As the sun slowly began to heat up the sky on what would actually be a chilly November afternoon, there was little doubt to anyone donning green and white that they were looking at a Delta Dawn.
After 63 years, a championship drought was about to come to an end. The Panthers rolled to a 54-14 win over Rifle in the Class 2A title game to capture a trophy that had eluded them several times in the last few seasons.
The challenge for this Delta team will be doing it all over again. Talan Hulet was the star of that game, rushing for five touchdowns which helped blow the lead wide open. But he’s gone. As is Jovanny Romero, Rylan Bynum and a host of other seniors from last year’s team.
But the Panthers are far from rebuilding. With senior quarterback Ty Reed still taking the snaps, Delta feels like it’s still a hunter in the state championship chase.
Reed threw for 1,858 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago while also flashing his athleticism with 400 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores, second only to Hulet. He helped the Panthers reach the 2022 title game as well, but the Panthers were the victim of the final leg of Eaton’s three-peat.
But that still makes him the only quarterback who has made it to the 2A title game and experience is vital.
Delta has its challengers ahead of them as both Kent Denver and The Classical Academy return key players from last year. TCA quarterback Andrew Brown threw for 1,479 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. The Titans were the only team to be within a score of Delta in the playoffs and in fact, were tied with just a few seconds left before the Panthers broke through the offensive protection to tackle TCA in its own end zone, winning the game on a safety.
After a dominant regular season, the Sun Devils were stunned by three-time defending state champion Eaton the first round of the 2A playoffs. Yianni Balafas is back as a junior after throwing for 1,704 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wyatt Walker led the Sun Devils with 812 rushing yards and found the end zone 13 teams.
Basalt, Berthoud and University all put together solid campaigns which results in playoff berths and all three should find themselves in the mix at the top of the 2A standings.
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2024 Class 2A football outlook
Regular season begins: Aug. 22
Regular season ends: Nov. 2
State championship game: Nov. 30 at CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl
Defending state champion: Delta
New teams in classification for 2024-26 cycle: Abraham Lincoln (3A), Banning Lewis (1A), Gunnison (1A), Middle Park (1A), Mitchell (3A), Strasburg (1A)
Returning 1st/2nd team all-state players:
- Cash Altschwager (Wellington)
- Andrew Borchert (The Classical Academy)
- Graden Buckhanan (Gunnison)
- Brevon Doss (University)
- Ripp Lockhart (Delta)
- Ty Reed (Delta)
- Chase Riehle (Banning Lewis)
- Tripp Skewes (Kent Denver)
- Will Tarallo (Basalt)
- Dyson Woodward (Alamosa)
Top returning passers:
| RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YARDS | TOUCHDOWNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dyson Woodward | Alamosa | 1,887 | 15 |
| 2 | Ty Reed | Delta | 1,858 | 24 |
| 3 | Kevyn Feldon | D’Evelyn | 1,741 | 25 |
| 4 | Carson Campbell | Englewood | 1,709 | 21 |
| 5 | Yianni Balafas | Kent Denver | 1,704 | 19 |
Top returning rushers:
| RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | YARDS | TOUCHDOWNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tay Wheat | Montezuma-Cortez | 1,436 | 15 |
| 2 | Ritchie Bruno | Brush | 1,316 | 13 |
| 3 | Will Tarallo | Basalt | 1,213 | 10 |
| 4 | Marcello Rossi | Weld Central | 1,125 | 11 |
| 5 | William Daniel | Basalt | 1,110 | 21 |
Top returning tacklers:
| RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | TOTAL TACKLES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grayson Isenhart | Coal Ridge | 156 |
| 2 | Cooper Nider | Eaton | 145 |
| 3 | Casen Pridemore | Salida | 124 |
| 4 | Tripp Skewes | Kent Denver | 117 |
| 5 | Kafui B. Fiadonu | D’Evelyn | 109 |
