Class 3A First Round
Weekend state playoff lineup by Neil H. Devlin. In bracket order; seeds and records in parenthesis:
(16) Rifle (6-4) at (1) Falcon (10-0)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
What’s up? Rifle shot out to a 2-0 mark, then came home .500. … Conversely, host Falcons may be the surprise team on any level. Here for the first time since 1992, they have demonstrated smart and bruising line play, and major skill, including running back Keenen Ballage, the reigning 4A 100 meter champion.
What’s next? Bears have lower enrollment with a new school in their area, but also playoff experience – they were quarterfinalists a year ago. Falcons now get to test their new-found prowess.
(9) Conifer (8-2) at (8) Rock Canyon (6-4)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Shea Stadium
What’s up? Consistent Conifer has won six in a row since falling 8-7 against Elizabeth in Week 4 and 17-14 to Falcon in the season opener. … Coming off a shutout of Centaurus, quarterback Jim Gorrell has rallied visiting Lobos, who were 3-7 in 2006. … Newer Jaguars missed their first playoff appearance a year ago by a percentage point. … Coach Tom Lynch enjoying increased numbers in football-crazed Douglas County.
What’s next? Hungry? Trust us, these guys can eat a playoff victory in one sitting.
(13) Florence (7-3) at (4) Fort Morgan (9-1)
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Legion Field
What’s up? Visiting Huskies lost by a point in the 2006 semifinals, a year after winning it all. … Mustangs ended a six-year postseason drought and ran the Tri-Valley table. Their only setback was in Week 4, against Scottsbluff, Neb.
What’s next: 3A playoffs, typical intriguing matchup – resident power Huskies trying to squeeze in another postseason play before dropping classes; 14 Mustangs starters from a year ago making a difference.
(12) D’Evelyn (8-2) at (5) Palisade (8-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Stocker Stadium
What’s up? In the case of the visiting Jaguars, it’s the football. Garrett Griffiths of D’Evelyn heads a heady group (19 returning starters from 2006) that likes to pass, although its running game has been more than an accompanying piece. … Jags 3-7 in 2006 and here for first time since 2003. … Bulldogs, quarterfinalists a year ago, churn out one of the best running games the Denver area only gets to see (if it’s lucky) in the playoffs.
What’s next? Jags should let it fly in a very difficult extra-football opener. Palisade figures to be poised and prepared.
(14) Centaurus (7-3) at (3) Pueblo County (9-1)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m., Hornets Nest
What’s next? Versatile runner T.J. Montoya benefitting from a Centaurus Warriors front wall doing more than merely surviving in a rough-and-tumble class. … Visitors made the postseason a year ago at .500, went out by shutout in the first round. … Hornets, who have lost only to Falcon, finished second a year ago and were the preseason No. 1. … J.T. Greenhood, Gio Rider and Joe Pullara roll behind seasoned, hard-hat lines.
What’s next? Centaurus’ high expectations will be tested immediately against Pueblo County’s power game.
(11) Steamboat Springs (7-3) at (6) Fossil Ridge (8-2)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m., J. Ray French Field
What’s up? Sailors know the road, they have to, because of their location. In 2007, they have both travelled to Cherry Hills Village and hosted Laramie. … Austin Hinder, Jay Hanley and Ben DeLine have passed, rushed and kicked (in that order) the Sailors to six victories in their past seven games. … Host SaberCats had an 0-20 start before coach Clint Fick arrived in 2006. … First-ever postseason showing. … Fossil Ridge has won six straight games.
What’s next? Game, experienced Sailors against first-timers. Who knows?
(10) Berthoud (8-2) at (7) Elizabeth (7-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Elizabeth Stadium
What’s up? Visiting Spartans began briskly at 7-0, then dropped two in a row, to Fossil Ridge and Fort Morgan, by a combined 12 points. … Berthoud was 10-0 in 2006, then fell by two points to Florence in the preliminaries. … Elizabeth’s Mitch Johnson is averaging more than 240 yards rushing per game.
What’s next? Berthoud will see if it has another step or two; Cardinals, who have lost in the preliminaries every year since 2000, seek advancement.
(15) Sterling (6-4) at (2) Glenwood Springs (10-0)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
What’s up? Up and down? Sterling’s Tigers were less than .500 three weeks ago. … Tigers defense has allowed only seven points the past 12 quarters. … Demons one of the state’s top stories. Their play has revitalized their area and recalled memories of top teams of the 1980s. … Productive? Junior quarterback Dakota Stonehouse has thrown for 29 touchdowns, ran for 15 others.
What’s next? Tigers know they’re running into a juggernaut.
