Looking back at the 5A Jeffco League in Season A

The 2020 season (Season A) was strange and unusual in many ways, but the high school teams in Colorado made it through. With champions crowned in all classifications and more football in Season C approaching on the horizon, we’re going league-by-league and taking a look back at how things shook out and some of the many football players in Colorado who shined despite having to battle unprecedented and difficult circumstances. Let’s kick things off with the 5A Jeffco League. <img class="size-medium wp-image-75564 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/4F14FCC0-EF85-4EA0-B119-AA2D73A50F19-300x206.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="206" /> <strong>What happened in the league in Season A?</strong> The Pomona Panthers (7-1) ran the table in the Jeffco, finishing the regular season with a 5-0 conference record. On the season, the Panthers outscored their eight opponents 239-114, which includes a 35-7 loss to eventual Class 5A state champion Cherry Creek in the state semifinals. Pomona also led the league in rushing yards (2,125) and total yards (2,517). Ralston Valley and Columbine tied for runners-up in the standings. Ralston Valley was the league’s top passing team, while Columbine’s defense was excellent, allowing an average of just 13.7 points per game and leading the league in sacks (18) and interceptions (9). <strong>A few players who stood out in Season A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22734" first="Zach" last="Friedman"], 2022, QB, 6’2, 185, Ralston Valley</strong> The junior led the  Jeffco League with 1,007 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions. He completed 76 of his 118 pass attempts for an average of 143.9 passing yards per game. A solid multi-sport athlete (football, basketball and lacrosse), Friedman also carried the ball 34 times for 185 yards and five touchdowns. Friedman has verbally committed to play lacrosse at Syracuse. <img class="size-medium wp-image-85939 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/12/Seth-Cromwell-Columbine-3-300x222.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="222" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22688" first="Seth" last="Cromwell"], 2022, RB/FB/MLB, 5’10, 215, Columbine</strong> The league’s rushing leader, with 814 yards and 14 touchdowns in just six games, Cromwell is a powerful athlete on both sides of the ball. He rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game and fumbled the ball just once. On defense, Cromwell finished with 38 total tackles, including five for a loss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22554" first="Jack" last="Pospisil"], 2021, RB/WR/QB/DB, 5’8, 176, Pomona</strong> Just an all-around great athlete, Pospisil moved to quarterback this season after playing his first three high school years as a standout wide receiver. Committed to Central Missouri, Pospisil accounted for 1,100 yards of total offense (708 rushing, 392 receiving) and 14 total touchdowns in eight games, while leading the Panthers to the Class 5A state semifinals. <strong>Aaron Karas, 2022, T, 6’5, 290, Pomona</strong> All-conference, all-state, it was an all-around great season for Karas. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman plays with incredible drive and power, has good football in pass protection and excels in getting to the next level on run plays. He opened huge holes all season to help Pospisil and the Panthers lead the league in rushing, and was credited with 20 pancake blocks a as a junior in Season A. https://twitter.com/AaronKaras2/status/1337069174401601536 &nbsp; <strong>Jake Hives, 2021, 6’1, 255, OL, Columbine</strong> An outstanding goaltender, Hives is committed to play lacrosse at Grand Canyon University. But he’s no slouch on the football field either, voted first team all-state in the CHSAA coaches’ poll. He was credited with 13 pancake blocks in just four games this past season. https://twitter.com/HivesJake/status/1332430532060344325 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22710" first="Jaxon" last="Heil"], 2022, SS/LB/FB, 5’9, 190, Mullen</strong> The Mustangs may have won just one game, but this National Honor Society athlete sure put on a show. Strong, tough and a sure tackler who is always around the ball, Heil averaged 11.2 tackles per game and finished the season with a total of 67. Heil has great defensive instinct and has the physical tools to play multiple positions, so he’ll certainly be a player to keep an eye on in 2021. https://twitter.com/JaxonHeil/status/1334935324175159296 <strong>Devin McNearny, 2021, WR/RB, 5’11, 150, Ralston Valley</strong> Committed to St. Olaf College, McNearny led the league with 349 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The elusive senior wideout also carried the ball 41 times for 185 yards and played defensive back on defense. <strong>One underclassman to keep an eye on</strong> <strong>Michael Runnels, 2023, LB/RB, Arvada West</strong> It was a tough season for the Wildcats, who went 0-5 in league play, but Runnels had a strong sophomore season and turned some heads. He made 41 total tackles (27 solo, four for a loss), had a sack and recovered a fumble. Look for Runnels to take another big step forward in 2021 and help lead an Arvada West defense that returns its top nine tacklers from this past season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-85915 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/12/Brock-Zanetell-Columbine-2-300x210.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="210" /><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">A quick look to 2021…</strong> Pomona was outstanding in Season A, but the Panthers will lose their anchor in when Pospisil graduates. That could open the door to teams like Ralston Valley and Columbine, both of which have some good players returning on both sides of the ball who will be seniors in 2021-22. Mullen and Arvada West were young teams in Season A and should be a much-improved threats, so the Jeffco could be a more balanced conference next season.