PARKER – A little wind never bothered Chase Silva.
So when the sophomore went to work on the first drive of Saturday’s Class 4A football semifinal game on a blustery afternoon at EchoPark Stadium, it was simply business as usual. His pinpoint, 33-yard touchdown pass to Jack Wathen through a fierce crosswind set the tempo for Skyline, which added a dominating effort on defense in a 32-0 rout of Ponderosa.
Silva added a 2-yard touchdown toss and a 9-yard scoring scramble for the Falcons (10-3), which will meet Loveland (13-0) in the 4A state championship game – their first since 1999 – at 11 a.m. Dec. 1 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. And he got plenty of support from running back Jeremy Hollingsworth, who had 212 yards and two touchdowns, and a defense that allowed only five first downs and 68 total yards.
“I knew it was going to be windy, but you just have to play through it,” Silva said. “I knew we had to come out and score on our first drive. I saw a 1-on-1 with the safety on the left side, and I took it and trusted my guy, and he made a play.”
The Falcons scored on their ensuing possession after the defense registered a three-and-out, increasing the lead to 13-0 after Silva’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Kyle West.
“When we scored on the second drive, I just knew we were driving from that point on,” Silva said. “We knew after coming off a big win (21-20 over Pine Creek the week before) that we couldn’t let that be the high point of our season. Each week, we’re still finding ways to get better.”
Ponderosa (10-3), which hadn’t lost since August, took advantage of a defensive stand combined with a wind-aided, 12-yard punt to start a drive on the Skyview 40 with 1:23 left in the first half. The Mustangs advanced the ball to the 8-yard-line, but Will Drewes intercepted a Dylan Hollowell pass at the goal line with 11.3 seconds left to thwart the drive.
“I just dropped back and made sure no one was getting through,” Drewes said. “He threw it right to me. That was great going into halftime, but we had to shut them down again on our first defensive series of the second half. We just came out physical and shut them down.”
Hollingsworth’s 1-yard run ended a five-play, 38-yard drive on the Falcons’ first drive of the second half as snow began to accompany the stiff wind, and Silva made it 25-0 after his 9-yard scramble with 2:27 left in the third quarter.
Hollingsworth ended the scoring on a 31-yard burst over the left side with 5:19 left in the game.
Ponderosa, which had averaged nearly 35 points per game during its 10-game winning streak, couldn’t stay on the field against Skyline. The Mustangs’ longest drive was just seven plays.
“They’re playing confident ball and playing fast and physical defense, and we couldn’t get rolling today,” Mustangs coach Jaron Cohen said. “I felt like there were a few key plays that they converted and we didn’t in the first half, and they won the one-on-one battles with our guys. But give credit to Skyline. They did a good job.”
MONTROSE — Loveland was in control from start to finish, and as a result, they have punched their ticket to next week’s Class 4A football championship game.
“Our offense did a great job of controlling the ball,” Loveland coach Wayne McGinn said. “Our defense bent but didn’t break. They did a great job of shutting down Montrose offense.”
Loveland started fast, moving right down the field on their opening drive. Zach Weinmaster scored and it was 7-0. That was the score after the first quarter.
Loveland scored a second-quarter touchown from Weismaster to make it 14-0. Cody Rakowsky also scored, and it was 21-0 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Riley Kinney made it 28-0, and Weinmaster and Michael Lewis added touchdowns to make it 42-0.
“We had a great year and our kids have a lot to be proud of,” Montrose coach Brett Mertens said. “Loveland is a great team, so congratulations to them.”
PUEBLO — While looking around and dreaming of coming away with a state football championship, the La Junta and Platte Valley football players couldn’t help but listen to the wise words of CSU-Pueblo coach John Wristen.
While getting the two teams pumped up for Saturday’s game, he explained to them what the point of the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl was when it was made home of the resurgent football program of CSU-P.
“We were going to celebrate championships,” Wristen told the boys. “And it starts with a group of people who want to roll up their sleeves and get to work. That’s also how you win games.”
The Tigers and Broncos are ready to roll up their sleeves and battle it out at the ThunderBowl in Class 2A’s first neutral site football title game. After 12 games for each team, they have combined for zero total losses in 2018. That just means that on Saturday, something is going to have to give.
“If you ask those young men, they remember exactly the day they lost their last game,” Broncos coach Troy Hoffman said. “We were undefeated at that time too.”
It came when Platte Valley was the top seed in last year’s 2A playoffs. A 9-6 loss to Eaton ended what looked like a championship run in the making. They’re hoping it just got delayed a year.
(Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)
The Broncos (12-0 overall) boast a dual-threat running attack from running back Ernesto Rios and quarterback Trevon Weherman. Both were freshmen when Platte Valley last advanced to the 2A title game in 2015, a 28-20 loss to Bayfield.
Watching from the sideline, Rios took in the experience of a championship atmosphere and knew right away that he never wanted to feel the same pain the Broncos players felt that day.
“I took a lot in,” Rios said. “Even though I didn’t play that year, the group we had was amazing. I just don’t want to have that feeling of losing the title.”
On paper, the two teams look similar in the sense that they both enjoy running the ball. But Rios sees a difference in style, one that he believes can play to Platte Valley’s favor.
“I think we have the advantage with speed,” he said. “They’re very powerful guys and we’ve seen that on film. I think it’ll come down to speed.”
Jon Nuschy was the quarterback for that championship team two years ago and has made playing in this game somewhat of a habit. Logic would say that Nuschy should be comfortable in a championship game at this point, but each one has played out differently and he knows that 2018 will be emotional for him.
“A little because this is my last one,” Nuschy said. “This is my last game as a Tiger. It has some heavy pressure but we just have to step up and do our jobs and our seniors have to be leaders.”
Nuschy has been the same offensive force for the Tigers that he’s been in the past. Running behind a sizable and talented offensive line, he has rushed for 1,666 yards this year, 494 of those yards have come in the Tigers three playoff wins.
For a team that has now played in a state title game at home and on the road, the idea of a big-venue neutral location is welcome. But even with that being the case, they know they can’t be in a position to appreciate unless they work their way to that championship game.
“It’s always good to play at home, but we’re just happy to be in this game,” Tigers coach Ty Buderus said. “We worked our butts off to be here.”
On Wednesday, they got to enjoy the benefits of that work with a tour of the CSUP facility and a preview of what the atmosphere will be like.
Saturday at 1 p.m. the time for talk and appreciation is over. For both teams, it’s time to get those sleeves rolled up and get to work.
The following information shows the designated home team for potential championship football matchups to be be played on Saturday, Dec. 1. The formula for determining the home team is shown on page 69 of the football bulletin.
Sites are determined each week at the CHSAA office, one-and-a-half weeks prior to the next round.
[divider]
Explanation
How the home sites are determined.
For 5A, 4A and 3A: The team with the fewest playoff home games will host. If equal, the higher seed will host.
[divider]
Future home sites
Key: Fewer home games – Fewest home playoff games; Higher seed – The highest seeded team.
KERSEY — Platte Valley is back in the Class 2A football state championship game for the first time since 2015 after beating Resurrection Christian 21-14 in the semifinals on Sunday.
Regis Jesuit is atop the preseason hockey rankings for the 2018-19 season.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.
The preseason boys basketball rankings are out. The No. 1 teams are: Grandview (5A), Lewis-Palmer (4A), Colorado Academy (3A), Yuma (2A) and Sangre de Cristo (1A).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Grandview (9)
0-0
95
2
Chaparral
0-0
74
3
ThunderRidge
0-0
64
4
Smoky Hill
0-0
59
5
Denver East
0-0
47
6
Overland
0-0
41
7
Regis Jesuit
0-0
30
8
Rangeview
0-0
24
9
George Washington
0-0
22
10
Eaglecrest
0-0
21
Others receiving votes:
Rock Canyon 19, Valor Christian 15, Mountain Vista 9, Doherty 8, Columbine 7, Cherry Creek 6, Legend 4, Arvada West 2, Fairview 1, Highlands Ranch 1, Mullen 1.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Lewis-Palmer (12)
0-0
138
2
Longmont (1)
0-0
117
3
Pueblo West
0-0
60
4
Holy Family
0-0
59
5
Lincoln
0-0
49
6
Mead
0-0
40
7
Cheyenne Mountain
0-0
33
8
Pueblo East
0-0
30
9
Pueblo South (1)
0-0
27
10
Golden
0-0
25
Others receiving votes:
Falcon 23, Silver Creek 20, Sierra 17, Widefield 17, Ponderosa 16, Discovery Canyon 15, Thomas Jefferson 13, Montrose 11, Air Academy 8, Glenwood Springs 8, Coronado 7, Steamboat Springs 7, D’Evelyn 6, Evergreen 5, Harrison 4, Green Mountain 3, Denver North 2, Northfield 2, Palmer Ridge 2, Skyview 2, Woodland Park 2, Centaurus 1, Mountain View 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Colorado Academy (4)
0-0
79
2
Sterling (1)
0-0
68
3
Lutheran (1)
0-0
59
4
The Vanguard
0-0
53
5
Manual (3)
0-0
48
6
Coal Ridge
0-0
42
7
Resurrection Christian
0-0
40
8
Bayfield
0-0
26
9
Platte Valley
0-0
24
10
Faith Christian
0-0
15
Others receiving votes:
Roaring Fork 12, Kent Denver 9, Alamosa 6, Delta 4, The Academy 4, DSST: Stapleton 3, Grand Valley 2, Basalt 1.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Yuma (8)
0-0
89
2
Highland (1)
0-0
71
3
Byers
0-0
61
4
Limon
0-0
47
5
Simla
0-0
45
6
Sanford
0-0
31
7
Holly
0-0
29
8
Crowley County
0-0
20
9
Sedgwick County
0-0
19
10
Vail Christian
0-0
18
Others receiving votes:
Del Norte 17, Ignacio 17, Holyoke 8, Mancos 5, Thomas McLaren 5, Denver Christian 3, Fowler 3, Akron 2, Burlington 2, Hotchkiss 1, Meeker 1, Union Colony 1.
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Sangre de Cristo (7)
0-0
88
2
Kit Carson
0-0
56
3
Arickaree/Woodlin
0-0
51
4
Peetz
0-0
48
5
Haxtun
0-0
45
6
De Beque
0-0
38
7
Front Range Baptist
0-0
34
8
Cornerstone Christian (2)
0-0
31
9
Walsh
0-0
25
10
Otis
0-0
21
Others receiving votes:
Cheraw 18, South Baca 16, Creede 8, Genoa-Hugo/Karval 6, Manzanola 4, Springfield 4, Primero 2.
The 2018-19 preseason girls basketball rankings are out, and Grandview (5A), Pueblo West (4A), St. Mary’s (3A), Yuma (2A) and Kit Carson (1A) lead their respective polls.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, they are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Grandview (6)
0-0
103
2
Regis Jesuit (4)
0-0
92
3
Highlands Ranch
0-0
82
4
Horizon
0-0
67
5
Fossil Ridge
0-0
47
6
Cherry Creek
0-0
45
7
Ralston Valley
0-0
41
8
Lakewood
0-0
27
9
Castle View
0-0
20
10
Valor Christian
0-0
19
Others receiving votes:
Doherty 16, Fruita Monument 13, Mountain Vista 12, Arapahoe 8, Dakota Ridge 5, Chaparral 4, Cherokee Trail 2, Fountain-Fort Carson 1, Grand Junction Central 1.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Pueblo West (4)
0-0
90
2
Pueblo South (6)
0-0
84
3
Evergreen (1)
0-0
72
4
Air Academy
0-0
71
5
Holy Family
0-0
56
6
Mesa Ridge
0-0
43
7
D’Evelyn
0-0
41
8
Thomas Jefferson
0-0
29
9
Mullen
0-0
19
10
Sierra
0-0
16
Others receiving votes:
Discovery Canyon 14, Golden 14, Widefield 14, Centaurus 12, Greeley Central 12, Berthoud 11, Geogre Washington 4, Green Mountain 1, Mead 1, Pueblo County 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
St. Mary’s (5)
0-0
94
2
Colorado Springs Christian (4)
0-0
89
3
University
0-0
42
4
Pagosa Springs
0-0
41
5
Moffat County
0-0
37
6
Lutheran
0-0
34
7
Centauri
0-0
31
8
Lamar
0-0
29
9
Kent Denver (1)
0-0
27
10
Resurrection Christian
0-0
25
Others receiving votes:
Salida 17, Delta 14, Sterling 14, Eaton 12, Cedaredge 11, Colorado Academy 10, Faith Christian 9, Machebeuf 8, Alamosa 3, Peak to Peak 2, Jefferson Academy 1.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Yuma (9)
0-0
90
2
Limon
0-0
76
3
Wray
0-0
59
4
Del Norte
0-0
52
5
Swink
0-0
43
6
Holyoke
0-0
41
7
Meeker
0-0
34
8
Simla
0-0
21
9
Highland
0-0
16
10
Ignacio
0-0
15
Others receiving votes:
Paonia 13, Rangely 13, Clear Creek 5, Rocky Ford 5, Soroco 5, Sanford 3, Denver Christian 2, Vail Christian 2.
AURORA — The 98th Colorado High School Activities Association fall sport championships begin a three-week close out of state events, with the Class A6, A8, 1A and 2A state football championships on the schedule this weekend, along with the 3A, 4A and 5A semifinal games.
Class 3A, 4A and 5A state football championships will take place Saturday December 1. The State Spirit Championships will close out the fall championships on December 7-8 at the Denver Coliseum.
All state championship games are available on the NFHS Network. The Class 5A semifinals games are also slated to be aired on the NFHS Network. Catch all results, and complete coverage of every game, at CHSAANow.com.
The Class A6 championship game between Stratton/Liberty and Kit Carson will be held at Stratton High School (219 Illinois Ave, Stratton, Colorado) on Saturday, November 24th at 1:00 pm.
The Class A8 Championship game between Sedgwick County and Hoehne will be held at Julesburg High School (102 W 6th St, Julesburg, CO 80737) on Saturday, November 24th at 1:00 pm.
The Class 1A Championship game between Strasburg and Limon will be held at Strasburg High School (56729 E. Colorado Ave. Strasburg, Colorado) on Saturday, November 24th at 1:00 pm.
The Class 2A Championship game between La Junta and Platte Valley will be held at Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl at CSU-Pueblo (Troy Ave, Pueblo, CO 81001) on Saturday, November 24th at 1:00 p.m.
