The regular season finished up last week for Class 5A and 4A football teams and will finish up this week for 3A. That means that every game being played has significant implications for what’s ahead.
For the 5A and 4A teams, it very simple. Win or go home. For the 3A teams, a win could mean a safer position in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index while a loss could result in disaster.
Here is a look at the some of the important games this weekend.
Class 5A
No. 18 Fountain-Fort Carson (7-3) at No. 15 Fairview (9-1), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
This is certainly a very intriguing matchup of two very talented teams. Fairview comes into this first round playoff game averaging 50 points per game. RB Jordan Rechel leads the way for the Knights. During the regular season, the junior had 828 yards rushing and 20 TDs and another 666 yards receiving on 44 receptions and added another eight touchdowns. Fairview has won seven games in a row and has not lost since dropping a 29-28 decision to Valor Christian on Sept. 8.
Fountain-Fort Carson will counter with Mathias Price. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back has 1,579 yards rushing and 20 scores. Junior RB Terence Morris has added 610 yards rushing and seven TDs for the Trojans. FFC’s losses have come to Pine Creek (40-10), Douglas County (21-17) and Regis Jesuit (45-7).
Now, none of the stats matter – it is a matter of who will step up and carry their team to victory. The winner moves on to face No. 2-seeded Columbine.
No. 24 Fossil Ridge (5-5) at No. 9 Castle View (7-3), (Fri., 6 p.m.)
This is a battle between identical mascots – Sabercats. Castle View has had a memorable season winning seven games, including a five-game winning streak to start the season. CV, however, dropped three of four games before claiming a 43-12 victory over Highlands Ranch to end the regular season.
Now, is the chance for CV to prove it is the team that started 5-0 not the team that finished 2-3. The Castle View offense is led by QB Derek Gordon, who threw for 1,523 yards and 17 TDs and only three interceptions. Senior RB Ethan Gonzales has added 734 yards rushing and seven TDs and junior receiver Sam Harry (43 receptions and 528 yards and five TDs) is part of the CV attack.
Fossil Ridge is paced by the one-two punch of Nick Kubat (1,827 yards passing and 19 TDs) and RB Colton Pawlak (901 yards and 12 TDs). Receiver Marcus Mozer (49 receptions, 845 yards and nine TDs) also has to be accounted for.
The winner of this game against a match-up with No. 8-seeded Mountain Vista next week.
Class 4A
No. 19 Longmont (5-5) at No. 14 Pueblo West (6-4), (Fri., 6 p.m.)
Longmont has had a season of extremes. The Trojans began the season with a three-game losing streak and then rebounded to win five games in a row, only to lose the last two games of the regular season. The Trojans have junior QB Kolby Holmes (1,715 yards passing and 13 TDs) and senior RB Cole Gaddis (1,408 yards rushing and 20 TDs) in the fold. That duo gets plenty of help from sophomore receiver Joey Foot who has 64 receptions, 1,067 yards and nine TDs.
Pueblo West has had a similar season as Longmont. The Cyclones started the season 3-0, went 1-3 and lost its last game to Montrose (33-7). Gavin Lockett is the star for West with 1,209 yards passing and 924 yards rushing and 19 TDs.
The bigger question for West is who will join Lockett in the spotlight. He needs company or the Cyclones’ season may end abruptly.
No. 18 Grand Junction Central (5-5) at No. 15 Rampart (6-4), (Sat., 1 p.m.)
This looks like a tough road to victory for Grand Junction Central. The Warriors have not beaten a team with a winning record this season. GJC won two of its last three games against Greeley Central (29-7) and Skyline (3-0) to get into the postseason. The Warriors’ offense is led by senior QB Kane Thornton (1,430 yards passing and 10 TDs and 511 yards rushing).
Rampart counters with a double dose of running backs – senior Maciu Ramaqa (1,036 yards rushing and 17 TDs) and junior Camden Bruns (883 yards rushing and nine TDs). The Rams are riding a two-game winning streak with wins over Vista Ridge (35-19) and Air Academy (47-7).
Class 3A
Pueblo South (5-4) at Pueblo Central (8-1), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
The Colts, winners of the 2017 4A state title, have been a heater to finish the season, posting a 5-1 record, including a 65-0 trouncing of Pueblo Centennial last week to continue their frantic postseason push. South sophomore QB Caeden Herrera (1,426 yards passing and 10 TDs) has grown throughout the season. He also has weapons around him in sophomore RB Chace Hurley (665 yards and 10 TDs) and receiver Jake Pisciotta (497 yards and eight TDs). South is No. 16 in the latest Selection and Seeding Index and a win over Central, No. 9 in the Index, might be enough for the Colts to sneak into the 16-team 3A playoff field next week.
Central, meanwhile, is riding a six-game winning streak after a 55-19 loss to Heritage on Sept. 7. The Wildcats’ engine is fueled by running backs – Michael Montoya (909 yards rushing, 19 TDs) and Amari Brown (818 yards rushing and 10 TDs). Central would love nothing more than to end the Colts’ season and at the same time prove it can be one of the top teams in 3A.
Pueblo East (3-5) at Pueblo County (5-3), (Fri., 7 p.m.)
This game has a couple of layers. The Eagles suffered a heartbreaking 31-27 loss to Discovery Canyon last week to put a dent in their playoff hopes. However, they are still clinging to an outside postseason chance if they can beat Pueblo County, which looks to be one of the last teams in the 16-team field as of now.
East has talent like freshman QB Dophka Lewis (773 yards passing and three TDs and 430 yards rushing and seven scores). The Hornets come into this critical game winners of two of their last three contests, including a 48-8 decision over Sand Creek last week. Pueblo County QB Cohen Glenn (960 yards, 13 TDs) needs to keep his momentum going and he should if he gets a lift from RB Terrell Dillaha (549 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and receiver Jonathan Gonzales (552 yards receiving and four TDs). The Hornets believe they are a postseason team and there’s no better way to prove it than by finishing off the regular season with a commanding win over East.
