No. 1 Broomfield (10-1) at No. 9 Loveland (7-4)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Dan Geubelle and Broomfield ran roughshod in the regular-season meeting against Loveland, when the Eagles rocketed to a 46-13 lead before winning 46-27. Loveland has since turned things around, and fullback Connor Medbery (181 rushing yards in first-round win at Falcon) has bruised his way to 1,817 yards. Geubelle, who averages 11.2 yards per carry and torched Loveland for 247 in the earlier meeting, has produced 1,739 rushing yards and 26 TDs.
No. 5 Valor Christian (8-3) at No. 4 Pine Creek (10-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Perhaps the gem of the second round, Valor Christian’s air attack will get a stern test against Pine Creek’s smashmouth style. While Valor breezed to a first-round stomping of Widefield, Pine Creek didn’t put away Castle View until Josh Beacham’s third rushing TD made it 35-21 in the latter stages. Valor quarterback Brock Berglund combined for five TDs (three passing, two running) in the 49-7 win against the Gladiators while freshman Christian McCaffrey racked up 113 yards on just four carries.
No. 6 Ponderosa (8-3) at No. 3 Wheat Ridge (10-1)
Jeffco Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
It’s a rematch of the season opener, in which Wheat Ridge held off a late Ponderosa drive to win 14-7. Ponderosa hasn’t lit it up offensively — witness only 64 total yards in a 33-30 overtime win in the first round against Pueblo West — but its defense is among the best in the classification. Containing fleet quarterback Nick Ossello is a must if the Mustangs want to reverse the outcome of the opener. Wheat Ridge clobbered Mesa Ridge 51-7 in the first round.
No. 7 Dakota Ridge (8-3) at No. 15 Longmont (7-4)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Don’t color Longmont an unforeseen bracket- buster despite its No. 15 seeding. The Trojans were a top-10 team most of the season, though they struggled against top contenders, but they aren’t exactly a dark horse. Still, it was surprising to see the Trojans whip No. 2 Monarch 42-24 in the first round. They’ll try to keep the mojo going against a Dakota Ridge squad that has won four straight and got 159 yards and two touchdowns from running back Brent Terrell in a 27-7 first-round win against Pueblo South.
