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Tim Yount of On The Mat provides weekly wrestling rankings for teams and individuals in all weight classes. To see individual rankings, you can subscribe to On The Mat’s full rankings.
To subscribe via PayPal, choose your subscription option on this page click on the corresponding PayPal button. To subscribe by mail or fax and pay by personal check, click here for a printable subscription form. Email Tim Yount at tim@onthematrankings.com with questions.
To purchase individual weeks of the rankings (as opposed to the entire season), you will need to use the printable subscription form and pay by check. The season ranking subscriptions are offered at a discounted rate.
Zane Rankin makes watching football fun. The Lamar quarterback was one of the most highlight worthy players on the field during the weekend in which all seven state football championship games were contested at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl at CSU-Pueblo.
This season, he has shown to be a special player in all of Class 2A. His ability to improvise and somehow come away with a positive result led Lamar to the 2A state championship game. It had been 57 years since Lamar had last played for a football tile.
And Rankin was a big part of the reason they played for the title and even had a shot at winning it. For that effort, he was named the 2A player of the year.
More of a gunslinger than a traditional quarterback, Rankin’s biggest strength is ability to escape bad situations, even if it gives the Lamar coaching staff a scare in the process.
“There have been a lot of times where I’ll snap the ball and run to one side of the field and turn backwards and run 10 more yards to the other side of the field and throw the ball away or finally get up field,” Rankin said. “You can just tell all those guys are over there holding their breath, hoping I don’t get hit for a 20-yard loss.”
The crazy thing is that even if that were to happen, Rankin might be one of the most mentally tough players in the entire state, regardless of classification.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
That was evident all the way back in a Week 1 win over Elizabeth. Rankin didn’t overly thrive in the passing game, going just 8-for-17 for 164 yards and a touchdown. He also threw three interceptions.
But at no point did he seem phased. He broke the huddle with the same energy all night and fully expected to deliver a positive result on each snap that he took.
“He has a true gunslinger mentality when you think about NFL quarterbacks and quarterbacks that just go out there and live in the moment,” coach Jason Tice said. “They don’t dwell in the past. They just focus on making a big play on the next play.”
He battles. It’s something that’s ingrained in him and it’s not exclusive to football. Rankin claimed the 3A 132-pound wrestling state title in 2018 and 2019 and when football season began this year, he began playing both sides of the ball.
“That was the first time in his career he had to play full-time both ways and a lot of special teams,” Tice said. “The physical exhaustion that he and some of his teammates would experience, I think being a quarterback and being that exhausted was a big challenge for him. But he’s been there before.”
Just being there before isn’t enough. His whole style of competition is about having been there and learning to turn adversity into success when things aren’t going his way.
“Things aren’t always going to go your way,” Rankin said. “There’s always going to be that adversity and it’s how you choose to handle that adversity and what you do with that whether you break down and quit or keep going. That’s something I’ve always tried to do.”
He tries on a single football play, through the course of a full game or wrestling match, or just in life as he and his friends have tried to navigate the trickiness of a COVID-19 fueled year. It’s how he got Lamar into the state title game and it’s how he’ll attack the rest of his life from here on out. And it’s going to be a fun ride.
The 2020 all-state football teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches across the state.
Players were placed onto the first-team, second-team and honorable mention based upon the number of votes they received. In 5A-1A, spots were reserved for linemen and one kicker/punter, while 8-man reserved spots for linemen.
CHSAA does not determine who makes or doesn’t make the team; they are created from the results of the coaches’ vote.
Because there will be two football seasons during the 2020-21 school year, this is the all-state football team for Season A. There will be a separate all-state football team released for Season C.
PUEBLO — For the entire first half, it felt like both Eaton and Lamar just needed a big play to solidify control of the Class 2A football championship game.
Nothing came in the first 24 minutes, but Eaton’s Ryan Dircksen opted for two massive plays in the third quarter that quickly gave the Reds control and an eventual 28-21 win to give the team its second-ever state football title.
Dircksen blocked a punt setting up Tanner True’s one-yard score and on the next possession nearly sacked Lamar quarterback Zane Rankin in the end zone for a safety. He settled for an intentional grounding call, forcing Lamar to punt the ball from its own one. That play was rewarded later when Juan Maravilla scored from five yards out, his second touchdown of the game.
“That’s how we do it,” Dircksen said. “There are ups and downs all over the place and it’s just about if (the offensive) guys want it or not. We just had to ask what they wanted and that’s what they got.”
Surrendering 21 points doesn’t exactly scream defensive lockdown, but there is no doubt that Eaton doesn’t have a state championship without big plays on the defensive end. The Reds (4-2 overall) kept Rankin contained to just 28 rushing yards and 70 passing yards in the first half.
Eaton was on the board thanks to a Maravilla six-yard touchdown run. But that was the lone score of the first half and Eaton knew that eventually, Rankin would find a way to make his big plays.
“We were up, barely,” True, the game’s Most Outstanding Player, said. “But it was like that last week and we had some tough plays right before half, we were getting down a bit but we just had to stay positive.”
Maravilla’s 68 rushing yards and rushing touchdown for the Reds helped set the early tone. That tone carried over in the second half as he rode the emotional momentum that the defense established.
“Honestly we didn’t make any major adjustments,” Eaton coach Zac Lemon said. “We knew coming into this we just had to do what we do. We weren’t going to do anything crazy or try anything different.”
Lamar (7-2) got on the board with 1:36 left in the third as Rankin finally found space and broke for a 29-yard touchdown run.
That seemed to free up Lamar a bit. The next drive, Rankin found Greyden Martinez for a 71-yard touchdown pass to make it a 21-14 game. Blake Buxton then ripped the ball loose from Maravilla on the first play of the next drive, to get the ball back with a chance to tie the game.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous,” Lemon said.
But the defense again showed up in a big way.
Brogan Barr ended any hopes Lamar had of pulling even as he picked off Rankin on a long 3rd down play and returned it for a touchdown to once again give the Reds a comfortable lead.
Rankin added another touchdown pass, this time finding Buxton from 32 yards out, once again getting Lamar within a score. Eaton’s final offensive drive stalled at midfield, giving Lamar one last chance to either extend the game or get a chance to get the win.
But the game was clinched thanks to a familiar theme. Morgan Tribbett sacked Rankin and knocked the ball loose. Dircksen jumped on top of the ball and held on to it the same way he and his teammates held on to the state championship trophy just a few minutes later.
At first glance, the Class 2A football championship game between No. 5 Eaton and No. 7 Lamar is an unexpected matchup.
At least to those who have never seen the teams play. Those that have will certainly argue that the potential for each squad to advance to the finals was thriving since Week 1 of the football season. And even all the way through the playoffs.
For Lamar (7-1 overall), the success of the season almost felt as if it would go the way of a broken down play when Zane Rankin is handling the ball. There could be cause for concern at any moment and even a scare where things look they’re going off the rails. But the result somehow ends up positive.
Rankin has been the unquestioned heart of the offense all season and has battled through even the toughest of times. He tossed three interceptions in a game twice, once in a win over Elizabeth and once in Lamar’s loss to Pagosa Springs, its only loss of the season.
But he’s also thrown for five touchdowns in a game when Lamar beat Trinidad. He also had three 100-yard rushing performances through the course of the year.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
He hasn’t been alone as both Damian Ramos and Jesus Reyes have also been essential to the team’s success, even when things looked at times like they weren’t going according to plan.
“How you overcome adversity, that’s what this team is all about,” Rankin said early in the season. “We can battle through adversity and push through, that’s why this team is so good.”
To claim a state title, Lamar will have to beat another good team and a team that did what not a lot of people thought could be done.
Eaton was never scared of Resurrection Christian despite the fact that the Cougars defense hadn’t surrendered a point in the regular season. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around in the semifinal clash, Eaton had scored 27.
While Ethan Florez had been the standout back for Eaton during the course of the regular season, it was Juan Maravilla stepping up against Rez. He rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown in the win. Short yardage situations were also beneficial considering that quarterback Scott Grable could hand the ball to a tank in Tanner True. True scored two touchdowns on Saturday to help Eaton punch its ticket to championship weekend.
“The look on the players’ faces, it’s classic. It just brings tears to your eyes. Excited for them, that their hard work is playing off. You just love to see that look on their faces,” Eaton coach Zac Lemon told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show on Saturday.
Eaton’s last state championship came in 2000 when the team beat Roosevelt 21-7 to capture the 2A crown. It’s been a bit longer for Eaton’s opponent. Lamar’s last football title came when it beat Delta for the AA title back in 1961. It last played in the title game in 1963 leaving the program with a prolonged absence when it comes to football success. And absence that the players hope will be erased come Friday.
It was semifinal Saturday as all seven classes were in action. That means that each championship matchup has been set up ahead of next week’s Championship Weekend at CSU Pueblo.
Cherry Creek scored on a Hail Mary as the first half ended to turn a one-score game to a 21-7 advantage, and the Bruins’ offense kept it up in the second half as they advanced to a third-straight title game.
Julian Hammond III threw two touchdowns, and star defensive back/offensive threat Myles Purchase had three touchdowns. Cherry Creek’s Gunnar Helm and Chase Penry each had receiving scores.
Cherry Creek, the defending champions, will be making its 19th appearance in a state title game, and third straight.
Already up 14-0 after the first quarter, Valor Christian exploded for 31 second-quarter points as the Eagles advanced to the program’s 10th state title game.
Valor score two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, including one from Jordan Norwood, and then their special teams (blocked punt return from Mitchell Bigelow) and defense (Luke Meyer’s 17-yard fumble return) added two more scores early in the second.
Jackson Zimmermann added a receiving score, and Gabe Sawchuk scored on the ground.
Valor Christian is 8-1-0 in its previous trips to a championship game.
Loveland scored all of its points in the first half, and its defense held firm to secure a second championship game appearance in three years.
Tyson Williams had a 12-yard rushing touchdown which opened the scoring in the first quarter. After Dakota Ridge took a 7-6 lead, Loveland’s Garrett Harstad scored from 3 yards out.
Then, in the second quarter, Zack Rakowsky broke off a 73-yard rushing score for Loveland.
Loveland moves on to make its 15th championship game appearance.
A tight game through the first two quarters, Roosevelt’s Brig Hartson scored from 6 yards out in the final minute of the first half to put his team up 21-13.
Pueblo South’s Jace Bellah scored in the third quarter to cut it to 21-19, but Roosevelt close the game with 28 unanswered points.
This will be Roosevelt’s third championship game appearance, and first since 2015.
Durango built a 21-0 halftime lead, one it extended to 28-0 early in the third quarter as the Demons flexed their muscle in the win.
“The kids just executed our game plan perfectly,” Durango coach David Vogt told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “Our offense just really was rolling.”
Jordan Woolverton led the way for Durango with two rushing touchdowns, a passing score, and an interception on defense. Gage Mestas had two touchdowns: one receiving, and one rushing. Ben Finneseth also added a 40-yard rushing touchdown.
It is Durango’s first appearance in a championship game since 1988, and fourth overall. They are 0-3-1 all-time in title games.
“Every year, that’s our goal: To make it to the state championship,” Vogt said. “To accomplish that, it’s great for everybody who has ever been in the program. Everybody is so happy for the program, and the town is just elated, too.”
This will be Eaton’s first appearance in a state championship game since 2003, and the program’s eighth overall. Eaton has won one championship before, in 2000.
“The look on the players’ faces, it’s classic. It just brings tears to your eyes. Excited for them, that their hard work is playing off. You just love to see that look on their faces,” Eaton coach Zac Lemon told the Scoreboard Show.
Eaton led 14-7 at the half, and pushed their lead to 27-7 in the fourth quarter.
“We knew it was going to be a battle in the trenches. It wasn’t easy, but our guys battled,” Lemon said. “We did a little ‘bend, but don’t break.’ Guys played selfless, and excellent.”
Lamar’s lone score came less than a minute into the second quarter, when Zane Rankin hit Blake Buxton for a 38-yard touchdown. A Luis DeLaTorre extra point immediately after ultimately proved to be the difference in this game.
“Zane put it right on him for the touchdown,” Lamar coach Jason Tice told the Scoreboard Show.
The lead held through halftime and into the third quarter when Delta’s Nathan Scharnhorst scored from 6 yards out with 8 minutes remaining in the quarter. The extra point attempt, though, was not good.
“Our defense stood tall,” Tice said. “The defense really did a nice job today.”
Lamar will head to a title game for the first time since 1963.
“We’ve got great kids. This senior class is remarkable. It’s one of the best senior classes I’ve ever been a part of,” Tice said. “These guys just go out there and they play for one another. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”
The Badgers, two-time defending champions, are headed back to the title game.
Tied at halftime, Limon took a 14-7 lead with three minutes to play in the third following a long drive.
“Our kids did a really nice job,” Limon coach Mike O’Dwyer told the Scoreboard Show. “We had talked all week that this game was going to be 3 and 4 and 5 yards, and the team that can sustain that drive and not make mistakes and turn the ball over would win. I really thought our kids did a nice job. We ate up about 8 and a half minutes.”
The Badgers added a field goal early in the fourth to go ahead 17-7.
“To make it a two-score game, you felt a little bit more comfortable,” O’Dwyer said.
Wray cut the lead to 17-14 three minutes later, but Limon sealed the game with a touchdown pass with two minutes remaining.
“It was a great team effort on the defensive side,” O’Dwyer said.
Limon has the most championships of any program in the state, with 19. They have been to a title game 27 times before, also the most in the state.
For the fifth-straight year, Strasburg will head to the championship game. The squad has played Limon each of the past two seasons.
Down 14-0 in the first half, and 14-6 at halftime, Strasburg got a rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion midway through the third quarter to tie things at 14-14. Then, with five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, another rushing score gave Strasburg a 21-14 lead.
“When we got down 14-0, nothing was working for us offensively. Centauri came out and they were flying around the football,” Strasburg coach Brian Brown told the Scoreboard Show. “We told the boys, ‘We’re not used to this, but we got to keep our composure.’ Our boys, they never seem too worried about what the score is. They just know that if they keep doing the things they do best, good things will happen.”
They then sealed the game with a pick-6 with three minutes to play.
Strasburg will be making its seventh appearance in a championship game.
The Cougars have advanced to their sixth-straight state title game, and are looking to become just the second program to ever win six consecutive championships. Only Limon has done it before, from 1963-68.
“I think later on down the road, we’ll be able to look back and realize what had happened. Right now, we’re just a one-day-at-a-time team, just like everybody else,” Sedgwick County coach Chris Michel told the Scoreboard Show.
Sedgwick County scored four times on the ground, once through the air, and also had a 64-yard punt return for a score. The Cougars led 40-6 at halftime.
“We do a really good job, when we get some momentum, of capitalizing on that,” Michel said.
•••
(2) Sanford 16, (6) Merino 14
This marks the first time in program history that Sanford will play for a state football championship.
“Beyond excited,” Sanford coach Joe Cary told the Scoreboard Show. “We’re extremely excited to be able to go and do this.”
Sanford trailed 14-8 at halftime in a physical game. They went ahead 16-14 in the fourth quarter on a speed-option play.
“The kids never dropped their heads,” Cary said. “Never once did they let the doubt creep in. They just fought and fought.”
It was a shootout back-and-forth kind of game between the two teams that saw a number of lead changes.
Granada led 46-38 in the fourth quarter, but a long touchdown run cut it to 46-44 for Fleming. The Wildcats then took the lead for good on an 8-yard pass.
“It was a great game,” Fleming coach John King told the Scoreboard Show.
Fleming, the defending champion, will head back to the championship game for a second year in a row, and for the seventh time in program history.
“I’m sure it’s going to be one heck of a test for us again,” King said.
•••
(2) Stratton/Liberty 36, (3) Cheyenne Wells 15
It’ll be a fourth-straight title game appearance for the Knighted Eagles, and a rematch of last year’s title game, won by Fleming.
Against Cheyenne Wells, Stratton/Liberty trailed 15-14 at halftime. They closed with 22 unanswered points.
“I thought we just played harder, with more heart, and more urgency, in the second half,” Stratton/Liberty Toby Kechter told the Scoreboard Show. “The second half, we just ran right at them and we finally found some holes.”
This will be Stratton/Liberty’s 15th championship game in program history.
“We’re excited. You take away our best player Week 2, and our kids really stepped up,” Kechter said. “They played with a lot of heart and desire and want-to.”
