Defending champion Regis Jesuit is on top of the preseason hockey rankings at No. 1.
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.
There was all kinds of playoff football action around the state on Saturday. The end result is that championship matchups are set in three classifications, and semifinals in three others.
The Grizzlies were able to tie the game at 12-12 just before halftime, and went up 14-12 with a two-point conversion attempt. Then, they added another touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter.
“They do some really nice things on defense that gave us some problems, and we finally got some things going and quit having some penalties,” Van Sickle said of turning things around. “The boys just kept plugging away.”
Of advancing to the championship game, the coach added, “It was one of our goals. I thought we had a pretty good group. … I think we’ve earned our shot at Sedgwick next week.
Hudson Grant scored two rushing touchdowns for Pikes Peak Christian.
(1) Sedgwick County 48, (5) Dayspring Christian 0
The four-time defending champs are headed back to a title game thanks to another dominating performance. The Cougars have not allowed a point in their past five games.
“I think our defense played pretty well,” coach Chris Michel told the Scoreboard Show. “We gave up some big plays at time, but really strapped it on when they got on our side of the field.”
Sedgwick County had four rushing touchdowns in the first half as they built at 28-0 lead. They added three more in the second half.
The Cougars are seeking to become the first 8-man team to ever win five state titles in a row.
“We haven’t really talked a whole lot about that throughout the season,” Michel said. “We talk about taking care of stuff day-to-day. We’ll go into it like it’s any other week.”
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Class 1A semifinals
(1) Strasburg 14, (5) Centauri 7
Trystan Graf rushed for two touchdowns — both in the second quarter — as Strasburg reached the 1A title game for the fourth year in a row.
“I tell you what, this game didn’t disappoint. It was a hard-fought win,” Strasburg coach Brian Brown told the Scoreboard Show.
After a scoreless first quarter, Strasburg went up 14-0 at the half. Centauri’s Eric Maez hit Mason Claunch for a 24-yard score with five minutes left, but Strasburg’s defense was able to seal the win.
“We are just such an aggressive group of young men,” Brown said. “Toward the end of the game, they just kind of owned the line of scrimmage.”
Of making a title game for the fourth-consecutive season, Brown said, “Like I tell the boys: I’m just the bus driver, they’re the ones that get on the bus, and they know the path. They just keep forging ahead.”
(3) Limon 15, (2) Holyoke 7
The defending-champion Badgers will return to the championship game after building a 15-0 lead and then relying on its defense to secure the win.
“It was a great football game between two really good teams,” coach Mike O’Dwyer told the Scoreboard Show. “Our kids just stepped up a little bit, especially on the defensive side of the ball.”
Limon went up 15-0 with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Holyoke’s Miles Sprague made it 15-7 with a four-yard rushing touchdown.
Later in the fourth quarter, Holyoke recovered a fumble, and also forced Limon to turn it over on downs, but Limon’s defense didn’t allow another score.
“It was a tremendous effort by our kids,” O’Dwyer said.
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Class 2A semifinals
(4) Delta 17, (9) Basalt 6
Nolan Bynum and Hunter Hughes connected for two touchdown passes to help the Panthers move to a title game.
Delta led 10-0 at the half. Basalt made it 10-6 in the third quarter, but Delta responded with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
“It was a real physical game. They did some really nice things, we were just able to get more points on the board to advance,” coach Ben Johnson told the Scoreboard Show.
“We got after their quarterback really well. I thought the D-line played really well, and we tackled really well.”
It is Delta’s first appearance in a title game since 1961.
“It’s been a while,” Johnson said. “The community’s really excited about it. We had great fan support here in Basalt today. They’re excited about this opportunity for Delta High School.”
(2) Sterling 21, (3) Resurrection Christian 14
Sterling is headed to a championship game for the first time since 2004.
The Tigers trailed 7-0 in the first quarter before reeling off 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to go ahead 21-7.
“It was a lot of fun out there today. It was a great atmosphere,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente told the Scoreboard Show. “It was nip-and-tuck going back and forth between us and them. We made some plays when we had to, and were fortunate to come out with the win.”
Resurrection Christian scored late in the third quarter, but Sterling didn’t allow them to do so again, and secured their spot in next week’s title game with a late interception.
“We got them to fourth down, and Peyton Rose was able to step in front of his guy, and got it back for us,” Busmente said. “It was just one of those things where we tell our kids, ‘If there’s time on the clock, we’ve got to play ball.’”
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Class 3A quarterfinals
(8) Green Mountain 30, (1) Mead 21
In the upset of the day, the Rams built a 17-7 halftime lead, and then answered every rally attempt Mead made in the second half to win.
“It was a heck of a game,” Green Mountain coach Jesse German told the Scoreboard Show. “It’s everything we’ve been preaching along the way. It took us awhile to get to a point where the kids have the unwavering belief … and total buy-in, but this is a special group.”
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Mead cut the lead to 17-14, but Green Mountain responded quickly with a rushing score on the ensuing drive. That made it 23-14.
Mead didn’t go away. The top-seeded Mavericks got a passing touchdown from which made it 23-21 with seven minutes left.
But another rushing touchdown from Green Mountain with three minutes left secured the win.
Frederick’s Jake Green found Blake Duran for a 78-yard touchdown with eight seconds left to lift the Warriors to the win.
“We could’ve taken it to overtime, I guess, but we didn’t want to do that again,” coach Travis Peeples told the Scoreboard Show. “I called timeout with 20 seconds or so left, and we drew up a little play, kind of Sandlot play. The kids wanted to do it, and it worked. It’s really a tribute to how bad they wanted to win this game.”
Green also scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown with three minutes left, and then Frederick converted on a two-point attempt to tie the game at 25. They forced a punt, and got the ball back with less than a minute to play. Then Green hit Duran for the winner.
Green finished with three passing touchdowns — two went to Brandon Horby — and also had a rushing score.
Now Frederick is headed to the semis for just the second time in school history.
“We’re not just trying to get to the semis, we’re trying to get past there,” Peeples said. “I think we’ve got a team that can do that.”
More photos. (Chris Fehrm/Chris Fehrm Photography)
(2) Pueblo South 21, (7) Durango 14
In a close game that mirrored their narrow regular season matchup, the Colts scored a late touchdown to advance.
“It was another wild game,” Pueblo South coach Ryan Goddard told the Scoreboard Show. “Two good teams going at it. I’m just proud of our kids and the way they played.”
The game always within a score for one team. Durango led 7-0 with a touchdown in the first quarter, and then South tied it up immediately with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Then, Durango went up 14-7 late in the first quarter, and South tied it at 14 with 34 seconds left in the half.
The Colts got the winning score on a 3-yard run from quarterback Logan Petit with 1:11 to play.
“Credit to our defense, because all afternoon they just came up with huge stops when we needed them the most,” Goddard said.
BROOMFIELD — Caden Peters hadn’t forgot the team that eliminated Broomfield from the Class 4A football state playoffs a year ago.
“They beat us last year, so we came out for revenge,” Peters said after the Eagles took a 27-3 victory over Chatfield on Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium. “We wanted them bad. For the seniors, this was our last game on our home field and we put everything we had on the field today and it paid off.”
Broomfield’s defense continued its incredible run. The Eagles have gone six straight games holding opponents to single-digit points after Broomfield’s 27-3 victory over Chatfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Chatfield upset Broomfield 10-7 last season in a first-round playoff game on the Eagles’ home field. There would be no repeat upset for the No. 7-seeded Chargers against the No. 2 and undefeated Eagles (12-0 record).
Broomfield got off a rough start offensively fumbling on its first offensive snap, but the Eagles’ ground game went to work after the miscue. Broomfield had back-to-back scoring drive of 11-plays, 76 yards and 9-plays 67 yards to grab a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
While quarterback Zachary Kapushion and senior Trey Ortega finished off the drives with short scoring runs, it was Peters who carried the major of the load on both drives. The senior running back had 13 carries for 89 yards on those two drives alone.
“He (Peters) does such a great job finding those holes, making the cuts and then accelerating through,” Broomfield coach Blair Hubbard said. “He thanks his line every week and is a humble kid. He is grateful for the guys upfront.”
An interception by Broomfield junior Jaden Solano with less than four minutes to play before halftime helped set up Peters get into the end zone for the first of two scores for one of the top rushers in the state.
Chatfield senior Malcolm Boyd (3) breaks into the open during the first quarter Saturday against Broomfield. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Peters capped off a 12-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left in the first half. Chatfield did work its way into field-goal position to close out the half. Senior Andrew Lazarus booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, but it would be the only score for Chatfield (9-3).
“That is the best team we’ve seen this year,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin simply stated. “They hit hard. Control the line of scrimmage on both sides. They took us out of things we wanted to do and then you have to do things you don’t want to do.”
McGatlin did come out aggressive in the second half. The Chargers successfully recovered an on-side kick, but junior quarterback Ethan Delfino was picked off on the following play by Broomfield senior Aedan Collins.
“That was tough,” McGatlin said of the interception. “You go down and score there they you get some confidence. We never really got that going.”
Broomfield’s ground game went back to work following the turnover. The Eagles went on a 7-minute, 16-play drive that covered 77 yards and concluded with another short touchdown run by Peters for what would be the final score of the game.
Chatfield junior quarterback Ethan Delfino (12) gets off a pass during the Class 4A state quarterfinal game Saturday at Broomfield High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
It was the 20th touchdown run for Peters who is well over the 2,000-yard mark on the ground heading into next week’s state semifinal against No. 6 Dakota Ridge.
“Both lines played really well today,” Hubbard said of the Eagles’ big guys up front. “Our offensive line really got after it this week. We are surviving and advancing onto next week. We are excited about the opportunity.”
Dakota Ridge (10-2) edged Heritage on Friday night 38-34. The 4A state semifinal game will likely be played Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.
“I’m glad I get to play with these guys for another week,” Peters said. “Hopefully two more weeks and go to Mile High.”
The other 4A semifinal will pit No. 5 Pueblo West against No. 1 Pine Creek at 1 p.m. Saturday at District 20 Stadium in Colorado Springs.
Broomfield senior River Juarez (27) attempts to elude a trio of Chatfield defenders during the first half Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium. The Eagles took a 27-3 victory to advance to next week’s Class 4A state semifinals against Dakota Ridge at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
MONTROSE — Pueblo West went on the road and beat Montrose to clinch a spot in the Class 4A football semifinals.
The Cyclones built a 17-0 halftime lead, pushed it to 24-0 in the third, and then held off Montrose as it tried to rally in the second half.
“Montrose is a well-coached football team,” Pueblo West coach Clint Buderus said. “We were able to take advantage of good field position and get an early lead. We knew Montrose would not roll over. They battled back and were able to score a few quick touchdowns. Our defense played great and were able to get some big stops.”
Montrose cut it to 24-19 with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter before Pueblo West answered with a rushing score with four minutes left.
“I’ve never been more proud of our team,” Montrose coach Brett Mertens said. “We were down 24-0 and our kids refused to quit. Montrose football is full of mentally and physically tough kids, and those kids are going to be successful in whatever they do in life. I will miss the senior class, but at the same time I am excited for the years to come. This is a great football community and I am extremely grateful for the support from so many people in this community.”
Matt Rudd had a 52-yard score for Pueblo West, and Chandler Mason threw two touchdowns.
Pueblo West will travel to No. 1 Pine Creek next weekend.
