The Class 2A Metropolitan League is similar to a boxing ring filled with Rocky Balboa, Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago and Clubber Lang.
Everybody beats up on everybody else, and just one is left standing at the end of the season to claim the title.
For instance, last season Holy Family beat Kent Denver, and Kent Denver beat Faith Christian. Then Lutheran beat Kent Denver, and Denver Christian beat Lutheran. In the first game of the season for both teams, Holy Family beat Faith Christian, and in the state title game, Faith Christian beat Holy Family.
“Year in and year out the Metro is very well represented in the playoffs,” Lutheran coach Loren Larrabee said. “The last three state champions have come out of this league, and that shows you what kind of balance we have.”
And the Metropolitan is loaded again. Defending state champion Faith Christian did not lose much to graduation. Runner-up Holy Family packs a punch with its running game, and Kent Denver may be the odds-on favorite with a deep, tested senior class.
“Kent looks good, but any of four teams could make a run,” Denver Christian coach Mark Swalley said.
The other dominant 2A league is the Patriot, which is split into Gold and Silver divisions. Eaton is in the Gold, along with Roosevelt, and both teams are a threat to upend anybody in the playoffs.
“It’s Eaton and Roosevelt, and then the rest to battle it out right behind them,” Estes Park coach Gib Dolezal said.
In the Intermountain League, Pagosa Springs has potential, with good speed at the skill positions and eight starters returning on defense. Monte Vista could challenge for the top spot.
Lamar remains the class of the Tri-Peaks League with 16 starters returning from last season’s 8-2 team. Limiting turnovers will be a focus, especially if the Savages want to go deeper into the playoffs.
St. Mary’s, La Junta and Trinidad will provide an interesting mix in the eastern half of the Tri-Peaks behind Lamar. Trinidad returns its backfield and offensive line a year after it missed the playoffs via a tiebreaker.
All signs point to the Demons to repeat on the western side of the Tri-Peaks. Buena Vista has some holes to fill on its offensive and defensive lines, but its skill kids are big, athletic and experienced.
Colorado Springs Christian will push the Demons. Senior running back Chad Gibson ran for nearly 1,500 yards last year and Chris Schardt, at 6-feet-4 and 195 pounds, is a premier linebacker and tight end for the Lions.
Salida also will be a factor. The Spartans will air it out Texas Tech-style behind a three-year starter at quarterback, senior Rob Wikoff.
The clamor on the Western Slope is about Roaring Fork, which has a standout two-way anchor in senior Jake Bowman. The Rams have enough playmakers, but can they give them all enough touches to maintain peace?
Gunnison’s junior-loaded team will be a force as the Cowboys finally have enough beef in the trenches to open up their offense.
