Funny how motivation affects football … schoolboys in five of Colorado’s seven classifications must win this weekend or call it a season.
The simple approach works best, doesn’t it?
Class 5A: Year II of the 32-team bracket isn’t new or improved. That goes for the outlay, approach and popular choice of finals matchup, too.
Tinkering of any consequence – and not much of it – involved switching lower seeds in order to avoid rematches of league games. You’ll have that when 32 of 5A’s 39 teams make the bracket. All it really did was make it that much more of a pain to figure out the seeds.
Anyway, the one thing that had to happen happened: Columbine and Mullen are on opposite sides.
Nationally ranked, defending state champion, undefeated in 2007 and on a 22-game victory roll, Columbine, winner of 86 of 99 games in the 2000s, would seem to have the better of it, including in terms of postseason opponent. Coach Andy Lowry’s guys haven’t blinked as targets.
Bear Creek, Cherry Creek, Grandview, Heritage, Mountain Vista, Pomona and Rocky Mountain entertain legitimate thoughts of playing into late November, and are on the upside with the Rebels.
However, there’s nothing down about down below, where Mullen, the 2004 5A champion and runner-up the past two seasons, has turned in another undefeated regular season despite returning only four starters, notably one on defense and zero at skill positions.
Great expectations have been developed by – as opposed to demanded of – the Dave Logan-led Mustangs, who have had as much fun as any instate team.
The lower group’s meat includes Arvada West, Chatfield, Douglas County, East, Highlands Ranch, undefeated and No. 3 Thomas Jefferson, Legacy and Overland.
Overall, the story lines are interesting, including T.J. taking on Boulder and coach Spencer Colter, who briefly headed the Spartans two years ago before opting to take over the Panthers.
Class 2A: The current conflict between public and private schools, real or otherwise, is most relevant here.
Advantage: private schools, and not because of enrollment.
The primary trick is to interrupt Faith Christian’s firm hold. The defending champion Eagles have a 22-game victory streak of their own, including a 2007 decision of second-seeded and preseason No. 1 Holy Family, which lurks below.
Faith Christian, which will open against Pagosa Springs, is grouped with the likes of Bayfield, Eaton and Olathe.
For Holy Family, the gantlet involves Gunnison, Trinidad and a nice first-rounder of Erie at Kent Denver.
The balance here – and, in the case of 4A-3A that will be announced after Saturday – will be tops in all classes.
Class 1A: Highland is playing extra football for the first time in 30 years, but the smallest 11-man contingent is again dominated by many of the programs you’ve heard of for years.
Obviously, this season’s powers have a thing about the number 22, as Akron, too, has won that many games in succession. The defending champion Rams are in an upper group with Byers and Hayden. The Nos. 12 (Sanford) and 13 (Sargent) seeds may be underrated.
Limon, which missed making it four 1A crowns in a row in the 2006 semifinals, heads a bottom eight with undefeated Grand Valley, Rocky Ford and Wray. And consider Burlington a tough 14th seed.
Class A 8-man: As the top seed, Merino (9-0) has the pleasure of being grouped with two other undefeateds, Hoehne and Sangre de Cristo.
And what of defending state champion Granada? Technically, the Bobcats are No. 2 – and won how many games in a row? If you guessed 22, you’re correct again. Dayspring Christian is lumped with the Bobcats, as is Dove Creek, paced by coach Ken Soper, enjoying his fifth decade in small ball in the hills.
Class A 6-man: The seven-year itch has its best opportunity to be scratched. Idalia, winner of five titles in the 2000s, enters with a 6-3 mark. The three also equal the number of Wolves losses from 2001-06.
Only top-seeded Peetz in a field of eight has yet to lose. Main challenges figure to come from Eads, the 2006 runner-up, Fleming and Hi-Plains.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
