Columbine may have poked the Bruins.

The Rebels put on a show of strength in last year’s Class 5A state title game, beating four-time defending Cherry Creek 28-14 to win their first championship since 2011.

It was the perfect storm for Columbine as the colder temperatures upped the feel of what was a physical game. It was won in the trenches as the Rebels attempted just two passes the entire night. It was a great night for Columbine, but could make for a rough couple years for a lot of other teams in 5A.

As long as Dave Logan prowls the sidelines for Cherry Creek, the Bruins will remain in the state title hunt and this year will be no different. He has a top-two quarterback in the state back in Brady Vodicka and also has Vodicka’s favorite target from last year, Max Lovett. The two connected for nine touchdowns and there’s a good chance the air show to continue this fall.

More importantly, the Bruins are looking to shut down everyone else’s air attack and with all-state safety Aiden Knapke back for his senior year, Creek will have a top-level defense on display. Three of Creek’s five non-league games are against out-of-state teams, but in home games against Regis Jesuit and Pine Creek, fans will get a good idea of how the Bruins will measure up.

Columbine lost a healthy portion of its offense in the offseason which will make defending its state championship a tough venture. James Basinger will likely emerge as the primary ball carrier after rushing for 525 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2023.

The key to the Rebels success has always come from the trenches so if that offensive line can play up to Andy Lowry’s standards, Columbine could be right back in the thick of a title run.

A lot of eyes are going to gaze toward the Highlands Ranch area as Mountain Vista quarterback Austyn Modrzewski enters the year as maybe the top player to watch in the entire state. He completed over 70% of his passes for 3,675 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior.

In the state semifinal loss to Cherry Creek, he threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns and was picked off once. As a senior with some solid receiving options, a lot of teams are going to have to score a lot of points to keep up with the Golden Eagles.

In the offseason, Valor Christian brought in former Colorado School of Mines head coach Bob Stitt to take over the offense. That boost from the coaching staff could be the spark that Eagles have been looking for in recent years.

Legend, Pine Creek and Ralston Valley are all teams with the potential to make some noise in 5A, but time will tell as roster or coaching turnover will play a factor for those teams.

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2024 Class 5A football outlook

Regular season begins: Aug. 22
Regular season ends: Nov. 2
State championship game: Dec. 7 at Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins)
Defending state champion: Columbine

New teams in classification for 2024-26 cycle: Denver South (4A), Erie (4A), Fruita Monument (4A),

Returning 1st/2nd team all-state players:

  • Andrew Astone (Chatfield)
  • DJ Crow (Denver East)
  • Carson Hageman (Erie)
  • JR Harpstreith (Chatfield)
  • Aiden Knapke (Cherry Creek)
  • Jaden Lawrence (Legend)
  • Austyn Modrzewski (Mountain Vista)
  • Jordan Rechel (Fairview)
  • Kannon Smith (Valor Christian)
  • Adrian Symalla (Arvada West)

Top returning passers:

RANK PLAYER SCHOOL YARDS TOUCHDOWNS
1 Austyn Modrzewski Mountain Vista 3,675 41
2 Mason Kiewiet Westminster 2,539 24
3 Brady Vodicka Cherry Creek 2,331 25
4 Koa Dietrich Mullen 2,207 22
5 Justin Cranford Fort Collins 2,130 14

Top returning rushers:

RANK PLAYER SCHOOL YARDS TOUCHDOWNS
1 Tyler Meyer Rock Canyon 1,485 10
2 Jaden Lawrence Legend 1,403 19
3 Jonathan Coar Pine Creek 1,369 14
3 Tyler Anderson Legacy 1,369 11
5 Jarrius Ward Overland 1,321 16

Top returning receivers:

RANK PLAYER SCHOOL YARDS TOUCHDOWNS
1 Xay Neto Grandview 1,007 9
2 Jakhai Mack Mountain Vista 988 9
3 Jeremiah Hoffman Cherry Creek (from Severance) 970 8
4 Marcus Mozer Fossil Ridge 940 9
5 Sean Conway Mountain Vista 887 15

Top returning tacklers:

RANK PLAYER SCHOOL TOTAL TACKLES
1 Logan Kundred Chatfield 204
2 Caleb Espinosa Chatfield 164
2 Ryder Villarreal Fairview 120
4 Brandon Kahre Grandview 119
5 Austin Scheich Mountain Vista 116