Metro North
D’Evelyn and John F. Kennedy are the preseason front-runners. D’Evelyn boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the state with quarterback Caleb Flack and receiver Matt Menard, and Kennedy eyes a breakthrough season behind a wealth of team speed. Holy Family, which boasts a stingy veteran defense, expects to return to the playoffs.
Metro South
Elizabeth went 14-0 en route to the football program’s first state title, but the Cardinals were hit hard by graduation and also lost linebacker Eli McKinney to a knee injury. Englewood and Evergreen are coming off playoff appearances, yet most coaches point to Conifer as the league’s sleeper.
Northern
Three teams finished the season with nine wins, and it was the third-place team that advanced the furthest. That was Silver Creek, which inherits the tag as favorite this season. Mountain View, Roosevelt and Erie, each of which made first-round exits last season, will remain in the mix.
Southern
Vista Ridge enters as a pronounced favorite, and after that it’s a free-for-all. Keep an eye on Harrison, which returns 17 starters and gets back running back Vaughn Wingo, injured for much of 2010.
South Central
Five of the eight teams finished .500 or better last season, and the title hunt could get interesting. Cañon City and Lewis-Palmer can be called the co-favorites, with Pueblo East, The Classical Academy and Palmer Ridge all lurking.
Tri-Valley
Windsor and Frederick, both of which reached the state quarterfinals last season, are the favorites to collide for the conference crown. Fort Morgan is expected to rebound from a winless campaign, and Sterling aims for a playoff push. Windsor’s Joey O’Connor, a Penn State recruit, is one of the top linemen in the state.
Western Slope
Glenwood Springs is the defending league champ and reached the Class 3A title game, but a large contingent of graduated players will leave the Demons fighting with Palisade, Battle Mountain and Moffat County for a crown. Battle Mountain should enjoy a turnaround season with the return of quarterback Jake Engle (broken leg).
Pat Rooney, Special to The Denver Post
