Following games wrapping up for week one, Colorado Preps takes a look at updated playoff projections in Classes 2A-1A-8man and 6man. Projections will be announced on a weekly basis through the season. Our plan is to announce the new projections each Monday so this week they’re released with an asterisk since a couple of games featuring Limon-Yuma (1A) and Fowler-Caliche (8man) have yet to be played. As a result, our projections could change based on those results.
Playoff clubs this year are selected based on a formula that combines RPI with polls from CHSAA, MaxPreps and Packard. League champions are NOT guaranteed a berth this year and only eight teams are selected in each class.
Below are the projections from Colorado Preps in each class. And all teams are listed in alphabetical order. Photo is provided by Bobby Gutierrez.
SIX MAN
We did not release any preseason thoughts on playoff teams, so this is our first crack at projecting the six man bracket. On paper and through week one, the East seems to be the deepest division as Hi Plains, Kit Carson, Eads, Stratton/Liberty and Cheyenne Wells all won games by lopsided scores. In a normal season, all five clubs could get a playoff berth but this year they will spend the next five weeks beating up on each other and that will cost some a possible post-season bid. Plus only eight teams get in overall.
The North is also a deep conference this year. Fleming, Briggsdale, Prairie and North Park all are playoff worthy teams but all three may not get in. Granada and Kim/Branson may battle for the Southeast crown while we believe Idalia (Northeast), Cotopaxi (Southwest) and Genoa Hugo (Central) are favorites elsewhere. Genoa Hugo could finish with the top record in the Central but still not get in as the opening loss to Stratton/Liberty will likely weigh heavily in the coaches poll. Idalia could be in the same boat due to their loss to Prairie on the opening weekend.
Several key games are on the docket this week and results will help start the sorting out process. Cotopaxi and Cheraw collide on Saturday and the winner could end up with the best record from the Southwest. In the North, North Park challenges defending state champion Fleming and Prairie faces Briggsdale. In the East, Eads goes to Stratton/Liberty and Cheyenen Wells faces off with Hi Plains.
Our first playoff selections for six man:
- Cotopaxi
- Eads
- Fleming
- Granada
- Idalia
- North Park
- Prairie
- Stratton/Liberty
EIGHT MAN
Really no surprises in week one of the eight man division as traditional powers picked up wins across the board. Sedgwick County is the five-time defending state champion and is an easy pick to again make a playoff bid. The question remains on how many other clubs from the rugged Plains conference will get in and our answer right now is just one (Dayspring Christian). Merino, Caliche and Haxtun will likely battle for third and a possible trip. Haxtun must rebound from a tough loss to Holly in week one while Caliche will look for an upset of Fowler in their first game of the season this Tuesday.
Fowler and Holly seem to be the best teams down South but Springfield played well in a loss to Dayspring Christian. Springfield and Holly square off this weekend in an important game. Crowley County could also challenge as they scored an impressive win at Akron in their first eight man game.
In the Southwest, we are going with Sanford and Dove Creek as the top two clubs. Sargent and Mancos are two other quality teams that easily would make the playoffs in a regular 16-team bracket but the Farmers and Bluejays could be on the outside this year. Sargent and Dove Creek pair up for an important contest this week.
In the Northwest, West Grand would likely be our pick but the Mustangs are in quarantine and will miss their first two games. That may open the door for Rangely to take the top spot out there. Pikes Peak Christian should be challenged by the Swink-Simla winner in their conference. The Lions and Cubs meet this week to determine which team will be the main threat.
With all that in mind, we go with the following clubs for our first round of playoff projections in eight man.
- Dayspring Christian
- Dove Creek
- Fowler
- Holly
- Pikes Peak Christian
- Rangely
- Sanford
- Sedgwick County
CLASS 1A
There is a change from our preseason projections and it’s because Wiggins knocked off Bennett in week one. We had Bennett in the playoff bracket before the season started but the loss could be very costly to the Tigers as their remaining schedule will not give them many chances to boost their RPI. Strasburg is the only returning playoff team left on their slate.
Wiggins meantime looks to build on that win but their schedule is not easy. Next up is a date with Wray and that outcome will play a major role in the final bracket. The winner will have two quality victories on their resume just two weeks into the season. Bennett will also watch the outcome closely as a Wray win will hurt the Tigers final RPI even more.
Six of the remaining seven preseason playoff picks also picked up wins in week one. The exception is Limon as the Badgers face Yuma on Monday night. Since we project the Badgers to win that game, we keep them in our playoff bracket. The Badgers also meet Highland in an important clash on Saturday. The Huskies are coming off a difficult overtime loss to Holyoek in their season opener.
Games to watch this week include Rye-Peyton. That winner should clinch no worse than a third place finish in the rugged Tri Peaks; a conference that also includes Colorado Springs Christian and Florence. The Cedaredge-Olathe victor also gets to 2-0 early in the season.
Our updated projections look like this:
- Centauri
- Colorado Springs Christian
- Florence
- Holyoke
- Limon
- Meeker
- Strasburg
- Wray
CLASS 2A
So far so good with our Class 2A preseason thoughts as all eight teams collected victories in their opening games. Because of those wins, our playoff teams remain in place entering week two.
Woodland Park may have scored the best win as they edged Alamosa on the road. Both teams are serious playoff contenders so the Panthers now have the edge in that chase but Alamosa can get right back into the mix by beating Pagosa Springs this Thursday. Eaton and Sterling also collide this week and that outcome will have a major impact at the end of the regular season. Right now, we have both the Reds and Tigers playing in the postseason. Bayfield, which played well in a tough loss to Delta, also looks to bounce back as they challenge Lamar in week two. The Savages overcame four turnovers to blow past Elizabeth.
One sleeper game to keep any eye on is the University-Berthoud matchup. Both teams were week one winners so the survivor may become the top challenger to Resurrection Christian in the Patriot West. La Junta also picked up a quality win over Englewood and the Tigers could get another boost in RPI by beating Pueblo County this Friday.
Our selections ahead of week two:
- Delta
- Eaton
- Lamar
- Pagosa Springs
- Platte Valley
- Resurrection Christian
- Sterling
- Woodland Park
