It’s about this time of the year when the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index really starts to come into focus. For a team like The Classical Academy football, the pressure mounts as the Titans look to retain their No. 1 status through the remainder of the regular season.
Four undefeated Class 2A teams are chasing TCA: Kent Denver, Strasburg, Brush and Wellington. Each program is 6-0 with three games left. Should their records remain unblemished, the argument could be made that each deserves the top seed. However, only one will emerge with that top seed for the playoffs in November.
So, who has the inside track?
Right now, TCA appears to have a wide-open path to No. 1. The Titans faced their toughest league test last week against Denver West and passed with flying colors, dominating the Cowboys, 41-8. Of their three remaining opponents (Alameda, D’Evelyn, Mitchell), D’Evelyn is the team that could present problems. But even the Jaguars (4-3) will have to find another level on offense in two weeks, as they have only scored 15.3 points per contest.
Currently No. 2 in the Index, Kent Denver has two tough games left — including hosting Strasburg in two weeks. The Sun Devils could move up significantly if the Indians and Elizabeth continue to win their other games. Yianni Balafas’ poise in the pocket has led to him throwing a career-most 19 TD passes with plenty of games left to add to that total.
Strasburg’s 33-31 win against Elizabeth on Oct. 3 was monumental in its quest to climb to the top, and another win against 4-2 Englewood this week will only help matters. The Indians have produced 16 turnovers and have allowed just 77 total points on defense, and a road win at Kent on Oct. 25 could push them over the top.
Brush, at No. 4, has been just as stingy on the defensive side (15 turnovers produced, 69 points allowed). The Beetdiggers are at a little bit of a disadvantage in moving up very much, however, because their three remaining opponents (Weld Central, Fort Lupton, The Academy) all are currently out of the playoff picture. Still, Ritchie Bruno and company have a lot to play for.
Ringing in at No. 5 is Wellington — a team that has allowed 21 points all season. The stretch of games that included Timnath, Berthoud, University and Eaton in consecutive weeks looked pretty daunting at the beginning of the season, but WHS has cruised through 3/4 of that string of opponents while anticipating this Friday’s butting of heads with the Reds at home. Wellington beat Eaton twice last year, giving the Reds some added motivation to create a little havoc in the standings. Up next after Eaton for the Eagles would be Resurrection Christian, another formidable foe that has its own playoff seeding at stake.
Key games around the state:
Class 2A
Resurrection Christian at Berthoud, Friday, 7 p.m.
After getting crushed by Wellington, Berthoud (3-3) rebounded with a 35-0 win against Valley and now must face a regional rival in RCS, which also grabbed a huge win last week by downing Eaton 34-7. Rez (4-2) got 224 total yards and three TDs from senior Britton Walston against EHS. Berthoud has never defeated RCS, but last year’s game came down to the wire, 24-19.
Class 1A
Wray at Limon, Friday, 7 p.m.
Limon (5-1) has posted 104 points over its past two contests, amassing 425 rushing yards in a win last week against Holyoke. Wray, meanwhile, sits at 4-2 and got a huge effort from senior Austin Collins (200 total yards, 3 total TDs) last week against Burlington. This is one of those ‘both-towns-shut-down games’ where the atmosphere is unrivaled, and it’s a good bet the teams provide some fireworks on the field, too.
8-man
Sanford at Mancos, Friday, 6 p.m.
Mancos’ only blemish to this point is a two-point loss to Sedgwick County. Sanford had a more humbling defeat against Haxtun a few weeks back but has convincingly won three straight since. The Bluejays are 9-2 in the series over the past 11 meetings, but Trason Gartrell (1,094 rushing yards, 17 TDs) would like nothing more than to alter the narrative his senior season.
6-man
Prairie at Peetz, Friday, 7 p.m.
Peetz actually sits No. 3 in the CHSAA Index, so getting a win against Prairie (No. 12 in the Index) would be huge for them in retaining that position behind Stratton and Idalia. The Bulldogs have been effective enough in the pass game to produce 15 touchdowns through the air, keeping teams from fully relying on stopping the run. The Eagles have a top-notch win on their docket, having upset Caliche a couple weeks ago.
