With the playoffs drawing closer each week, Colorado Preps continues to look at results from every week of the season and make projections on which teams will qualify in Classes 2A, 1A, 8man and 6man. PHOTO BY DWIGHT SIVERSON
We again list our projected playoff clubs in alphabetical order but a new wrinkle this week includes a list of our predicted top four seeds. These teams would get the chance to play at home in round one of the shortened three week playoff schedule.
At times, our report refers to consensus rankings. This poll is produced each Thursday by Colorado Preps and totals up votes from the four components that will determine post-season qualifiers; RPI, MaxPreps, Coaches Poll (CHSAA) and Packard.
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CLASS 2A
Several teams continue to battle for the last couple of playoff berths but many of those clubs suffered losses in week four. It’s highly likely now that at least one and maybe more two-loss teams could qualify for the bracket.
Woodland Park was in our pairings last week but the Panthers suffered a last minute loss at Moffat County on Friday. University, Valley, Brush and Berthoud are all candidates to replace them but all four teams were beaten during the past seven days. All those losses not only make Moffat County a playoff contender but could also bring the likes of D’Evelyn and La Junta back into the mix.
Because they were winners last week, Moffat County gets our nod in the playoff eight this week. The win pushed them to #4 in RPI. They were the choice over Severance who scored a very impressive 43-6 win over Berthoud on Saturday. The win moved the Silver Knights to 3-1 in their first varsity season but we leave them out of the playoffs this week since they have games remaining with Eaton and Resurrection Christian. They will have to win one of those games to stay in the discussion.
Moffat County also has a tough schedule in front of them as they host Delta on Friday. The Panthers enter the game unbeaten. But a Moffat County win likely puts the Bulldogs into the playoffs plus they could face the Panthers without Nolan Bynum. The starting quarterback missed the entire second half last week in Delta’s win over Englewood.
Even with the road loss, Woodland Park remains a playoff contender. Their RPI will be helped as they’ve picked up a game with 1A power Centauri this Friday. A loss though would be their third and it may eliminate them from the post-season picture.
D’Evelyn can make some noise this week as they head to University. Both clubs are 2-2 so the loser should be out of the playoff picture. The Jags have won two straight while the Bulldogs look to bounce back from the Resurrection Christian loss. Rez looks for a fifth straight shutout as they host Berthoud this week. Eaton and Severance as mentioned is also a key game on tap this week.
Pagosa Springs may have locked up a top four seed by beating Lamar on Saturday. The Pirates gave up a touchdown on the first drive of the game but kept the high scoring Savages offense off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Despite the loss, Lamar should stay in the post-season bracket especially with all the losses to teams ranked directly below them.
- Delta
- Eaton
- Lamar
- Moffat County
- Pagosa Springs
- Platte Valley
- Resurrection Christian
- Sterling
TOP CONTENDERS: Woodland Park, Severance, University, Berthoud, Valley, D’Evelyn, La Junta
TOP 4 SEEDS: Resurrection Christian, Sterling, Delta, Pagosa Springs
CLASS 1A
We’ve mentioned the past couple of weeks that nine teams appear to be battling for the eight available playoff berths and that scenario remains in effect this week. In our mind, we have seven solid teams while Holyoke and Colorado Springs Christian continue to jockey for the eighth and final playoff position.
Holyoke is coming off a tough loss at Wray (27-7), but the Dragons remain in our playoff picks this week. We’ve kept them ahead of Colorado Springs Christian because the Lions have a very tough date with Florence this week. Should CSCS gain the upset, then they would move back into the bracket because Holyoke still has a game remaining with Limon in week six.
If the Dragons lose that game and CSCS falls short to Florence this week, then Highland and Peyton could sneak back into the discussion. Highland is #11 in RPI and should continue to move in that poll. They’ve won two straight since opening with losses to Holyoke and Limon. Peyton is #10 in RPI and they also have a game remaining with Colorado Springs Christian. Their best playoff argument is to beat Rocky Ford this week and CSCS in the final week while having Florence also beat the Lions this week. A loss by Highland to either Burlington or Wiggins would also help their cause. Highland though is favored in both.
In addition to Florence-Colorado Springs Christian, another huge game on the week five schedule pits Wray against Limon. Both are 4-0 and we feel have already clinched their spots in the bracket. The winner will have a strong case for the top overall seed.
Despite not allowing a point and rolling to four very lopsided victories, there is still concern in the Centauri camp about making the bracket. They’ve been dominant but their schedule has them just 8th in the most recent RPI standings. They will get some help in schedule strength this week as they’ve picked up a game with 2A Woodland Park (2-2). They also play Monte Vista in the final week and the Pirates will be 4-1 at that point provided they beat Ignacio as expected this Friday.
- Centauri
- Florence
- Holyoke
- Hotchkiss
- Limon
- Meeker
- Strasburg
- Wray
TOP CONTENDERS: Colorado Springs Christian, Highland, Peyton
TOP 4 SEEDS: Limon, Strasburg, Florence, Hotchkiss
EIGHT MAN
The biggest question in the playoff projections this week is what to do with Pikes Peak Christian. The Eagles held down the top spot in the RPI ranking last week and somehow only dropped three places in those standings despite a home loss to Dolores Huerta Prep. The Scorpions were #30 in RPI before the game but that win pushed them up 14 spots to #16. At 2-2, they remain outside the playoff picture however.
Mancos will replace Pikes Peak Christian in our top eight this week. The Bluejays are 4-0 heading into a tough closing stretch with Dove Creek (3-1) and Sanford (4-0). Dove Creek lost to Sanford last week and remain in our pairings due to the loss by Pikes Peak Christian. The Bulldogs likely secure a bid if they beat Mancos this week but a loss could eliminate them from further discussion.
The Pikes Peak Christian loss also kept many other clubs in the playoff picture. Simla has a loss to PPC but they moved to 3-1 by beating Calhan last week. The Cubs are #5 in RPI as well. Crowley County (2-0) has two games this week; meeting Springfield on Monday night and Fowler later in the week. Wins in both should get the Chargers in. They’re a bit rusty as they haven’t played since October 16th due to COVID issues for them and others. West Grand could also be back in the race thanks to their win over Gilpin County last week.
Top ranked Sedgwick County has a busy and possibly tough week. They meet fellow unbeaten Holly on Monday night in Limon. The two teams agreed on the schedule addition last Friday as both have lost opponents to COVID. After that contest, the Cougars must quickly prepare for a showdown with Merino. That winner not only lands the coveted Plains title but could also nab the top overall playoff seed.
One other game to watch gets back to Pikes Peak Christian as the Eagles must tangle with Swink. The Lions are also 3-1 including a 22-16 win over Dolores Huerta in week three. Swink gets in the playoff chase with a win and likely eliminates the Eagles.
- Dove Creek
- Fowler
- Holly
- Mancos
- Merino
- Rangely
- Sanford
- Sedgwick County
TOP CONTENDERS: Crowley County, Pikes Peak Christian, Simla, West Grand, Swink
TOP 4 SEEDS: Sedgwick County, Fowler, Sanford, Merino
SIX MAN
A crazy game between Granada and Cheraw highlighted the week four schedule as the Bobcats held on for a 67-60 decision over the Wolverines. Granada probably locked down a post-season bid with the win and despite the loss, we kept the Wolverines in our top eight. They will watch with great interest results from at least two games this week; Stratton/Liberty vs Hi Plains on Monday and Mountain Valley vs Cotopaxi on Friday.
Stratton/Liberty is favored against Hi Plains and a win by the Knighted Eagles will help Cheraw. It’s one of two games on the week for Stratton/Liberty as they also face Kit Carson on Friday. The Wildcats did not play Eads as scheduled last week as they could not offer enough healthy players for the game. If those injuries persist, they may have to drop the game with Stratton/Liberty as well.
More important to Cheraw is the Mountain Valley outcome vs Cotopaxi. Mountain Valley (2-0) is not in our playoff bracket this week but based on consensus rankings and a strong RPI number (#6) they are a strong contender. That all changes if they fall to Cotopaxi (1-3) this week and again such a result would boost Cheraw’s playoff hopes.
Other key games include Cheyenne Wells at Eads and Fleming at Briggsdale. Cheyenne Wells and Fleming are perfect through four weeks and both are probably in the bracket already. Eads and Briggsdale each have suffered a loss but even with another, both would remain in our bracket due to the very strong conferences and schedules they compete in.
- Briggsdale
- Cheraw
- Cheyenne Wells
- Eads
- Fleming
- Granada
- Prairie
- Stratton/Liberty
TOP CONTENDERS: Hi Plains, Mountain Valley, Genoa Hugo, Sierra Grande, Idalia
TOP 4 SEEDS: Fleming, Stratton/Liberty, Cheyenne Wells, Granada
