Yesterday, we previewed the Class 5A and 3A postseasons, which started Wednesday.

For today, let’s do the same for 4A and 2A, looking at the favorites and a few sleepers in each.

Thursday features all but one of the opening round games in the 4A bracket (No. 26 Erie at No. 7 Steamboat Springs, which is slated for Wednesday).

Friday has all eight matches in the 16-team 2A field.

Class 4A

Favorites: Is it inevitable, will Northfield win for a third straight year?

The last time the Nighthawks (15-0) didn’t win a game was Oct. 20, 2022 against eventual 5A champ Denver East. They’ve won 20 in a row since then and are five wins away from getting crowned in 4A for a third straight season.

This fall, they’ve scored 71 goals and allowed just seven. The 64-goal differential is only behind No. 6 Skyline (87 goals, 15 allowed) for the best in the classification.

Returning 4A first-teamer Ren Garfield leads the team with 48 points, totaling 17 goals and 14 assists. Fellow-senior Quinn Tettero has 44 points (16 goals, 12 assists).

Only once this season did neither of them tally a point in a game — and that was in a 2-0 win over defending champ Denver East Thursday. Mats Mallon, the team’s third double-digit goal scorer, had both goals in that win.

Sleepers: Who has the weapons to knock off the Nighthawks?

As touched on above, No. 6 Skyline (14-1) does. The Falcons have the leading scorer in the classification in senior Brian Heredia, who is tops in goals (25) and points (63). Angel Pereyra is behind him with 11 goals and five assists, and Carlos Lara has the team’s second-most points with 33 thanks to his 4A-most 17 assists.

No. 2 Centaurus (13-0-2) keeps finding ways not to lose, rallying from a 3-1 deficit against No. 5 Silver Creek Friday to win 4-3 and claim the Northern Colorado Athletics Conference for a second straight season.

Without that blown second-half lead, the Raptors (11-3-1) might’ve been the classification’s 2-seed. They have one of the more impressive resumés out there, led by wins against 5A No. 15 Boulder, No. 24 Horizon, 4A No. 6 Skyline and No. 11 Niwot. They also tied 5A No. 12 Fairview and lost 1-0 to No. 1 Legacy.

No. 3 Battle Mountain (13-1-1) hasn’t lost a game since early September and has scored three or more goals in nine of 15 games.

No. 4 Cheyenne Mountain (11-1-3) has allowed six goals this season and is 10-0 against 4A teams.

Deeper, No. 26 Erie may be one to watch after playing in the 5A-dominated Front Range League. In the opening round, the Tigers face No. 7 Steamboat Springs, a team it tied Sept. 2.

Class 2A

Favorites: Will Vail Mountain repeat?

After winning their first title in program history last fall, the Gore Rangers (10-4-1) won the 3A/2A Western Slope League and held onto the top seed despite going 1-1-1 in their last three games.

Rutley Heinemann is producing even better this season than last year when he won 2A player of the year. The junior has 16 goals, 12 assists and at least a point in all but four games this season.

Jack Schwartz will also be vital in its repeat bid. The talented midfielder was a second-teamer in 2A a year ago.

Sleepers: Will there be a first-time champion?

The programs from No. 2 Thomas McLaren, No. 3 Fountain Valley, No. 4 Bishop Machebeuf and No. 5 Loveland Classical have never won a state title.

Among others, neither has No. 8 Telluride or No. 10 Lotus School for Excellence, which finished runner-up last fall.

Fountain Valley (12-1) has the longest winning streak in the class at eight games and is led by Luke Marcus’ 68 points (28 goals, 12 assists).

Bishop Machebeuf (13-2) has the most goals in the state, headed by Colorado’s goals and points leader Jorge Valdes, who has 41 goals and 21 helpers. The Buffaloes can also bank on the fact it just beat No. 2 Thomas MacLaren, winning 2-1 earlier this month.

Those Highlanders (12-2), however, went undefeated in league play for a third straight year and already have wins over No. 3 Fountain Valley, No. 5 Loveland Classical, No. 8 Telluride and No. 10 Lotus School for Excellence this fall.

Then there’s the Lotus School for Excellence (8-4-3). It could make another deep run after reaching the finals as the sixth seed in 2022. Among wins this season, the Meteors beat No. 1 Vail Mountain Sept. 1.