Although football teams are early in the stages of league play, the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index is offering an idea of how the playoff brackets are shaping up.
With about a month left in the regular season, we will provide a weekly update on bubble teams in the index and identify the teams who must win heading into each week.
Class 5A
Last 3 in:
- Fossil Ridge
- Arvada West
- Pomona
Last 3 out:
- Highlands Ranch
- Overland
- ThunderRidge
Must Win:
- (27) ThunderRidge: The Grizzlies can get a big boost by climbing over .500 with a win over Castle View (12) on Thursday. The win over a top-15 team could see ThunderRidge make decent jump in the Index.
- (20) Mullen: With games over Brighton (18) and Legacy (21) in the next two weeks, Mullen has to come away with at least one win to stay comfortably inside the top 24. A win against Brighton this week will be more beneficial and give the Mustangs a bit of slack against the Lightning next week.
- (19) Cherokee Trail: With Arapahoe and Grandview still on the schedule, the Cougars need a big win to provide some cushion over the next few weeks. Eaglecrest will be a massive test, but a win against this district foe will go a long way in helping Cherokee Trail’s playoff chances.
Class 4A
Last 3 in:
- Rampart
- Vista PEAK Prep
- Widefield
Last 3 out:
- Longmont
- Far Northeast Warriors
- Air Academy
Must win:
- (24) Widefield: With only one team from the 4A I-25 League advancing to the playoffs, Widefield winning not just this week, but every game the rest of the season is perhaps the best case scenario for a lot of other teams. The Gladiators are currently No. 24 in the Index. If they drop a game and a team outside the 24 wins that league, someone is getting bumped off the bracket.
- (25) Longmont: The Trojans close out their regular season with games against Silver Creek, Monarch, Erie and Loveland. They likely have to beat the Raptors then add another win in their final three games to have a shot at the postseason.
- (22) Rampart: The Rams have lost three straight and will see Mesa Ridge then Vista Ridge after this week. They need to halt this losing streak and buy some padding before going into two huge matchups, both of which could also be must-win games.
Class 3A
Last 3 in:
- Glenwood Springs
- Resurrection Christian
- Skyview
Last 3 out:
- Mead
- Pueblo South
- Discovery Canyon
Must win:
- (16) Skyview: The Wolverines suffered their first loss of the year last week and must bounce back against Littleton this week. Sitting right at the cutline, they probably can’t afford another loss prior to the regular season finale against Green Mountain.
- (18) Pueblo South: The Colts have looked re-energized since winning the Cannon Game a couple weeks ago. With a big clash still coming up against Lewis-Palmer, the Colts need to keep finding wins so they can inch their way up in the Index.
Class 2A
Last 3 in:
- Wellington
- Denver West
- Moffat County
Last 3 out:
- Salida
- Lamar
- Platte Valley
Must win:
- (15) Denver West: No one has beaten TCA yet this season, but Denver West may have its back against the wall here. Sitting at No. 15 in the Index and with Elizabeth still on their schedule next week, it may take a signature win to stay inside the top 16.
- (22) Arvada: The Bulldogs need every opportunity to makeup ground in the final four weeks of the season. They can make up a lot next week against University, but the climb has to start now. A loss to Timnath likely sinks Arvada’s playoff chances this season.
Class 1A
Last 3 in:
- Cedaredge
- Yuma
- Monte Vista
Last 3 out:
- Platte Canyon
- Rye
- Manual
Must win:
- (18) Rye: The Thunderbolts cannot lose to both CSCS and Banning Lewis. Better to get a win under the belt sooner than later. Dylan Hurne has the ability to carry Rye to a win over the Lions and potentially into the postseason.
- (15) Yuma: The newly-branded Outlaws face Wray, Holyoke and Limon, three of the top 8 teams in the Seeding Index, in their final three games. So this week, a win over Burlington becomes very crucial to keep Yuma in the playoff picture.
8-man
Last 3 in:
- Vail Christian
- Sanford
- Front Range Christian
Last 3 out:
- Holly
- Rangely
- Sargent
Must win:
- (14) Vail Christian: The Saints will face West Grand for a league title in a couple weeks, but in order to say eligible for an at-large bid, they need every win they can get their hand on. A win over Hayden this week should help them stay comfortably inside the top 16.
- Front Range Christian: With regular season games still remaining against Lyons and Byers, the Falcons could use a win to get off that No. 16 perch and move deeper into the playoff crowd.
6-man
Last 3 in:
- Eads
- Briggsdale
- Fleming
Last 3 out:
- Mountain Valley
- Prairie
- Sangre de Cristo
Must win:
- (16) Fleming: At 1-5, the Wildcats are still very much in the postseason picture. With Stratton still on the schedule, they can’t afford to give up any more ground so this week – and the next two – are must-wins for Fleming.
- (18) Prairie: With a league title likely out of reach, Prairie needs to work its way into the top 16. A win against Branson/Kim would certainly give them a huge leap in that regard. A loss may not eliminate the Mustangs, but it will make a playoff berth much more unlikely.
