The CHSAA state football playoffs have been whittled to 16 teams in the top three classifications. Here’s a look at this weekend’s slate in all three with quarterfinal spots up for grabs.
Class 5A
The chalk
All four of the top-four seeds in 5A have two losses but don’t expect to see defeat No. 3 this weekend.
No. 20 Rocky Mountain (6-5) at No. 4 Grandview (8-2), 7 p.m.*: Did Grandview catch a break with the Lobos’ first-round upset of high-flying Mountain Vista in last week’s snowstorm? Not unless you consider lining up opposite 6-foot-8, 315-pound BYU commit Ethan Thomason a walk in the park. (Hint: It isn’t.)
No. 19 Chatfield (5-6) at No. 3 Ralston Valley (8-2), 7 p.m.: After stunning Fairview in the first round, the Chargers draw a Ralston Valley squad they hung around with in a Week 9 loss (27-20). Thus, they will have the Mustangs’ full attention.
No. 16 Fountain-Fort Carson (8-3) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (8-2), 7 p.m.: Bad break for FFC — a red-hot team that now must face a Bruins squad coming off a loss in its regular-season finale. The last time Creek lost two games in a row? 2016.
No. 15 Legend (7-4) at No. 2 Valor Christian (8-2), 7 p.m.: The Titans have advanced in the playoffs four consecutive years under Monte Thelen, but they’ve been outscored 129-21 against top-five seeds the last three seasons. Another tall order.
The toss-ups
Per usual, the matchups between the 7-10 seeds figure to go down to the wire. But there’s another in the mix.
No. 8 Arapahoe (6-4) at No. 9 ThunderRidge (10-1), 7 p.m.: The Warriors’ rugged schedule (eight of 10 games vs. teams that qualified for the playoffs) should have them ready for anything. Except maybe a T-Ridge squad that is darn near impossible to put away.
No. 10 Fossil Ridge (9-2) at No. 7 Regis Jesuit (6-4), 6:30 p.m.: The SaberCats can let it rip with the best of them with senior quarterback Tyler Kubat (1,727 yards, 19 TDs passing) in the pocket, but can they protect him from Nebraska-bound OLB Hayden Moore (13.0 tackles for loss) off the edge?
Upset watch
A win by the higher seeds in any of these games would be a surprise, but not a total shock.
No. 11 Rock Canyon (8-3) at No. 6 Columbine (9-1), 7 p.m.: The Rebels have been dominant with the exception of a 16-13 loss to Ralston Valley. So why have them here? Two reasons: Six of the nine teams they beat are already done for the season, and Rock Canyon senior Aidan Duda (1,737 yards, 15 TDs rushing) is a problem.
No. 12 Legacy (9-2) at No. 5 Pine Creek (8-2), 7 p.m.: Pine Creek’s first foray into 5A postseason waters does not begin with a gimme. Legacy has won nine in a row, and scored 35-plus in all but one of those games. This one could get interesting.
Class 4A
The chalk
A case could be made that 4A is the most wide-open classification in the state. Still, these guys will be hard to beat.
No. 16 Skyline (7-4) at No. 1 Palmer Ridge (10-0), 7 p.m.*: The Bears have won at least one playoff game five seasons in a row, including each of the past two in 4A. Skyline will have to bring the same offense that showed up the last three weeks (144 total points) to keep them from No. 6.
No. 15 Windsor (7-4) at No. 2 Broomfield (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: Eagles QB Cole LaCrue (2,481 total yards, 34 TDs passing/rushing) pledged to play for Wisconsin on Monday night. Now he gets a shot at his first playoff win of a decorated three-year varsity career.
No. 13 Dakota Ridge (6-5) at No. 4 Loveland (9-1), 7 p.m.: Dakota Ridge has hung 141 points combined on its last three opponents, including last week’s 43-14 win over Longmont. But Loveland hasn’t given up a touchdown since September. (Yes, September.)
The toss-ups
Surprise, surprise. The 7-10 seed games figure to produce a couple of taut affairs.
No. 9 Fruita Monument (8-3) at No. 8 Vista Ridge (7-3), 1 p.m. Saturday: Four-star QB Brayden Dorman needs just 76 yards passing to reach 10,000 for his career. While that’s all but a given, topping a salty Fruita defense (15.2 points allowed/game) is not.
No. 10 Mesa Ridge (8-3) at No. 7 Heritage (7-3), 7 p.m.: The only 4A team to beat Heritage this fall? Second-seeded Broomfield, 17-13. The challenge Friday: Stopping Mesa Ridge QB Bryce Riehl (2,055 yards, 23 TDs passing) and a Grizzlies team averaging 39.7 points/game.
Upset watch
A win by the higher seeds in any of these games would be a surprise, but not a total shock.
No. 14 Pueblo West (7-4) at No. 3 Ponderosa (8-2), 6 p.m.: With a healthy Zach Stryker at QB, Ponderosa can beat anyone. Without Stryker, who’s missed the past two games, the Mustangs’ margin for error decreases. Pueblo West, two weeks removed from giving No. 5 Montrose all it can handle, will be a test.
No. 12 Golden (8-3) at No. 5 Montrose (8-2), 7 p.m.: The Red Hawks have won eight in a row by an average margin of 25.3 points, but the Golden Demons can score points in bunches. First team to 40 wins?
No. 11 Erie (7-4) at No. 6 Denver South (9-1), 6 p.m.: If you like high-level QB play, All City Stadium is the place to be Friday. Erie junior Blake Barnett may be the best in his class, while South senior Joseph Capra is eighth in the state at 274.7 total yards/game for a devastating Ravens attack.
Class 3A
The chalk
Is 3A up for grabs? Or are we just biding time until Roosevelt and Durango meet in the title game?
No. 16 Discovery Canyon (7-3) at No. 1 Roosevelt (10-0), 7 p.m.*: The Roughriders might be the most complete team in 3A, with an offense that features two 1,000-yard rushers (Xavier Ramirez and Dyan Doucette), a QB who’s thrown for 1,300 (Bronco Hartson) and a defense that has 102 tackles for loss and 22 takeaways.
No. 15 Harrison (8-2) at No. 2 Durango (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: A 7-0 win over Palisade hints at vulnerability for the Demons, but just about everything else — namely, their 32.1 points scoring margin — says otherwise. Perhaps a Harrison team riding an eight-game win streak will provide resistance?
No. 14 Pueblo East (8-2) at No. 3 Lutheran (8-2), 7 p.m.: These two teams met earlier this season, and it didn’t go well for Pueblo East, with the Lions scoring 42 points in the first half alone. Since that game, both teams are 5-1.
No. 12 Resurrection Christian (7-3) at No. 5 Green Mountain (10-0), 7 p.m.: The Rams are one of three unbeatens in 3A, but have played just one team with a winning record. Resurrection Christian, Winning Team No. 2, has lost two straight by a combined score of 76-12.
The toss-ups
Just like in 4A and 5A, the 7-10 seed matchups look like white-knucklers.
No. 9 Evergreen (8-2) at No. 8 Thompson Valley (6-4), 1 p.m. Saturday: Evergreen, with an offense that averages 46.5 points/game and a defense that allows just 7.9, has a lot of blowouts on its resume. But are the Cougars as battle-tested as Thompson Valley, which faced five playoff teams and beat one?
No. 10 George Washington (9-1) at No. 7 Holy Family (7-3), 1 p.m. Saturday: What’s worse than dealing with senior WR Marcellus Honeycutt (1441 total yards, 20 TDs)? Dealing with Honeycutt AND sophomore RB Marquevios Lee (1,116 yards, 10 TDs rushing). A Holy Family defense that’s allowed just 25 points of its last four games awaits.
Upset watch
Searching for possible upsets in the 3A round of 16 may be a fool’s errand. Leave it to us to try.
No. 11 Frederick (7-3) at No. 6 Summit (9-1), 6 p.m.: One guarantee: No team in the state is fresher than Summit, which hasn’t played since Oct. 21 due to two forfeits. A Frederick team that’s averaged 44.5 points over its last six games will be ready.
No. 13 Palisade (4-6) at No. 4 Northridge (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Pay no mind to Palisade’s record. The Bulldogs played seven playoff teams this fall, including a 5A squad and two 4A outfits. Meanwhile, Northridge finished second in the most loaded 3A league in the state. Yup, nothing easy for Palisade.
* All games Friday night unless otherwise noted
