Defending a state football championship is no easy task and the for the first time in school history, Roosevelt is going to learn that lesson.
That’s not to say the Roughriders don’t have it in them to claim a second straight title. In fact, they might be the odds-on favorite heading into the fall. But like hoisting the Class 3A football crown last December, this is a team in uncharted territory.
The good news is that there are experienced bodies to guide the team through the rough waters of competing for a state title. Quarterback Bronco Hartson is coming off a first-team All-State season and is back after throwing for 1,721 yards and 20 touchdowns and adding 376 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
And he might be the second-most important player returning.
Xavier Ramirez broke the 2,000-yard rushing mark and found the end zone 30 times. With another summer of development, his ceiling knows no limits heading into 2023.
Defensively, Dillon Doyon is the only player who had at least 20 tackles last year making a return this season. The Roughriders have never been short on physicality, but experience on the defensive side of the ball will be a huge question mark early in the season.
Lutheran was so close to the state championship last year that the taste has been lingering all offseason. The Lions held a 24-21 lead over Roosevelt heading into the fourth quarter of the championship game, but it was those final 12 minutes that were the deciding factor.
Quarterback Ryken Daugaard is back for his senior season after throwing for 2,585 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. The majority of the ground attack is gone, but junior Sawyer Wald looks ready to step into the role of starting running back. In a crowded backfield, he ran for 322 yards last, tops for any player back in 2023.
Unlike the Roughriders, the Lions have plenty of experience returning on defense which could make a huge impact if the two teams were to meet again in the postseason. Peyton Garrett, Reichen Posey and Landen Mroczek combined to record 16.5 sacks last season. Opposing quarterbacks will be under duress much of this year as that number should only improve.
After advancing to the semifinals last year, Green Mountain is another team that could make another deep playoff run. Sure the Rams lost their top three ball carriers from last season, but it’s worth keeping in mind that as a team they rushed for over 3,000 yards. No individual had a 1,000-yard season on the ground.
The Rams succeed with a team effort and discipline on the defensive side of the ball. When they do need to move the ball, Max Choboian and Demetreus Padilla should have established roles to make that happen.
Outside of the top block of teams in the classification, there are solid teams loaded across the board. George Washington was very much a team on the rise and the return of Marquevios Lee should make the offense electrifying for the Patriots.
Durango has a new head coach in Matt Burton but starting quarterback Tyler Harms is back after throwing for over 1,600 yards and rushing for seven touchdowns. Jaxon Fancher rushed for 422 yards and four scores and could be in line for a big role as the primary ball carrier this year.
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3A football
Returning All-State Players:
- Joe Ciccio, Lutheran (First Team)
- Ryken Daugaard, Lutheran (First Team)
- Bronco Hartson, Roosevelt (First Team)
- Marcellus Honeycutt, George Washington (First Team)
- Colton Patterson, Green Mountain (First Team)
- Xavier Ramirez, Roosevelt, (First Team)
- Samuel Smolen, Lutheran (First Team)
- Marquevios Lee, George Washington (Second Team)
- Micah Lumpkin, Sierra (Second Team)
- Carlos Preciado, Harrison (Second Team)
- Amari Brown, Pueblo Central (Honorable Mention)
- Izaiah Bustamante, Riverdale Ridge (Honorable Mention)
- Austin Contreras, Green Mountain (Honorable Mention)
- Rylan Cooney, Holy Family (Honorable Mention)
- Scottie Drouillard, Denver North (Honorable Mention)
- Grady Forsythe, Conifer (Honorable Mention)
- Hunter Hansen, Resurrection Christian (Honorable Mention)
- Omar Loza, Skyview (Honorable Mention)
- Michael Montoya, Pueblo Central (Honorable Mention)
- Patrick Noga, Pueblo County (Honorable Mention)
- Angelo O’Dorisio, Holy Family (Honorable Mention)
- Reichen Posey, Lutheran (Honorable Mention)
- Will Reeves, Resurrection Christian (Honorable Mention)
**
League 1
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Harrison | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Pueblo Central | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Pueblo South | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Lewis-Palmer | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Pueblo Centennial | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| Sierra | 1 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: Harrison
Additional playoff teams: None
Projected 2023 league champion: Pueblo Central
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Harrison, Pueblo South
**
League 2
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Discovery Canyon | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Pueblo East | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Pueblo County | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Canon City | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Sand Creek | 2 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Mitchell | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: Discovery Canyon
Additional playoff teams: Pueblo East
Projected 2023 league champion: Discovery Canyon
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Pueblo East
**
League 3
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Durango | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Summit | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Palisade | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Glenwood Springs | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Eagle Valley | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Battle Mountain | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: Durango
Additional playoff teams: Summit, Palisade
Projected 2023 league champion: Durango
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Palisade, Glenwood Springs
**
League 4
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Green Mountain | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Evergreen | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Conifer | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Wheat Ridge | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| Littleton | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Skyview | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
League champion: Green Mountain
Additional playoff teams: Evergreen
Projected 2023 league champion: Green Mountain
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Evergreen, Conifer
**
League 5
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Lutheran | 11 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Holy Family | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Northfield | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Fort Morgan | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Kennedy | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Lincoln | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: Lutheran
Additional playoff teams: Holy Family
Projected 2023 league champion: Lutheran
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Holy Family, Fort Morgan
**
League 6
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| George Washington | 10 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Frederick | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Mead | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Riverdale Ridge | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Denver North | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Niwot | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: George Washington
Additional playoff teams: Frederick
Projected 2023 league champion: George Washington
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Frederick, Mead
**
League 7
| Team | Overall | League | ||
| Win | Loss | Win | Loss | |
| Roosevelt | 14 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Northridge | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Thompson Valley | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Resurrection Christian | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Severance | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| Mountain View | 1 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
League champion: Roosevelt
Additional playoff teams: Northridge, Thompson Valley, Resurrection Christian
Projected 2023 league champion: Roosevelt
Additional 2023 playoff contenders: Northridge, Thompson Valley, Resurrection Christian
