Saturday, the league rivals will meet once again, but unlike last season, this game is not the end of the road for both teams. The winner advances to the state title game on Dec. 5 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The loser can only watch as a spectator, either in the stands or on the Altitude television network.
One must survive to advance.
“Our mindset is no different,” Valor coach Rod Sherman said. “Every week is a new challenge and a new opportunity. It’s another chance to go play and showcase the skills that have been given to you.”
The Eagles (10-2 overall, 5-0 5A Centennial) beat Cherry Creek 10-0 on Oct. 23, their first win over the Bruins (10-2, 3-2) in program history.
In order to keep that same result from happening again, Bruins coach Dave Logan knows his offense has make plays when possible and get on the scoreboard.
“We’re going to try and score; that would be different,” Logan said. “(Valor is) a really talented team on both sides of the ball. They’re well schooled, they’ve played in big games, so we have to play a game where we limit our mistakes and we have to have ball security.
It comes down to what it usually does, when there are plays available to be made, we have to make plays.”
Cherry Creek’s best opportunity to put points on the board came when they drove down inside the Valor four-yard line. But the Eagles’ defense held and when Curtis Appleton got the ball on 4th-and-goal at the 2, the Eagles swarmed him and prevented him from getting into the end zone. In a game in which only one touchdown was scored, failing to convert proved to be costly for the Bruins.
It was late in the game that Dylan McCaffrey found Ben Waters for a 97-yard touchdown pass, putting the game out of reach in favor of Valor.
“They’re a multiple-formation and multiple-personnel team,” Logan said. “It requires constant communication defensively in terms of who’s in the game and what set they’re in. They give us more sets, honestly, than the rest of the teams that we play combined.”
Sherman and his guys won’t be lacking in the preparation aspect of the game either. While they still have the game tape from they Oct. 23 showdown, Sherman has spent a lot of time trying to study what the Bruins do against other teams, hoping he can be as prepared as possible.
After all, a shot at the state championship is on the line.
“They’ve played a couple of good teams, Jordan from Utah, Grandview,” Sherman said. “So we try to be pretty thorough. I think we have 15 games that are in our scouting plan.”
Pomona and Columbine play in the 5A semifinals. (Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)
The first matchup between Pomona and Columbine this year was anything but boring. The Rebels came away with the win 42-35 in game that the Panthers easily could have won.
Saturday, they get another chance. With a trip to the 5A state title game on the line, the league rivals will square off once again.
“We saw just about everything from (Pomona) the first time,” Rebels coach Andy Lowry said. “Both teams played tough and Mikey Griebel just ended up picking off a pass and we ended up scoring on it. That was the first time either of us held the other (on defense).”
With only seven points the difference in the final score, Pomona came closer than any team to beating Columbine this season. The Rebels finished the year as the No. 1 team in the CHSAANow.com rankings.
With the close win along with storming through the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Panthers still believe they can be the first team to knock off Columbine this year.
“We just have to take care of every little detail because if you make a mistake, they’ll make you pay for it,” Panthers coach Jay Madden said. “Obviously they did that last time.”
But the key to victory is slowing down Griebel. The junior back has amassed 1,801 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone 15 times this season.
In the first game agains the Panthers, Griebel ran for 225 and three touchdowns. Every touchdown run went for longer than 40 yards.
“It starts up front with the offensive line,” Lowry said. “That’s the key for both teams. We go as far as our linemen take us.”
The Panthers are certainly not lacking in the trenches. Left tackle Jake Morietti has committed to Ohio State and he and the rest of the line have helped running back Cameron Gonzales run for over 112 yards a game. Gonzales has also scored 27 touchdowns this year.
“Cam’s done a great job and we also have Max Borghi who has the exact same amount of yards from scrimmage,” Madden said. “We’re a little more balanced so hopefully we can keep them off balance a little bit.”
The next step for Loveland’s Cinderella run through the 4A playoffs is getting through two-time defending state champion Pine Creek.
That will be no easy task as the Eagles are outscoring their opponents 80-16 this postseason. The Indians will need a big game from their senior combination of quarterback Ayden Eberhardt and running back Charles Dunkelman. The duo combine for 183 yards per game and their production will be essential in keeping the Eagles’ offense off the field.
For Pine Creek, Brock Domann looks to send big brother JoJo off to Nebraska with another state title.
In what is easily the most anticipated rematch in 4A, Windsor travels to Longmont with the winner advancing to the title game at Sports Authority Field.
A Hail Mary pass, followed by a two-point conversion, gave the Trojans an 8-7 win over the Wizards, solidifying Longmont’s spot as the No. 2 team in the class.
Longmont’s offense has been cruising this postseason as the Trojans scored 58 points against Pueblo South in the first round and 48 against Denver South in the second round.
The Wizards a tougher road to the semifinals as it took overtime for them to beat Palmer Ridge and advance.
Kick off for Windsor and Longmont is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Longmont High School.
[divider]
Class 3A semifinals
(4) Fort Morgan at (1) Pueblo East
To be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man. That’s exactly what For Morgan is looking to do as they travel to Dutch Clark Stadium Saturday with hopes of advancing to the 3A title game.
Fort Morgan is the only remaining unbeaten team in 3A. The Mustangs have a great chance to show they belong with the top teams as they draw the defending 3A champs in the Eagles.
Led by Bryson Torres and Daniel Martin, the Eagles have firmly sat atop the 3A rankings all season and have no desire to give up the top spot now.
But the Eagles’ offense will have to be on point. The Mustangs haven’t surrendered more than 14 points in any game this year.
Kick off at Dutch Clark will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
(3) Delta at (2) Roosevelt
While Roosevelt isn’t technically unbeaten, the lone blemish on its record came from Windsor, a 4A semifinalist.
Beyond that, the Roughriders have played very good football in 2015. They topped Holy Family 64-63 during a stretch in which Chris Helbig was setting state passing records ablaze.
Delta was no slouch either as they had to face The Classical Academy early in the regular season before having to face them once again in the playoffs. The Panthers are getting 145 rushing yards per game from Jonny Ponce which they will need to control the clock and keep the Roosevelt offense off the field.
The Roughriders are scoring 45 points per game in the playoffs.
Delta and Roosevelt kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday.
[divider]
Class 2A championship
(1) Bayfield at (3) Platte Valley
The only thing that is a certainty in the 2A title game is that neither team will be a repeat champion. Bayfield dispatched dispatched defending 2A champion Brush in the second round of the tournament and will look to complete a state title run on Saturday.
But to do so, they’ll have to get through Platte Valley. Like in 2014, the Broncos met Kent Denver in the semifinals, but this time they were able to get the win to advance to the title game.
Hayfield looked impressive in their semifinal game against La Junta, putting up 47 points against a defense that had only allowed 63 points all season.
In a rematch of last year’s 1A title game, the Demons hope they can overcome Paonia at home. The Eagles are winners of the last two 1A titles.
The Demons have not won a state championship since dropping down to 1A, but did win a 2A title back in 1999. Both teams rely heavily on a running attack, but it’s the Eagles who have put up better numbers.
They lead all of 1A with 3,905 yards on the ground.
Sedgwick County didn’t make it out of the first round of last year’s playoffs. Akron made it to the second round before their season ended.
Saturday, one of them will be 8-man state champion.
Junior quarterback Trey Walter leads a juggernaut of an offense for the Cougars. He’s found the end zone 12 times on the ground while throwing for 24 more. He’s flanked by senior running back Cole McKinley who has run for 1,326 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns on his own.
The Rams counter the Walter/McKinley combination with three 1,000-yard rushers in Darrion Gibbs, Austin Couch and Levi Basler.
Video courtesy of Quentin Sickafoose/The Coloradoan
(3) Windsor 20, (11) Palmer Ridge 14 (OT)
For much of the afternoon, Palmer Ridge looked like it might pull off the upset. But Windsor quarterback Brad Peeples had a 52-yard run in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
“After last year’s second-round loss, I told the boys, ‘The sun will come up tomorrow,’” Windsor coach Chris Jones told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show after the game. “And today’s speech was, ‘The sun came up. It’s tomorrow. It’s our moment.’ They just had faith that they were going to get it done no matter what.”
After Shields scored, “It was a great moment of euphoria for all of our fans, our players, our coaches,” Jones said.
Palmer Ridge led 14-7 at halftime, and it stayed that way until Peeples’ touchdown.
“We had a lot of ups and downs to overcome early in the game and in the third quarter,” Jones said. “It was a very gut-wrenching game there at the end there.”
The Wizards get a rematch with Longmont. The two teams played a tight defensive battle during the regular season, which ended in a Hail Mary score to give Longmont a win.
Longmont beat Denver South. More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Longmont’s Conlan Berger rushed for two touchdowns and also had a receiving score, while Eli Sullivan returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and also added a four-yard rushing score.
In addition, Ethan Gabrielle had a rushing TD, and David Speidel threw a touchdown.
Pine Creek cruised to its 37th-straight win, this one coming after yet another fast start. It was 36-0 at halftime.
Brock Domann passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, while his brother JoJo had a rushing TD, and was on the receiving end of one of the passing score.
Joey Long scores two rushing touchdowns, and Kacin Nowlin had a receiving touchdown.
“We just didn’t give up the big plays,” Fort Morgan coach Harrison Chisum told the Scoreboard Show. “We were able to be aggressive yet disciplined on their counters. A lot of the end-arounds, we were able to set the edge.”
The Mustangs will play at defending champion Pueblo East in the semifinals.
Roosevelt advanced to the semifinals. More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
(2) Roosevelt 42, (7) Evergreen 19
Roosevelt built a big lead early in cruising to the semifinals. The Roughriders led 14-0 after the first quarter and 28-6 at half. It was 42-6 after three.
Carlos Ortega had two rushing touchdowns, and a receiving score for Roosevelt. Cameron Hurtado added two passing touchdowns, and also rushed for one.
“Our guys showed up to play today, and I think the scoreboard shows it,” Roosevely coach Noland Eastin told the Scoreboard Show. “It doesn’t get any easier, but it’s a good way to end a good week of practice.”
Roosevelt will face Delta in the semifinals at home.
The game was a rematch of a regular season game, also won by Pueblo East.
Pueblo East will be home in the semifinals.
(3) Delta 27, (6) The Classical Academy 14
Delta trailed 14-13 at halftime, but rallied to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Kole Roberts gave his team the lead for good with a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and then the quarterback found Tristan Brown for an insurance score in the fourth quarter.
“We knew that it was going to be a battle. It was 13-7 at the half. So we knew they were a tough team, that we just had to put our hats on,” coach Gary Heide told the Scoreboard Show.
Of the second half, Heide said, “We came out on defense, played well … and then we drove the ball down and scored. … When we scored, I knew that we were here to play the second half.”
Kelton McCoy threw four touchdowns and rushed for two more in leading Bayfield to the win. Brody McGhehey was on the receiving end of two of those scores.
Wyatt Freier and Taed Heydinger each had a receiving touchdown, while Zane Phelps scored on the ground.
Bayfield was last in a championship game in 2011, when it lost to Florence.
(3) Platte Valley 29, (2) Kent Denver 23
Platte Valley, down 17-0 in the second quarter and 23-7 at halftime, had a furious rally to reach the title game.
The Eagles rallied late to earn a chance at defending their championship yet again.
Paonia, which is a two-time defending champion, got a touchdown from Jeremiah Hillman with 3:06 to play, then got a late interception to seal the win.
“It was third down, and we just ran a little off-tackle play, and Jeremiah Hillman just buried it in,” Paonia coach Brent McRae told the Scoreboard Show.
The win sets up a rematch with Buena Vista for the 1A title. The championship game will be in Buena Vista.
“We’re pretty familiar with each other in the postseason,” McRae said. “It’s going to be very interesting, a very competitive ballgame.”
(1) Buena Vista 42, (5) Crowley County 0
The top seed rolled into the championship game, which it will host next weekend.
“The score doesn’t do the game justice. It was a pretty hard-fought battle. It was 14-0 at half,” Buena Vista coach Matt Flavin told the Scoreboard Show. “But we got the win, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Keenan Barr had two rushing touchdowns and a defensive score, and Keegan Wentz also scored twice on the ground.
Of the rematch with Paonia, Flavin said, “Those guys, the last few years, have just been the dominant team. … I hope we can rise to that occasion.”
(1) Sedgwick County 50, (4) Sargent 8
The Cougars led 20-0 after the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime in rolling to the championship game.
“We got a couple of quick scores, and that always helps,” Sedgwick County coach Chris Michel told the Scoreboard Show.
This marks the first appearance in a title game for the Sedgwick County football co-op, which is comprised of Julesburg and Revere. Julesburg has won four titles in school history, and Revere has won nine. That program was last in a title game in 2004, when it lost to Hi-Plains for the 6-man championship.
“The boys are excited, the community is excited,” Michel said. “It should be a fun week.”
The championship against Akron will be a rematch of a 22-3 Sedgwick County win on Oct. 30.
“They say it’s always hard to beat a good team twice, and Akron’s a very good program,” Michel said. “They’ve got a good defense. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
(3) Akron 16, (2) Norwood 0
Akron’s defense pitched a shutout as the Rams advanced to a title game for the first time since 2009. That was the last appearance in a stretch of five-straight for the program.
“Our kids just showed up to play today and did a really good job,” Akron coach Jerome Weers told the Scoreboard Show. “Our kids definitely have a very good defensive mindset, and they like playing it. They’re going to have to play good next week against SedgCo.”
LOVELAND — To say the Loveland Indians have confidence is an understatement.
After starting the season with a 2-4 record, Loveland (7-5) continued its incredible turnaround with a 49-21 drubbing of fifth-seeded Durango (10-2) in the Class 4A quarterfinals on Saturday at Ray Patterson Stadium in Loveland. They will host Pine Creek (12-0), the two-time defending 4A state champions, in the semifinals next Saturday at 1 p.m.
One week after going down to Colorado Springs and running over the fourth-seeded Vista Ridge Wolves 30-14 in the first round of the playoffs, the 13th-seeded Indians once again played with a swagger that 5-5 regular season teams don’t typically possess.
Loveland feels the postseason, in a lot of ways, started back when they were 3-5 with Adams City and Greeley West left on the schedule.
“I think we gelled as a team toward the middle of the season,” Loveland coach Wayne McGinn said. “We had to win the last two games to have a chance at getting into the playoffs, and we did that. We basically are two games ahead of everybody else in playoff experience. That’s the way I look at it.”
Loveland trounced Adams City 49-15. Then, after going down 14-7 at the half at Greeley West in a win-and-you’re-in playoff situation, the Indians overcame the Spartans 29-21 to seal a postseason spot. Now, Loveland is competing with a nothing to lose attitude.
“They play their hearts out,” McGinn said. “We’re one family and we’re playing like one family right now.”
After a defensive smothering of Vista Ridge in a game in which Loveland held the Wolves to zero points through three quarters, the Indians’ triumph over Durango was more about offense—as in offensive fireworks.
On Saturday, the Indians took a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game as 225-pound bruising back Charles Dunkelman plunged in from four yards out. Loveland then used some trickery for their next touchdown. After a 48-yard run by senior quarterback Ayden Eberhardt to the Durango 32 yard line, the Indians faced a 4th and 11 situation from the 31.
Eberhardt dropped back, threw a lateral to wide receiver Aidan McQuade, who then tossed to a wide open Ryan Svendsen for a touchdown. The play pushed Loveland’s lead to 14-0 with 9:10 to go in the first half.
Here and there, Durango answered back. Gavin Mestas bobbled and then caught a 6-yard touchdown from Terrence Trujillo to pull within 14-7, but Eberhardt came back with a 46-yard scamper for the score and LHS had a two-point conversion to go up 22-7.
At the break, it was 28-7 after a 44-yard touchdown catch by the speedy Calvin Kelley.
The highlight-reel plays continued for the Indians in the second half as Eberhardt threw a beautiful 25-yard touchdown to McQuade in the back of the end zone to make it 35-7. Trujillo then ripped off a 72-yard touchdown run, but Eberhardt found Svendsen for a 79-yard rumbling, tumbling touchdown to go up 42-14.
While Durango made some plays throughout, especially while going to the air, Loveland was opportunistic in stopping the Demons on several 4th down attempts. The Indians also intercepted Trujillo, who entered the game with 25 touchdown passes, four times. Svendsen accounted for two, Kaden Morin had one off an athletic tip from McQuade, and then McQuade had one of his own.
Eberhardt, who finished with 169 yards rushing and one touchdown, threw for 199 yards and three scores, as well. He also had a 61 yard punt from the back of the end zone right before halftime. The dual-threat quarterback credited his line for the scoring outburst.
“With all the highlight plays, honestly the line stepped up,” Eberhardt said. “They were working their butts off. They made every play happen. Cohesive offense is what we have right now and that’s awesome to see.”
Loveland will now host Pine Creek, winners of 37 consecutive games and the heaviest of favorites to, once again, claim the state championship. While the LHS players and coaches alike know the enormous challenge of going against the 4A powerhouse, the Indians will enter another week with the confidence that has gotten them to this point.
“All we wanted was a shot at Pine Creek and that’s what we got,” Eberhardt said. “We’re blessed with an opportunity to be able to play them.”
The 2015 all-state softball players of the year. From left: Mountain Range’s Hunter Huser, Valor Christian’s Alexandria Kilponen, and Strasburg’s Annie Oakley. (Photos: Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com; Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com; Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com
The 2015 all-state softball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These team were created following a process where the coaches voted upon a list of nominees. Those nominees included every player who was a first-team all-league selection.
Coaches also voted specifically for player and coach of the year.
Scroll down to see the teams, or use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.
Ralston Valley football beat Arapahoe in the 5A football playoffs on Friday night. More photos. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Trailing at halftime, No. 3 seed Ralston Valley scored the game’s final 21 points to knock off previously unbeaten, and No. 2-seeded, Arapahoe in the second round of the Class 5A football playoffs on Friday night.
Ralston Valley’s defense forced two turnovers to lead to their first 14 points in the second half. The unit shut down Arapahoe’s offense the rest of the way as the Mustangs secured the spot in the quarterfinals.
Arapahoe went up 3-0 with a 35-yard field goal late in the first quarter, but neither team scored again before halftime.
Ralston Valley took a 7-3 lead in the third quarter, one they didn’t give up the rest of the way. Kyle Rush added two scores in the fourth quarter for the Mustangs.
Ralston Valley advances to play Valor Christian in the next round.
[divider]
4A: (13) Loveland 30, (4) Vista Ridge 14
Loveland led 10-0 at half, 17-0 after three and 23-0 late in the fourth quarter in a stunning upset of Vista Ridge in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
Quarterback Ayden Eberhardt passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more in spearheading the upset for Loveland, a No. 13 seed. He also kicked a 29-yard field goal to play a role in all 30 points.
This game was actually close early, but Palmer Ridge, the No. 11 seed, scored 20 unanswered points spanning the first and second quarters to break it open.
Palmer Ridge quarterback Isaiah Sanders had four touchdowns, all in the first half.
Jeremy Lujan had three rushing scores for No. 6 Dakota Ridge in the loss.
Palmer Ridge awaits the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 3 Windsor and No. 14 Pueblo Centennial.
[divider]
5A: (1) Cherry Creek 38, (4) Mullen 6
Cherry Creek quarterback Alex Padilla. More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
Cherry Creek scored two touchdowns in the game’s first quarter, including a 60-yard passing score from freshman quarterback Alex Padilla, to take a 14-0 lead. The No. 1-seeded and defending 5A champion Bruins never looked back.
It was 21-0 at halftime, and then 31-0 in the third quarter.
Kory Taylor-Keel, Trey Windham and Ashton Riley each had rushing touchdowns for Cherry Creek.
“Everything really came together tonight as far as the offense and defense is concerned, so it was just a great win,” Padilla told the Union Street Journal, Cherry Creek’s student newspaper, after the game.
Cherry Creek will play the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 6 ThunderRidge and No. 7 Fruita Monument in the quarterfinals.
Discovery Canyon got a crucial pick-6 just before halftime to go up 29-7, then held on for a big win over the Bears in the opening round of the 3A playoffs.
Brandon Storch returned the interception with 21.8 seconds before halftime to extend the lead and bring all the momentum into the break.
Rifle responded and would get to within 29-20 with three minutes to play in the third quarter, but Discovery Canyon put together two quick TD drives to put the game out of reach.
Discovery Canyon will face Pueblo East in the quarterfinals.
[divider]
Notables
Pueblo East, the No. 1 seed and defending champion of 3A, rolled to a 49-10 win over No. 16 Lewis-Palmer. It was 49-0 after three quarters. Bryson Torres had four rushing scores for the Eagles.
5A No. 1 seed Columbine moved to 11-0 with a 48-14 win over No. 4 Heritage.
Regis Jesuit, a No. 2 seed in 5A, beat No. 3 Legacy 34-7. It was 21-0 at half. Regis Jesuit will play Columbine in the quarters.
Hayden Blubaugh had four touchdowns as Grandview, another No. 1 seed in 5A, cruised to a 49-20 win over No. 4 Mountain Vista.
Dylan McCaffrey and Blake Stenstrom each threw two touchdowns in No. 1 seed Valor Christian’s 47-3 win over No. 5 Chaparral. McCaffrey threw for 225 yards, and also rushed for a touchdown. Joshia Davis, a freshman, had 120 yards and a score on the ground for Valor.
Pomona, a No. 2 seed in 5A, easily handled No. 7 Horizon 35-14. The Panthers will play Grandview in the quarterfinals.
Ralston Valley softball is the new No. 1 team in 5A. (Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Ralston Valley is the new No. 1 team in the Class 5A softball rankings this week.
The Mustangs (15-2-0) received five of the 10 first-place votes to take over CHSAANow.com’s poll.
Loveland jumped up to No. 2, and Chaparral also moved up, to No. 3. Mountain Range is fourth, and former No. 1 Legend is fifth.
The 5A ranking added Cherokee Trail (No. 7) and Legacy (No. 9).
Meanwhile, Valor Christian (4A) and Strasburg (3A) both retained their respective No. 1 spots.
The 4A ranking added Windsor (No. 7) and Pueblo West (No. 9).
In 3A, Faith Christian was the lone newcomer at No. 10.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Rock Canyon 14, Liberty 11, Rocky Mountain 11, ThunderRidge 10, Douglas County 7, Prairie View 6, Fossil Ridge 5, Grandview 5, Cherry Creek 4, Chatfield 3, Fort Collins 3, Grand Junction Central 1, Mountain Vista 1.
Dropped out
Douglas County (6), ThunderRidge (7).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Valor Christian (5)
15-1-0
82
1
2-0-0
2
Erie (3)
15-2-0
79
2
3-0-0
3
Frederick
13-3-1
65
3
1-1-0
4
Wheat Ridge (1)
12-5-0
59
4
3-0-0
5
Mountain View
14-3-0
42
5
2-0-0
6
Air Academy
11-3-1
37
6
2-0-0
7
Windsor
11-6-0
23
–
2-0-0
8
John F. Kennedy
16-2-0
20
8
3-0-0
9
Pueblo West
11-4-1
18
–
3-0-0
10
Berthoud
10-7-0
16
7
1-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Elizabeth 13, Discovery Canyon 12, Vista Ridge 8, Pueblo Central 7, Silver Creek 6, Delta 5, Woodland Park 2, Falcon 1.
Valor Christian softball is back to the No. 1 spot in 4A. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Powered by a week in which they went 2-0 and outscored their opponents 29-0, the Valor Christian Eagles have returned to the No. 1 spot in the Class 4A CHSAANow.com softball rankings.
That was the only change at the top of the polls as Legend held strong in 5A and Strasburg remained on top in 3A.
There was a lot of movement in the 5A rankings as Chaparral jumped from No. 7 to No. 4 and Loveland rose from No. 10 to No. 5. Broomfield was the lone newcomer in this week’s poll as they landed at No. 8.
Besides Valor Christian taking over the top spot in 4A, the biggest change of the week was Mountain View jumping from No. 7 to No. 5. There were no new teams to join the 4A rankings this week.
Burlington and Cedaredge jumped into the 3A rankings at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. Eaton picked up some ground as they land at No. 3, up two spots from their ranking last week.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Legend is back on top of the Class 5A softball poll. (Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)
Legend has returned to the top of the CHSAANow.com softball rankings in Class 5A.
Following a 3-2 loss to Loveland, Mountain Range fell out of the top spot in 5A, allowing Legend to move in at No. 1 this week. The win also helped Loveland break into this week’s poll as they come in at No. 10.
Loveland was the only new addition in 5A, but plenty of other moves were made. Ralston Valley jumped from No. 5 to No. 2 on the strength of a 3-0 record from last week. Chaparral also made a significant jump this week going from No. 10 to No. 7.
In 4A, Frederick retained the top spot, and Erie stayed firm at No. 2. Valor Christian comes in at No. 3 and Wheat Ridge at No. 4, with those two teams trading places from last week.
Discovery Canyon (No. 9) and Pueblo Central (No. 10) are the new additions to the 4A poll this week.
Strasburg remains the No. 1 team in 3A after receiving every first-place vote. Brush cracks its way into the rankings at No. 9.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.
Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
