In a foregone conclusion seemingly since the preseason, Valor Christian will be the top overall seed when the Class 4A high school football playoffs open this week.
The Colorado High School Activities Association released playoff brackets from 4A, 3A and 2A on Sunday, and the Eagles (10-0) — two-time defending state champions, having won 3A in 2009 and 4A last season — will open the playoffs by hosting Pueblo West (4-6), the No. 16 seed.
Valor is followed by two unbeaten teams in the seeding: Monarch and Pine Creek, also 10-0. In a slight surprise, the seeding committee put 9-1 Castle View (No. 5) ahead of 10-0 Longmont (No. 6). Castle View’s lone loss this season came Oct. 14 to Valor Christian, 55-9.
Montrose (9-1) is seeded sixth, Broomfield (8-2) is seventh and Widefield (9-1) is eighth.
Among first-round highlights are No. 7 Broomfield hosting No. 10 Cheyenne Mountain, and No. 8 Widefield hosting No. 9 Wheat Ridge.
Cañon City (10-0) is the top seed in the 3A bracket, ahead of John F. Kennedy (10-0). Silver Creek (9-1) is seeded third, Rifle (10-0) is fourth and Windsor (9-1) is fifth.
Vista Ridge (9-1), a popular pick as the 3A favorite in the preseason, is the No. 6 seed.
The 2A field is headed by No. 1 overall seed Brush (10-0), followed by Florence (9-1), Kent Denver (9-1), Bayfield (9-0) and Eaton (8-2).
Ryan Casey: 303-954-1980 or rcasey@denverpost.com
