Another week and another sport determining its state champions. With softball regional play completed over the weekend, the fields for the state softball tournaments were determined on Saturday.
Monday was the day teams and fans were waiting for as the brackets were released for Class 5A, 4A and 3A.
The state tournaments will begin on Friday at Aurora Sports Park with championships to be decided on Saturday.
Rock Canyon enters the 5A tournament as the top overall seed. The Jaguars won the Region 1 tournament and outscored their opponents 27-0 in two games.
Columbine, Rocky Mountain and Broomfield round out the top four heading into Friday’s games. Defending champion Legend is the No. 13 seed and takes on Broomfield in its first game of the tournament.
Golden takes the top seed in the 4A tournament following a strong regular season and a regional championship that included wins over Weld Central and Mesa Ridge.
Defending champion Holy Family is the No. 2 seed while Pueblo South and Wheat Ridge round out the top four.
In 3A, University comes in as the top overall seed after beating La Junta to claim a regional title. The Bulldogs are hoping 2019 turns out to be an historic runs as they have never won a state softball championship.
Basalt comes in at No. 2 and Brush is the No. 3 seed in the tournament. Two-time defending champion Strasburg begins its hunt for its third straight title as the No. 4 seed.
First round games for all classes will begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 25.
Smoky Hill football coach Tom Thenell won the 200th game of his career on Friday night when his Buffaloes beat Adams City.
Thenell, who has also coached at Bear Creek and Mullen, is now 200-112 in his career, which began in 1992.
Smoky Hill, now 8-0 this season, beat Adams City 51-7. In two years at Smoky, Thenell is 18-1 at a program that hadn’t won more than four games from 2007-2017.
The Buffaloes are now also 7-0 in the Metro 10 League with two games to play. But with wins over both Prairie View and Far Northeast, who are 5-2 in league play, Smoky Hill has clinched the league title, assuring themselves of a second-straight playoff berth.
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2A: (2) Sterling 24, (3) Platte Valley 6
Sterling jumped out with two quick touchdowns, including a fumble return for a score, in the first quarter, and turned that momentum into a huge win.
“We knew coming in all week who the opponent was and what was at stake tonight,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “Our kids did a great job during the week of preping during practice.”
Busmente added that the game was “from start to finish, probably one of our most complete games that we’ve played this season.”
Of the two early touchdowns he said: “Jumping out fast and creating some momentum early was a positive, and we were able to maintain that level through the rest of the game.”
Sterling is now 6-1, with the lone loss coming out-of-state to Scottsbluff, Neb. The Tigers are in first place in the Patriot East at 3-0.
Cherry Creek made a statement with a huge top-10 win in the tough Metro East League.
The Bruins built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, and only continued to extend their lead in the second half.
Julian Hammond III threw two touchdown passes for the Bruins, who also got rushing touchdowns from James Walker II and Jayle Stacks. Chase Penry and Connor Page had receiving touchdowns.
With the win, Cherry Creek pushed its record to 8-0 overall, and 3-0 as the lone remaining unbeaten in the Metro East.
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2A: (5) Delta 35, (7) Basalt 6
It was all Delta as the Panthers raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead en route to the big win.
Brandon Butler had two rushing scores in the win, and Nolan Bynum rushed for a score and passed for another.
Delta is now 6-1 this season, including 2-1 in the 2A Western Slope League.
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6-man: (2) Fleming 63, (9) Briggsdale 14
Fleming locked up the North League championship with the big win.
“Especially the second half, we just started executing well,” Fleming coach John King told the Scoreboard Show. “Sticking with our blocks longer, and people on the back side, really trying to work hard and take their angles. It just kinda started clicking.
“We kind of wore them down a little bit,” King added. “We have really good depth this year for 6-man.”
Fleming is now 8-0 overall, and 5-0 in the North.
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Notables:
In a big 6-man matchup, No. 1 Kit Carson topped No. 10 Granada 56-40.
In 8-man, Sargent upset Dove Creek 26-24.
Lamar beat La Junta in the Whistle Game for the first time since 2014 with a 20-14 win.
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.
Friday night means high school football fields will be packed with students, fans and great games.
But there are those who cannot make those games at time. But fear not as some of the best games around the state are routinely available via radio airways or internet streams.
Below is a list of Week 7 games that can be heard through audio broadcasts.
(If any stations are interested in featuring their games in this weekly post, please send an email to dmohrmann@chsaa.org)
The matchup: The top two teams in 2A face off to potentially decide the 2A Western Slope champion just two weeks into league play. Delta had held opponents scoreless all year until giving 14 points to Aspen last week. Running back Levi Warfel has found the end zone 11 times for Rifle meaning this will likely be the Panthers’ toughest challenge all season.
Williams on the matchup: Undefeated Basalt, the third 2A Western Slope League team in the Top 10, looks to stay even with the winner of the Rifle/Delta game, if it can gain a victory over Coal Ridge. The 1-4 Titans, while considerably down from recent seasons, still possess key threats led by 6-foot, 250-pound running back/defensive lineman Damian Spell. Basalt will adjust its five-man and four-man defenses to contain the option attack run by junior quarterback Karsen DuBois. The Longhorns’ NFL-style attack will be propelled by 6-foot, 190-pound junior QB Matty Gillis, who’s passed for more than 100 yards in each game so far this season, 6-foot-3 lead receiver Jackson Rapaport, and the all-sophomore backfield of fullback Gavin Webb, who scored four touchdowns in last week’s 49-7 drubbing of Moffat County, and Cole Dombrowski, who returns after a shoulder injury, round out the offensive attack.
Blocker on the matchup: Aspen (2-3) continues trying to right its ship, disrupted by key injuries early in the season, in Craig at 4-11 Moffat County. The Bulldogs, surprised by last week’s shellacking at the hands of Basalt, hope to show they should be considered stronger than they appeared in that Western Slope League contest that ended up being no contest. The Moffat spread offense, operated by promising shotgun quarterback Ryan Peck, puts four to five receivers in the pattern nearly every play, with speedy senior runner Kevin Hernandez ready to haul the rock at any time. The Skiers will rely on 6-foot-4 junior signal-caller Tyler Ward, who got banged up in the season opener. His top receiver Max Ufkes, recovering from a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup last week, but on the defensive line. Ward’s available targets will still include the reliable Jon Haisfield and Jack Seamans, however.
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.
Fossil Ridge has joined this week’s 5A softball 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.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Rock Canyon (9)
20-1-0
107
1
4-0-0
2
Loveland (1)
20-1-0
88
3
3-0-0
3
Columbine
20-2-0
86
2
3-0-0
4
Broomfield (1)
18-3-0
63
5
2-0-0
5
Grand Junction Central
18-2-0
57
6
3-0-0
6
Rocky Mountain
18-3-0
49
7
3-0-0
7
Chatfield
19-3-0
48
4
2-1-0
8
Smoky Hill
18-3-0
23
10
3-0-0
9
Fossil Ridge
16-5-0
20
–
2-0-0
10
Castle View
16-5-0
15
8
2-1-0
Others receiving votes:
Brighton 13, Legacy 13, Arapahoe 10, Hinkley 9, Cherokee Trail 3, Douglas County 1.
Fairview quarterback Aidan Atkinson threw his 100th career touchdown pass during his team’s win over Legacy on Friday night.
Atkinson, a senior who is committed to Northwestern, threw seven touchdown passes (and 349 yards) in the win, including four in the first half. When the night was over, he ended up with 102 career TDs.
Atkinson becomes the fifth quarterback in state history to throw 100 touchdowns in his career.
The Knights beat Legacy 49-31 on Friday, thanks in large part to a 28-3 halftime lead. Legacy came out first in the second half, with a touchdown, onside kick, and another touchdown — but Fairview, when it finally got the ball back, responded right away with another touchdown from Atkinson.
Four of Atkinson’s TDs went to Henry Blackburn. Fairview, ranked No. 9, is now 5-1 this season.
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300 wins for Monarch’s Phil Bravo
(@PhilBravodblwng/Twitter)
Monarch beat Gateway 32-6 on Friday, giving their coach, Phil Bravo, the 300th win of his career.
Bravo has a head coach in Colorado at Centaurus and later Monarch since 1991, and was at Whittier Christian (Calif.) from 1986-90 prior to that.
In the lone matchup of top-10 teams on Friday night, Florence made a statement as the Huskies remained unbeaten at 5-0.
Florence running back Owen Busetti rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the win, according to Austin White of the Pueblo Chieftain.
“He’s a great kid. And he’s the type of kid that’s done everything right in the offseason,” Jeremy Nix told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show after the game. “He’s special. He makes the coaches look good at times, and he does good things, he makes good cuts, good decisions. And the O-line is doing a heck of a job for him, too.”
Florence will continue its tough league schedule as the season rolls along, including contests against St. Mary’s, Buena Vista, Centauri, and Colorado Springs Christian.
“This is the grind part of our season,” Nix said, “so we’ll know what we’re made of, and our character will get tested.”
Gavin Sawchuk rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles in the win.
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Notables
Colton Murray rushed for five touchdowns to help Peyton beat Ellicott 43-0 in 1A.
Quite the 6-man shootout between Kiowa in Genoa-Hugo, which Kiowa won 68-55.
Damien Barnes, the state leader in rushing touchdowns, added to his total with four more (and 249 yards) as Eads beat Walsh 60-28 in 6-man. He now has 19 through five games.
Evergreen knocked off 3A No. 7 Palisade, 19-17.
Arapahoe is now 5-1 following a big win over Cherokee Trail, 10-7. It is the program’s best start since winning their first 10 games in 2015.
In 1A, Wray beat No. 8 Burlington 14-0.
Rocky Mountain beat cross-city rival Poudre, 24-7, and the Lobos are now 3-3. “It was a great old-school high school football game tonight,” Rocky coach Mark Brook told the Scoreboard Show. “They played their hearts out tonight. Our kids stepped up and made some big plays when they needed to.”
Harrison beat Pueblo County in overtime, 21-14. “Tonight, it was just one heck of a football game,” coach Al Melo told the Scoreboard Show. The Colorado Springs Gazette has a full story.
Bayfield ended a two-game skid with a 28-10 win over Alamosa. “I think every played played to the best of their ability,” coach Gary Heided told the Scoreboard Show. “Every player went in and really tried to make amends for what’s happened the last couple of weeks.”
2A No. 7 Basalt handed Moffat County its first loss with a 49-7 win. The Longhorns are now 5-0. “The kids played really hard, and they flew around,” coach Carl Frerichs told the Scoreboard Show. Gavin Webb rushed for four touchdowns for Basalt.
5A No. 10 Legend snuck past Fountain-Fort Carson 23-21 to stay unbeaten at 6-0.
