The second weekend of the Class 5A and 4A (along with the first of 3A) was a wild ride with plenty of upsets. Now as the playoffs move forward will the madness continues.
Here’s a look at some of the key matchups on tap this weekend.
Class 5A
No. 5 Ralston Valley (9-2) at No. 4 Pine Creek (10-1) (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Ralston Valley is coming off a huge 42-14 second victory over Rock Canyon last week. The two stars for the Mustangs were seniors – QB Logan Madden (208 yards and 2 TDs) and receiver Jackson Hansen (seven catches, 89 yards). Madden has 2,343 yards and 20 TDs for the season and Hansen has 73 receptions for 958 yards and 13 TDs.
The duo is going to have to be at its best to spring on upset of the Eagles. Pine Creek’s lone loss this season was a 28-16 decision on Oct. 13 to Legend. The Eagles were soaring last week with a 41-24 victory over Denver East. In that win, Pine Creek used a ground and pound attack. Jonathan Coar had 219 yards rushing and two touchdowns and Mason Miller added 151 yards and one TD.
Coar has 1,316 yards rushing this season and 14 TDs and Miller has 665 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Junior QB Cameron Cooper has 1,537 yards passing and 16 TDs.
The winner of this matchup faces the victor between No. 1 Cherry Creek and No. 8 Mountain Vista.
No. 10 Legend (9-3) at No. 2 Columbine (11-0), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Legend turned plenty of heads last week by knocking off perennial powerhouse Valor Christian 20-13. The Titans’ offense was fueled by junior running back Jaden Lawrence who had 198 yards rushing and two TDs. That performance upped Lawrence’s season rushing total to 1,342 yards and 19 TDs. He also has a team-high 30 receptions for a team-high 410 yards and three more scores.
It is obvious Lawrence is straw that stirs Legend’s offensive drink, and he will have to plenty of stirring Friday if an upset is to happen.
Columbine is no slouch. The Rebels have been rolling through its competition on the way to an unbeaten record. Columbine is coming off a 65-7 trouncing last week of a talented Fountain-Fort Carson squad.
Against the Trojans, the Rebels’ offense was strong all the way across the board. Senior QB Reeve Holliday completed all four of his passes for 85 yards and fellow senior RBs – Josh Snyder (168 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and Mason Moreno (117 yards, 2 TDs) – provided plenty of balance to the Columbine attack.
Columbine’s closest game this season was 31-29 win over Arapahoe on Sept. 15. Now, the question is whether Legend can keep things close Friday – easier said than done since the Rebels have outscored their opponents 255-35.
Class 4A
No. 7 Dakota Ridge (8-3) at No. 2 Erie (10-1), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Dakota Ridge is fresh off ending Thomas Jefferson’s miracle season with a 52-28 win last week. The Eagles punched the Spartans in the mouth with a potent rushing attack. Landon Kalsbeck (170 yards, 2 TDs), QB Blake Palladino (128 yards, 2 TDs) and Stephen Price (107 yards, 1 TD) all had more than 100 yards.
Palladino also threw for 171 yards and two scores. The trio will have to be even better against the ultra-talented Tigers. Erie is led by record-setting QB Blake Barnett is the star for the Tigers. Barnett has 1,605 yards passing and 23 TDs. The Kansas State-bound star also has 695 yards rushing and 16 TDs. Junior RB Gavin Lusk has added 766 yards rushing and nine TDs to the Tigers’ attack.
Beating Erie on the road will be a tall task for Dakota Ridge and it is obvious Barnett isn’t ready to end his amazing prep career.
The winner of this game plays the victor between No. 3 Montrose and No. 11 Windsor.
No. 5 Mesa Ridge (8-3) at No. 4 Broomfield (9-2), (Sat., 12 p.m.)
The Grizzlies season has been the tale of two seasons. They started out 1-2 with back-to-back losses to Palmer Ridge (43-20) and Dakota Ridge (39-35). Mesa then went on a five-game winning streak before losing to Montrose (43-12).
Mesa Ridge, as the No. 5 seed, drew a first-round bye and then crushed Loveland (57-7) last week. The Grizzlies have always had team speed and that mixed with plenty of talent is translating to wins.
Against Loveland, Isaiah Jones took his game to the next level rushing for 155 yards and five TDs. Jones, a senior, has 1,277 yards rushing and 22 TDs. Sophomore Trevon Salas chipped in 168 yards rushing and one TD in the playoff win. If Jones and Salas bring their ‘A’ games and junior QB Bryce Riehl (1,625 yards passing and 18 TDs) gets on a heater an upset is possible.
Broomfield, obviously, has its own ideas of how the game should play out.
The Eagles are coming off a 30-14 playoff win over Fruita Monument. The Eagles’ flight plans are triggered by a rushing attack that has gained 2,754 yards and scored 37 TDs.
If Broomfield can find some balance on offense and chew the clock a win is highly likely.
The winner of this game meets the winner of the No. 1 Palmer Ridge/No. 8 Heritage battle next week in the semifinals.
Class 3A
No. 1 Green Mountain (11-0) at No. 9 Roosevelt (9-2), (Sat., 1 p.m.)
Green Mountain has a memorable season to say the least. The Rams are unbeaten, and they would love nothing more than to continue their winning ways against a super talented Roosevelt squad.
The last time these two teams met – in the 3A semifinals a year ago the Roughriders handed Green Mountain a 30-3 defeat on their way to a state title.
Roosevelt slipped up twice this season with losses, thus speeding up this matchup with top-ranked Green Mountain.
There’s nothing flashy about Green Mountain, but the Rams get things done. Their offense starts with QB Blake Weslin (848 yards passing and 446 rushing). Green Mountain has two running backs – Nowell Dacres (490 yards rushing, 6 TDs), and Dalton Poulignot (438 yards rushing and eight TDs).
Roosevelt started off the season with a 5-0 record, only to get stunned by Resurrection Christian (40-20, Oct. 6). The Roughriders are led by senior QB Bronco Hartson (1,788 yards passing and 21 TDs) and RB Xavier Ramirez (1,668 yards rushing and 25 TDs).
This game’s winner faces the winner between No. 4 Durango and No. 5 Lutheran next week. Roosevelt
No. 11 Northfield (8-3) at No. 3 Thompson Valley (9-2), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
Northfield is a sneaky good team. The Nighthawks ventured from Denver last Friday to the Steel City in Pueblo and hammered No. 6 Central 56-36 at Dutch Clark Stadium.
Northfield dominated in the trenches, especially offensively. Sophomore RB Zavious Chineth stepped in the spotlight, rushing for 194 yards on 22 carries and two TDs. Senior QB Christian Love was efficient completing 8-of-11 passes for 106 yards and one score. Love also had three short scoring runs.
Can the Nighthawks work some more magic this weekend is the question.
Speaking of questions, it is surprising that Thompson Valley had a narrow victory over Discovery Canyon (21-17) last week.
Thompson Valley only had 233 yards of total offense in the win over the Thunder. Now, the question is can the Eagles get their momentum going against Northfield.
Senior QB Riley Suarez has 1,395 yards passing for 16 TDs and 972 yards rushing for another 15 TDs. Suarez’s favorite targets are Garet Hendrickson (44 catches for 669 yards and six TDs) and Marco Lapierre (30 receptions, 514 yards and eight TDs).
