With Kage Pepper missing most of the season due to injury, Burke Temple stepped in at QB and threw for just over 200 yards, but did not toss a TD and was saddled with six interceptions. The top four runners are gone, making Conner Holmes the top returnee with just 35 yards last season. Holmes and Wyatt Cross tied for fourth on the team with 31 tackles.
NORTHWEST
GILPIN COUNTY EAGLES: Gilpin County finished fourth in the division last season, posting a final record of 4-3, will all losses inside the league. The Eagles lost both of their top passers, who also happened to be their two leading rushers. That leaves Kamron Brewer and his 250 yards from scrimmage as the top returning skill player. He’s also the top returning player on defense, as he led the team with 105 tackles last season, and tied for the team lead with four takeaways. Alex Jimenez finished with 60 stops, including a team-best six sacks.
HAYDEN TIGERS: Hayden struggled through a winless 2020, finishing 0-5 and sixth in the league. They played a lot of young players, with only two seniors on the roster. That bodes well heading into this season, as those who return were able to see a lot of game reps.
PLATEAU VALLEY COWBOYS: The Cowboys played during the spring season and made it to the semifinals before falling to Hoehne. Two of their five losses were by a total of 10 points. Two others were against Hoehne. Senior QB Tallen Long is coming off a campaign that included 730 yards passing and 644 yards rushing. The Cowboys also return both starting running backs, Colton Witzel and Dalton Crites, who combined for 1030 yards and 10 scores. Long will have every one of his receivers back, as well. Defensively, the Cowboys return all but one player who recorded a tackle.
RANGELY PANTHERS: Rangely took home the division title in 2020, and rode an unbeaten record into the postseason. Dove Creek handed the Panthers their lone loss in the opening round. The Panthers look to be pretty solid once again at the skill positions, with QB Keihlin Myers and top runner Zane Varner returning. Timothy Scoggins is the top returning tackler, having registered 59 last year. Varner had 43.
SOROCO RAMS: Like Hayden, the Rams went winless last fall, posting an 0-4 mark. Three of their four opponents scored at least 50 points against them. Soroco did not generate much through the air in 2020, but may need to get more from that facet of the attack, as the Rams lost their top three runners from a year ago. Jed Kirby could be in line to man the QB position this year, as he’s the only one on the roster who attempted a pass last season. Chris Ramos and Bradley Hoskinson will be looked to lead the defense, as they are the top returnees on that side of the ball.
VAIL CHRISTIAN SAINTS: The Saints went 2-2 last season, with both wins coming against teams that did not register a victory. Vincent Nowicki played a major role for the Saints last year and that could grow even larger this season. Eddie Palacio can also expected to play a significantly increased part in 2021.
WEST GRAND MUSTANGS: Because of COVID, West Grand was only able to get three games played last year. The Mustangs went 2-1, with a 14-12 loss to Rangely as the only blemish. Wyatt Powell is one of the few returning skill players for the Mustangs, as his 49 rushing yards last season are tops among those currently on the roster. He was the team’s top receiver, snagging eight balls for 129 yards. He’s the top returning tackler, but should get plenty of help from Jacob Murphy and Wyatt Shearer.
PLAINS
AKRON RAMS: Akron had its share of offensive struggles last fall, averaging under 18 points a game, and being shutout twice. The Rams will have to replace Grayson Pachner, who led them in rushing and passing. Xavier Livesay and Evan Vogt combined for more than 400 yards on the ground, and there are a number of others behind them that got experience. Those two were the leaders on defense a season ago, and as is the case on offense, they should get lots of help this season, as the Rams only lost two seniors.
CALICHE BUFFS: Speaking of offensive struggles, Caliche only managed to score 66 points last season, with 38 coming in a two-point loss to Haxtun. The Buffs went 0-5. Seth Marick returns after playing QB last season. He’s the top returning runner with 86 yards. Joel Gould, Tanner Gerk, and Aden Young will be asked to help carry the load. Those four should help the defense improve as they’re the top four returning tacklers.
DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN EAGLES: The Eagles finished fourth in the division last year, with losses against Haxtun, Merino, and Sedgwick County. They narrowly missed the postseason and will now have to replace QB Christian Still, who amassed more than 2700 total yards of offense last season. Garrett Krehbiel, Wyatt Eichman, and Jacob Martin all ran for more than 100 yards last year, so whomever lands the starting nod under center will have some experienced backs to give the ball to. The Eagles return their top four tacklers from 2020 in Martin, Austin Cecil, Eichman, and Krehbiel.
DENVER CHRISTIAN THUNDER: Denver Christian got shifted from the Central to the Plains in the off-season and the Thunder will be looking to snap their six-game skid that they carry over from last year. They return a roster that only lost two to graduation, so that losing streak may not last too long.
HAXTUN FIGHTIN’ BULLDOGS: The Fightin’ Bulldogs posted a 3-3 mark last fall, finishing third in the division. Haxtun brings back all but one from last season, so they could be poised to climb higher in the standings. Owen Knode manned the QB position as a junior and recorded 741 passing yards and 188 on the ground. He’ll be joined once again by leading rusher Michael Gerk and Ozzy Coss. Knode led the defense with 74 tackles, followed by Ryan Tempel and Kyle Fryrear.
MERINO RAMS: Merino put together a 6-2 campaign last fall, with the losses coming to the two state finalists. The Rams were shutout by Sedgwick County during the regular season, and dropped a 16-14 decision to Sanford in the semifinals. They lost two of their top three runners, but return dual-threat QB Deacon Trenkle, who threw for just under 300 yards and added another 942 on the ground. His 15 rushing touchdowns led the team. Derrick Alber, who intercepted nine passes, showed his hands on offense, grabbing 12 passes for 256 yards and three scores.
SEDGWICK COUNTY COUGARS: On their way to winning a record-tying sixth straight state title, the Cougars outscored their opponents 459-100 last fall. They bring a 26-game winning streak into this season and have only lost twice during their current championship run. Sedgwick County may have to lean a little more heavily on Brody Parker, who ran for just over 800 yards last year, while a new quarterback can get his legs. Parker is also the only player on the roster who caught a pass last season. Nolan Carlson will be asked to lead a defense that will have a lot of new faces, as the Cougars lost six of their top eight defenders.
SOUTHERN
CALHAN BULLDOGS: Calhan finished last season 3-3, with all three of the losses coming in league play. Two of those were decided by 12 or fewer points. Ryan Campbell led the team with 681 rushing yards, and he was second in receiving yards, first in receptions. Zach Peterson was first in receiving yards and touchdowns (4). Aiden Jack’s 83 tackles were only two fewer than Campbell and Peterson, combined.
CUSTER COUNTY BOBCATS: The Bobcats went 0-6 during the spring season, failing to score in five of their six losses. Ben Stafford led the team in passing and rushing as a freshman, and all three players who caught a pass from him return this fall. Stafford had a hand in every point scored by the Bobcats, running for one TD, throwing for two, and adding a two-point run. Lane Bridges led the defense with 33 tackles.
DOLORES HUERTA PREP SCORPIONS: Through the first month of the fall season, the Scorpions were sitting at 2-2, with an upset of Pikes Peak Christian to their credit. The wheels fell off and they finished the season at 2-4. The Scorpions have to fill a hole at QB, and leading rusher Alejandro Lopez could be in the mix. Lopez entered fall camp as the top returning passer, rusher, and receiver. Andres Rubio and Antonio Martinez came into the season as the top defenders returning from 2020.
JOHN MALL PANTHERS: John Mall overcame a late two-game skid during the spring season to reach the championship contest, where the Panthers fell to Hoehne 64-40. They were outscored 130-74 by the Farmers in two games. The Panthers had a very senior-heavy roster and will have to fill a bunch of holes this fall. Elton Chavez will fill at least one, as the sophomore averaged more than 24 yards on his seven offensive touches in the spring. Bernard Espinoza led the defense with 58 tackles last season, and Chavez tallied 51, good for third. The Panthers recorded 17 takeaways, four by Chavez.
PIKES PEAK CHRISTIAN EAGLES: Pikes Peak Christian had positioned itself well midway through the season last fall, grabbing a share of the league lead with a 12-6 win over Simla. One week later, the Eagles fell to Dolores Huerta Prep by the same score, and a lopsided loss to Swink the next week all but eliminated them from the postseason conversation. They ended up going 4-2 and missing the playoffs. Mick Kopriva and Adam Seffens are poised to take over the workload on offense after combining for 380 yards on the ground. Caleb Grant is back to lead the defense, after posting a team-high 59 tackles last fall.
SIMLA CUBS: The narrow loss to Pikes Peak Christian was the only blemish for Simla last season, but they missed out on the postseason because of their strength of schedule. The Cubs must replace a QB who ran for more than 1100 yards. Brayden Glover returns to the backfield after running for just under 500 yards, second on the team. Glover was third in tackles with 55, and he will help anchor the defense along with Ethen Gonzalez, who had 60 stops last season. Caleb Churchwell recorded four of the team’s 10 takeaways.
SWINK LIONS: As was the case with Simla, one league loss was enough to keep Swink out of the postseason. The Lions went 5-1, with the loss coming at the hands of the Cubs. The Lions put the offense in the hands of a freshman QB last fall, and Hunter Bauserman responded by throwing for 315 yards and adding 149 more on the ground. The running game was paced by Matthew Mendoza, who graduated in the spring and took his nearly 1300 yards with him. Clay Roweth was second on the squad with 541 yards. Leading receiver Trevin Holland is also back. Roweth (96) had 32 more tackles than anyone else on the roster.
