The No. 1 teams in the preseason girls basketball rankings include: Cherry Creek, Mullen, St. Mary’s, Limon and Kit Carson.
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.
Montrose 30, D’Evelyn 27, Erie 24, Sierra 18, Ponderosa 16, Sand Creek 15, George Washington 12, Longmont 4, Skyline 4, Canon City 2, Roosevelt 2, Skyview 2, Thomas Jefferson 1.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
St. Mary’s (10)
0-0
100
2
Pagosa Springs
0-0
85
3
Delta
0-0
66
4
Lutheran
0-0
64
5
Eaton
0-0
49
6
Centauri
0-0
45
7
Alamosa
0-0
36
8
Platte Valley
0-0
27
9
Colorado Springs Christian
0-0
20
10
University
0-0
17
Others receiving votes:
The Academy 15, Resurrection Christian 7, Cedaredge 5, Faith Christian 3, Manitou Springs 3, Moffat County 3, SkyView Academy 3, Lamar 2, Grand Valley 1.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Limon (8)
0-0
114
2
Sanford
0-0
85
3
Wray (1)
0-0
71
4
Yuma (3)
0-0
65
5
Del Norte
0-0
59
6
Meeker
0-0
51
7
Swink
0-0
45
8
Holyoke
0-0
37
9
Heritage Christian
0-0
29
10
Ignacio
0-0
28
Others receiving votes:
Simla 21, Rye 20, Rocky Ford 12, Dawson 6, Highland 5, Soroco 5, Peyton 4, Center 1, Lyons 1, Sedgwick County 1.
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
1
Kit Carson (7)
0-0
114
2
Briggsdale (2)
0-0
108
3
Fleming (3)
0-0
95
4
South Baca
0-0
81
5
Genoa-Hugo/Karval
0-0
66
6
Sangre de Cristo (1)
0-0
48
7
Springfield
0-0
36
8
Merino
0-0
27
9
Haxtun
0-0
25
10
De Beque
0-0
22
Others receiving votes:
Cotopaxi 19, Elbert 12, Shining Mountain Waldorf 12, Lone Star 10, La Veta 9, Kim/Branson 7, Hanover 6, Wiley 6, Dove Creek 5, McClave 5, Cheraw 1, Idalia 1.
Fruita Monument 29, Golden 20, Hinkley 17, Ponderosa 8, Longmont 6, Wheat Ridge 6, Skyline 5, Vista Ridge 5, Greeley West 3, Monarch 2, Air Academy 1, Mesa Ridge 1, Windsor 1.
Dropped out
Hinkley (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (16)
5-1
194
1
W
2
Mead (4)
6-0
173
2
W
3
Pueblo South
5-1
165
3
W
4
Discovery Canyon
5-1
111
4
W
5
Conifer
6-0
100
8
W
6
Frederick
6-0
85
6
W
7
Durango
4-2
55
9
W
8
Lutheran
4-2
51
7
L
9
Green Mountain
4-2
47
5
L
10
Harrison
5-1
27
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Holy Family 21, Thomas Jefferson 21, Erie 19, Pueblo Central 19, Palisade 15, Roosevelt 11, Northridge 10, Fort Morgan 9, Pueblo East 8, Battle Mountain 6, Evergreen 4, Littleton 3, Eagle Valley 1.
Dropped out
Palisade (10).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (18)
6-0
223
1
W
2
Sterling (2)
5-1
189
4
W
3
Platte Valley (1)
5-1
180
3
W
4
Resurrection Christian (2)
5-1
169
5
W
5
Delta
5-1
125
2
–
6
Faith Christian (1)
5-1
124
6
W
7
Basalt
6-0
114
7
W
8
Elizabeth
5-1
53
–
W
9
Eaton
4-2
48
9
W
10
The Classical Academy
4-2
42
10
W
Others receiving votes:
Lamar 14, Englewood 13, La Junta 12, Alamosa 9, Bennett 2, University 2, Aspen 1.
Dropped out
La Junta (8).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (16)
6-0
178
1
W
2
Limon
5-1
151
2
W
3
Holyoke (2)
6-0
134
3
W
4
Florence
6-0
124
4
W
5
Colorado Springs Christian
5-1
95
7
W
6
Meeker
5-1
83
6
W
7
Centauri
5-1
81
5
W
8
Wray
5-1
38
8
W
9
Hotchkiss
5-1
32
10
W
10
Highland
3-3
22
9
L
Others receiving votes:
Flatirons Academy 15, Rye 14, Peyton 8, Buena Vista 7, Burlington 5, Grand Valley 3.
Dropped out
None.
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (11)
7-0
145
1
W
2
Fowler (3)
6-0
134
2
W
3
Sanford
6-0
115
7
W
4
Merino
5-1
85
5
W
5
Mancos
5-1
76
3
L
6
Dayspring Christian Academy
5-1
66
4
L
7
Vail Christian (1)
6-0
57
8
W
8
Pikes Peak Christian
4-1
46
9
W
9
Caliche
4-2
30
6
L
10
Dove Creek
5-1
18
10
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Rangely 11, West Grand 10, Elbert 9, Holly 7, Hoehne 6, Sargent 6, Soroco 4.
AURORA — The crisp air from the first snowstorm of the year couldn’t hide what was at stake at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. It took the words of Vista PEAK junior Chandler Wall to remind the spectators, the coaches and even the players themselves.
He never said it in a team huddle; it came over the loudspeaker in his own original song.
The Kings of the A.
That’s what was on the line as Class 4A No. 5 Vista PEAK took on No. 10 Hinkley. And in a true battle for royalty, nothing came easy.
The Bison came away 27-21 winners, but the evening proved to be a defining moment for both teams.
“We’re neighbors and you know, everybody plays us tough in Aurora,” Bison running back JaDerris Carr-Kersch said. “No matter where they are, they play as hard as everybody else. We have to come in with a chip on our shoulder and know that we have to represent for Aurora.”
He did his part.
The Thunderbirds (5-1 overall, 0-1 4A Pioneer) were slightly uncharacteristic on the first play of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Xavier Starks took to the air and found tight end Jerry Taylor for a 28-yard touchdown pass to put Hinkley up 21-20.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
The surprising air attack could have shaken Vista PEAK to the point of cracking. But the Bison (6-0, 1-0) weren’t going to let it shake them out of their game plan.
Carr-Kersch responded the way he has all year. He broke for 61 yards to put Vista PEAK up for good. The defense held for the final five minutes, 28 seconds — even forcing two turnovers — to secure the win and keep Vista PEAK’s undefeated season intact.
“That was great because up until that point we weren’t getting the big stops,” coach John Sullivan said. “But they stepped up when they had to in that last drive.”
In a way, they almost fed off Carr-Kersch’s run. Time of possession was limited for the Bison in the second half and that one run not only accounted for Vista PEAK’s only score of the half, but it also factored for more than 50 percent of its offensive production.
Quarterback Victor Owens did his own work on the ground in the first half as he rushed for Vista PEAK’s first two touchdowns of the game.
“We’re the best running team in the state,” Carr-Kersch said. “Our line is very fast, our blocking schemes are very simple. We have to just outpower them, hit them in the mouth first and just go.”
After last year’s turnaround season, Hinkley has high hopes of reaching the playoffs and even making a bit of a run. At times, the the Thunderbirds were on their heels, but the diverse running attack from Ty’ren Draper and Dorian Fox kept them battling. When adding in Starks’ two touchdown passes, Hinkley showed it was very much a team that belongs in conversation of league contenders and playoff teams.
“I think it’s affirming,” coach Michael Farda said. “I’ve told these guys all season that they belonged in the top tier of the competition in the state, and we told our team that they are one of the best performing football teams and they have no reason to be out of the speech or the contention about playoffs.”
In a way, the same can be said for Vista PEAK. The school is now 6-0 for the first time in history and has fended off undefeated teams in back to back weeks. With playoff aspirations of their own, they’re still new to being a team to beat in the 4A classification.
“This is new for us and the kids are learning, dealing with it; dealing with the adversity,” Sullivan said.
For a few nights they don’t have to worry about dealing with adversity. They can just relax and enjoy being the Kings of the A.
Vista PEAK is, quite literally, in the midst of the best football season in school history.
The Bison, which started varsity play in 2012, are 5-0 for the first time, and are coming off a big 48-27 win over then-No. 3 Dakota Ridge last week — a win that opened some eyes around the state, and emphatically announced that this team was for real.
That’s not to say there’s any celebrating going on yet. Vista PEAK, now ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, has another big game this week, against No. 10 Hinkley, an Aurora Public School rival.
But before then, there’s another first: Vista PEAK coach John Sullivan has been named the Broncos high school football coach of the week. It is the first time the Bison have been honored as part of the program.
Previous stops: Rangeview assistant (1999-2012), Vista PEAK assistant (2013-14), Vista PEAK head coach (2015-present).
[divider]
(Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado)
Ryan Casey: Why did you want to become a coach?
John Sullivan: It was just kinda in my blood. My dad was one of my high school coaches, and I actually got into teaching so I could coach. At the time, when I first got into it, it was just because I loved the sport. But the longer I was in it, your priorities and your values kind of shift a little bit.
Just seeing the kids when they finish playing football, and when they come back to see you, it just puts a really warm place in my heart, makes me feel good. I can see that I had some sort of impact on these kids, whether it be on the football field, or in life, helping these kids grow up, and being there for them. It’s just something that has really been important for me.
Casey: What kind of coach do you think you are?
Sullivan: I like to challenge the kids, off the field and on the field. I put a high premium on character, and put a high premium on work ethic. But there’s also a place where myself and our coaching staff is not afraid to tell the kids we love them, and we value them and believe in them.
There’s kind of both ends of it, where we want to push the kids but also let them know that we’re here for them, and it’s unconditional, and we’ll do whatever we can to help them be successful in life.
Casey: You guys are 5-0. What has the first part of the season been like?
Sullivan: As with pretty much every program in the state, we have kids that work hard during the summer, in the weight room and in 7-on-7. We had a pretty good idea, based on returners from last year, that we could possibly be a good team this year. There’s a lot that goes into being a good team outside of football — chemistry, and the involvement of the parents in a positive. And we had all those things.
We started the season with a lightning storm down at Mesa Ridge, and came back to school at 1 o’clock in the morning. We had some adversity right away, and our kids have really stepped up. I give them a ton of credit. They’ve absorbed what we’ve thrown at them.
This is also Year 2 of us kinda changing our offensive and defensively philosophy, and putting a greater premium on the character development stuff. And we’re really seeing the fruits of our labor with that.
Casey: Last week, you beat Dakota Ridge 48-27. I think people thought you were a good team, but I think that win opened a few eyes. Do you feel that way, too?
Sullivan: I think so. I hope so. As a newer school, you’re always struggling for an identity and trying to get noticed. We had a pretty good idea of what we have here, and then going into the game, our kids knew this was an opportunity for people outside of Aurora to try to take notice.
We hope that happened, and we’re on to the next week. We have a big game against Hinkley, who is also undefeated.
Casey: I was going to say, that’s pretty cool for Aurora Public Schools to have this game on Friday …
Sullivan: It is. It’s awesome. You know, Rangeview has had some great success in basketball, but other than that, there hasn’t been a whole lot of team sports in APS that have garnered a lot of attention, so it is really cool that two teams can go in and play a meaningful game in the middle of the year that has playoff implications.
They’re a good team, and we are really looking forward to this game, as well.
Seven new teams joined this week’s football rankings: Conifer (3A), Eaton (2A), The Classical Academy (2A), Wray (1A), Hotchkiss (1A), Dove Creek (8-man) and Briggsdale (6-man).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Fruita Monument 24, Brighton 22, Ponderosa 19, Golden 12, Wheat Ridge 9, Greeley West 8, Grand Junction 4, Mesa Ridge 2, Monarch 2, Silver Creek 2, Air Academy 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (15)
4-1
193
1
L
2
Mead (6)
5-0
183
2
W
3
Pueblo South
4-1
175
3
W
4
Discovery Canyon
4-1
115
4
Bye
5
Green Mountain
4-1
101
5
W
6
Frederick
5-0
88
6
W
7
Lutheran
4-1
72
8
W
8
Conifer
5-0
52
–
W
9
Durango
3-2
49
10
Bye
10
Palisade
2-3
25
7
L
Others receiving votes:
Harrison 24, Erie 23, Holy Family 17, Pueblo Central 16, Thomas Jefferson 14, Northridge 12, Roosevelt 10, Fort Morgan 9, Niwot 9, Pueblo East 8, Battle Mountain 6, Skyview 4, Eagle Valley 1, Evergreen 1.
Dropped out
Erie (9).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (13)
5-0
200
1
W
2
Delta (4)
4-0
180
2
Bye
3
Platte Valley (1)
4-1
152
3
W
4
Sterling (1)
4-1
150
4
W
5
Resurrection Christian (2)
4-1
137
5
W
6
Faith Christian (1)
4-1
114
6
W
7
Basalt
5-0
96
7
W
8
La Junta
4-1
55
8
W
9
Eaton
3-2
38
–
W
10
The Classical Academy
3-2
22
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Elizabeth 21, Alamosa 9, Moffat County 9, Englewood 8, Lamar 8, Bayfield 7, University 3, Aspen 1.
Dropped out
Lamar (9), Alamosa (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (20)
5-0
218
1
W
2
Limon
4-1
188
2
W
3
Holyoke (2)
5-0
156
3
W
4
Florence
5-0
151
4
W
5
Centauri
4-1
111
5
Bye
6
Meeker
4-1
102
7
W
7
Colorado Springs Christian
4-1
101
6
W
8
Wray
4-1
42
–
W
9
Highland
3-2
40
10
W
10
Hotchkiss
4-1
36
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Buena Vista 15, Flatirons Academy 15, Rye 15, Peyton 9, Burlington 8.
Dropped out
Burlington (8), Rye (9).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (12)
6-0
138
1
W
2
Fowler (2)
5-0
113
2
W
3
Mancos
5-0
108
3
W
4
Dayspring Christian Academy
5-0
107
4
W
5
Merino
4-1
66
6
W
6
Caliche
4-1
63
5
W
7
Sanford
5-0
54
7
W
8
Vail Christian
5-0
39
8
W
9
Pikes Peak Christian
3-1
26
9
W
10
Dove Creek
5-1
11
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Soroco 10, Rangely 9, West Grand 9, Sargent 6, Hoehne 5, McClave 5, Holly 1.
Fruita Monument 26, Ponderosa 22, Silver Creek 18, Brighton 13, Greeley West 10, Golden 9, Grand Junction 9, Wheat Ridge 9, Skyline 5, Air Academy 4, Windsor 4, Longmont 3, Vista Ridge 2, Mesa Ridge 1, Rampart 1.
Dropped out
Ponderosa (7), Silver Creek (10).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (19)
4-0
202
1
W
2
Mead (1)
4-0
190
2
Bye
3
Pueblo South
3-1
167
3
L
4
Discovery Canyon
4-1
120
4
W
5
Green Mountain
3-1
101
5
W
6
Frederick (1)
4-0
95
7
W
7
Palisade
2-2
62
6
L
8
Lutheran
3-1
50
8
W
9
Erie
2-2
40
10
W
10
Durango
3-2
39
9
W
Others receiving votes:
Conifer 27, Holy Family 16, Thomas Jefferson 16, Northridge 15, Pueblo Central 15, Fort Morgan 12, Roosevelt 10, Harrison 8, Lewis-Palmer 7, Pueblo East 7, Battle Mountain 6, Skyview 4, Lincoln 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (13)
4-0
204
1
W
2
Delta (5)
4-0
192
2
W
3
Platte Valley (2)
3-1
165
3
Bye
4
Sterling
3-1
157
4
Bye
5
Resurrection Christian (2)
3-1
137
5
W
6
Faith Christian (1)
3-1
117
6
W
7
Basalt
4-0
66
9
W
8
La Junta
3-1
64
8
W
9
Lamar
3-1
51
–
W
10
Alamosa
3-1
49
7
L
Others receiving votes:
Eaton 21, Moffat County 15, Elizabeth 9, Aspen 6, University 6, Englewood 3, D’Evelyn 2, Arvada 1.
Dropped out
Eaton (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (17)
4-0
188
2
W
2
Limon (1)
3-1
162
1
L
3
Holyoke (1)
4-0
142
3
W
4
Florence
4-0
119
4
W
5
Centauri
4-1
98
7
W
6
Colorado Springs Christian
3-1
95
6
W
7
Meeker
3-1
79
5
Bye
8
Burlington
2-2
35
10
W
9
Rye
4-0
29
9
Bye
10
Highland
2-2
23
–
L
Others receiving votes:
Hotchkiss 21, Buena Vista 19, Wray 14, Flatirons Academy 10, Peyton 6, Grand Valley 3, Paonia 2.
Dropped out
Buena Vista (8).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (13)
5-0
148
1
W
2
Fowler (2)
4-0
120
2
W
3
Mancos
4-0
117
3
W
4
Dayspring Christian Academy
4-0
106
5
W
5
Caliche
3-1
71
4
L
6
Merino
3-1
67
6
W
7
Sanford
4-0
62
7
W
8
Vail Christian
4-0
40
8
W
9
Pikes Peak Christian
2-1
26
–
Bye
10
Rangely
3-1
17
10
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Hoehne 15, Soroco 14, West Grand 10, Sargent 5, Dove Creek 4, Elbert 1, Holly 1, Plateau Valley 1.
This week’s football rankings feature seven new teams: Legend (5A), Vista Peak (4A), Silver Creek (4A), Frederick (3A), Eaton (2A), Vail Christian (8-man), and Briggsdale (6-man).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Loveland 32, Greeley West 25, Skyline 15, Fruita Monument 14, Windsor 13, Grand Junction 11, Golden 6, Monarch 6, Rampart 6, Hinkley 5, Longmont 5, Wheat Ridge 4, Brighton 3, Air Academy 1.
Dropped out
Loveland (8), Windsor (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Palmer Ridge (18)
3-0
200
1
W
2
Mead (2)
4-0
187
2
W
3
Pueblo South
3-0
162
4
Bye
4
Discovery Canyon
3-1
107
6
W
5
Green Mountain
2-1
91
3
L
6
Palisade
2-1
89
5
W
7
Frederick
3-0
85
7
W
8
Lutheran
2-1
35
–
W
9
Durango
2-2
31
10
W
10
Erie
1-2
30
9
Bye
Others receiving votes:
Roosevelt 27, Pueblo Central 18, Fort Morgan 16, Thomas Jefferson 16, Conifer 13, Holy Family 11, Northridge 10, Pueblo East 8, Battle Mountain 6, Skyview 4, Denver North 3, Harrison 3, Lewis-Palmer 3.
Dropped out
Roosevelt (8).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rifle (15)
3-0
205
1
W
2
Delta (4)
3-0
172
3
W
3
Platte Valley (1)
3-1
146
4
W
4
Sterling
3-1
140
2
L
5
Resurrection Christian (1)
2-1
121
6
W
6
Faith Christian (1)
2-1
112
5
W
7
Alamosa
3-0
105
8
W
8
La Junta
2-1
71
7
W
9
Basalt
3-0
67
9
W
10
Eaton
1-2
17
–
L
Others receiving votes:
Bayfield 8, Bennett 8, Moffat County 8, The Classical Academy 6, Lamar 5, D’Evelyn 4, University 4, Bishop Machebeuf 3, Elizabeth 3, Englewood 2, Kent Denver 2, Aspen 1.
Dropped out
Bayfield (10).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Limon (15)
3-0
193
1
W
2
Strasburg (4)
3-0
169
2
Bye
3
Holyoke (1)
3-0
167
3
Bye
4
Florence
3-0
125
5
W
5
Meeker
3-1
101
4
L
6
Colorado Springs Christian
2-1
92
6
W
7
Centauri
3-1
83
7
W
8
Buena Vista
3-0
57
9
W
9
Rye
4-0
37
10
W
10
Burlington
1-2
21
8
L
Others receiving votes:
Highland 19, Hotchkiss 11, Wray 9, Paonia 6, Peyton 4, Wiggins 4, Monte Vista 2.
Dropped out
None.
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (12)
4-0
129
1
W
2
Fowler (1)
3-0
97
2
Bye
3
Mancos
3-0
95
4
W
4
Caliche
3-0
93
3
Bye
5
Dayspring Christian Academy
3-0
75
5
W
6
Merino
2-1
48
6
Bye
7
Sanford
3-0
44
8
W
8
Vail Christian
3-0
33
–
W
9
West Grand
3-1
26
9
W
10
Rangely
3-1
19
7
L
Others receiving votes:
Hoehne 18, Pikes Peak Christian 16, Soroco 8, Holly 6, Sargent 5, Dove Creek 3.
