Class 3A spring football season preview

Our preview of the 2021 spring football season continues with a look at Class 3A, the league that will feature the most schools for a classification. This classification features perhaps the most unique blend of competition, with many schools who normally compete in Class 2A and 3A forming this makeshift league. One of the divisions will seem quite similar with many league teams facing off, and the other league will see teams getting unique competition trying to get to the postseason. <h2><strong>Teams competing in Class 3A</strong></h2> We’ll start in the West division where two very formidable teams from Class 2A that will compete. Rifle went undefeated in the regular season and won a playoff game, but they lost to fellow league member Basalt in a two-overtime thriller in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. Basalt nearly made it to the state championship game in 2019 and hopes that playing this spring could see them in the final. Aspen, Coal Ridge, Montezuma-Cortez and Salida all come from the Class 2A ranks for this new league as well. Joining them are Class 3A schools in Glenwood Springs and Steamboat Springs. The other league in Class 3A will be the East division. Leading them is Faith Christian, a team coming off a 9-2 run in Class 2A last season. Two other teams from Class 2A joining them are The Classical Academy and The Academy, both of whom finishing with winning records, and other 2A schools in Kent Denver and Denver West. The schools from Class 3A in this division include Sand Creek, Littleton and Northfield. <h2><strong>Players to watch</strong></h2> <h3><strong>Gabriel Espinosa, 2021, 6’2, 150 WR/DB, The Academy</strong></h3> Espinosa was a go-to receiver in the offense for The Academy. He has the speed to go across the field and break free in coverage, and he can take a short reception and turn it into a long game running after the catch. He hauled in 47 receptions for 792 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. Look for Espinosa to be one of the leading receivers in Class 3A this spring. He also saw his first varsity action on defense last season and was able to get 18 tackles and an interception in the secondary. <h3><strong>Cade Gideon, 2023, 6’3, 165, QB Steamboat Springs</strong></h3> There were six quarterbacks in 2019 who were freshman and threw for more than 900 yards in the season. One of them is Gideon, a bright spot for the Steamboat Springs offense. He completed 40 percent of his passes and could see himself in an even bigger role in the offense with a year of experience under his belt. He shows decent arm strength and touch on the deep ball and would stand tall in the pocket to throw even when there was pressure around him. And with his legs, he can extend play or run the ball when blitzed, giving his offense a chance to move the sticks routinely. <h3><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="22718" first="Cade" last="Palmer"], 2022, 6’2, 195, RB/LB, The Classical Academy</strong></h3> A running back prospect who may rise on the boards for the Class of 2022, Palmer is a running back who can do all the things you want in a complete back. He has the speed to get to the edge and turn on the jets when he breaks free, but he also has the vision and patience to set up his blocks and run between the tackles. When he gets his shoulders square and runs downfield, he brings a mean, physical streak with him. Another positive trait is that he can be a threat out of the backfield in the passing game as well. In his sophomore season, he rushed for 1,355 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he caught another touchdown pass. <h3><strong>Josh Straw, 2021, 6’1, 190, OL/LB, Rifle </strong></h3> While he may be an undersized prospect on the offensive line, he certainly held his own and was able to help spring some running backs and help this Rifle team rush for more than 3,600 yards in 2019. His leadership up front will be a key for Rifle to have similar success running the football. On defense, he led the team with 64 total tackles and also got a sack and interception. While some key seniors are gone, Straw is part of a solid 2021 class looking to lead Rifle back into the playoffs. <h3><strong>Sander Sveen, 2021, 5’11, OL/LB, Kent Denver</strong></h3> Watching the highlight film for Sveen’s defense is like watching someone master the hit stick in the Madden video game. He brings the hard hits from his middle linebacker spot and led the team with 98 tackles last season. Whether it is timing the blitz and hitting the lane at the snap or reading the back and finding him at the hole, he shoots through like he is blasted out of a cannon towards the ball carrier. He will even put his hand on the ground and play like a defensive tackle in goal-line situations. Most of his big plays were stopping the run, but he shows the ability to drop in coverage in the passing game and got a pair of interceptions as well. That physical streak on defense he plays with translates on offense, where he anchors the offensive line unit. <h3><strong>Gavin Webb, 2022, 5’10, 170, RB/DB, Basalt</strong></h3> There are many key players coming back from a Basalt team that reached the semifinal round of the Class 3A state playoffs in 2019, and one player who could see an even bigger role this spring is Webb. He is a true running back who will also line up as a full back in the I-formation. In total, he rushed for 366 yards and eight touchdowns, but Basalt also took advantage of his hands as he caught 15 passes. The quickness for Webb made him a factor on defense as well with 42 tackles and a team-high 3.5 sacks. Plenty of talent returns for Basalt, but it’s the steady play of Webb on both sides of the ball that may make him a star player for the team this spring.