4A State Playoffs Second Round Preview: One Step Closer

The first round of the CHSAA 4A state playoffs are officially in the books, and the stakes are at an all time high as the remaining 16 teams will look to fend off elimination and survive for another week. Schools like Denver South, Ponderosa, Golden, Pueblo West, Fruita Monument, Longmont, Bear Creek, and Vista Ridge all had big time wins in their playoff openers, as they all will await showdowns with teams that had first round byes. A win all but guarantees a spot in the prestigious elite eight, and one step closer to the promised land. What are the games to watch for? Which teams will prove their legitimacy? What players will make the right play at the right time? Who wants it more? Anything is possible in the month of November. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty, round two is officially here!   #10 Ponderosa vs #7 Chatfield Ponderosa Stat Leaders: Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="216827" first="Andrew" last="Heidel"] 118/215, 55%, 1,324 Yards, 16 TD’s, 7 INT’s Rushing: RB Zachary Pekarek 114 CAR, 735 Yards, 6.4 AVG, 91.9 YPG, 9 TD’s Receiving: 38 REC, 560 Yards, 14.7 AVG, 56.0 YPG, 7 TD’s Defensive: LB Brady Porter 111 Tackles, 10.1 TPG, 11.0 TFL Chatfield Stat Leaders Passing: QB Jake Jones 35/61, 57%, 570 Yards, 16.3 AVG, 6 TD’s 6 INT’s Rushing: RB [player_tooltip player_id="240088" first="Jake" last="Marschall"] 261 CAR, 1,549 Yards, 5.9 AVG, 110.6 YPG, 21 TD’s Receiving: WR [player_tooltip player_id="22769" first="Mason" last="Lowe"] 12 REC, 226 Yards, 18.8 AVG, 37.7 YPG, 2 TD’s Defensive: LB [player_tooltip player_id="150077" first="Cade" last="Thomas"] 97 Tackles, 10.8 TPG Both teams come into the state tournament with the belief that they can make a run at a championship, but one of these squads will be going home brokenhearted on Friday night. The Mustangs come into the contest with a convincing 29-14 victory over Aurora Central. They are led by Freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id="216827" first="Andrew" last="Heidel"] who looks very promising in years to come. Ponderosa’s biggest task will be having to shut down bruiser [player_tooltip player_id="240088" first="Jake" last="Marschall"], who is no doubt the heart of the Chargers offense. Chatfield doesn’t air it out much, but they do a tremendous job in making the safeties come up on the run and utilizing the play action pass for big gains. Expect this one to be a battle won in the trenches.   #9 Golden vs #8 Fountain-Fort Carson Golden Stat Leaders Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="215284" first="Jazel" last="Riley IV"] 123/193, 63%, 1,975 Yards, 16.1 AVG, 25 TD’s, 9 TD’s Rushing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="215284" first="Jazel" last="Riley IV"] 100 CAR, 953 Yards, 9.5 AVG, 86.6 YPG, 17 TD’s Receiving: WR [player_tooltip player_id="241196" first="Josh" last="Torrey"] 53 REC, 1,033 Yards, 19.5 AVG, 93.9 YPG, 16 TD’s Defensive: 63 Tackles, 5.7 TPG, 2.0 TFL Fountain-Fort Carson Stat Leaders Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="22751" first="Tavian" last="Tuli"] 63/110, 57%, 840 Yards, 13.3 AVG 10 TD’s, 3 INT’s Rushing: RB [player_tooltip player_id="22704" first="Dezmen" last="Oliver"] 155 CAR, 1,339 Yards, 8.6 AVG, 148.8 YPG, 23 TD’s Receiving: TE Jesiah Steven-Silva 21 REC, 301 Yards, 14.3 AVG, 33 YPG, 3 TD’s Defensive: LB [player_tooltip player_id="62220" first="Tai" last="Faavae"] 107 Tackles, 11.9 TPG After 19 years, the Golden Demons finally broke their long-awaited football curse. With the football Gods finally looking favorably upon the Demons, what is in store now? Despite the unfamiliar territory, QB [player_tooltip player_id="215284" first="Jazel" last="Riley IV"] has accounted for 42 touchdowns in 11 games thus far, a simply remarkable stat. Golden will have to effectively move the ball against a Fountain-Fort Carson squad that is known for sucking the life out of their opponents with an extremely physical run game and a stout defense led by linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="44626" first="Tai" last="Faavae"].   #4 Palmer Ridge vs #13 Pueblo West Palmer Ridge Stat Leaders Passing: QB Derek Hester 122/178, 68%, 15.8 AVG, 24 TD’s, 8 INT’s Rushing: RB Connor Cook 127 CAR, 801 Yards, 6.3 AVG, 80.1 YPG, 13 TD’s Receiving: WR [player_tooltip player_id="22673" first="Anthony" last="Costanzo"] 35 REC, 561 Yards, 16.0 AVG, 56.1 YPG, 12 TD’s Defensive: LB Holden Wright 79 Tackles, 7.9 TPG, 6.0 TFL Pueblo West Stat Leaders Passing: QB Cole Brinkley 67/127, 52%, 784 Yards, 11.7 AVG, 6 TD’s, 4 INT’s Rushing: RB [player_tooltip player_id="58951" first="Jeremiah" last="Sanchez"] 110 CAR, 804 Yards, 7.3 AVG, 73.1 YPG, 13 TD’s Receiving: WR Gage Martinez 25 REC, 365 Yards, 14.6 AVG, 40.6 YPG, 3 TD’s Defensive: LB Lamaine Arrington 80 Tackles, 7.3 TPG, 7.0 TFL   If there were to be an upset between the 4 and 13 seeds, do not look past this matchup and the gutsy Pueblo West Cyclones. They don’t necessarily stand out at a position, but they play together like a true pest and can give their enemies on the gridiron fits. In order for Palmer Ridge to avoid the major letdown, they will need second year signal caller Derek Hester to continue his stellar play where he recorded 24 aerial strikes through the air. If Palmer Ridge can stick to the game plan, they should be able to sneak this one out and move on to the Elite Eight. #11 Vista Ridge vs #6 Loveland Vista Ridge Stat Leaders Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="22744" first="Brayden" last="Dorman"] 182/300, 60%, 2,506 Yards, 13.8 AVG, 27 TD’s, 7 INT’s Rushing: RB Dacio Ramos-Tuiletufuga 35 CAR, 212 Yards, 6.1 AVG, 42.4 YPG Receiving: WR [player_tooltip player_id="22764" first="Brandon" last="Hills"] 65 REC, 1,035 Yards, 15.9 AVG, 103.5 YPG, 13 TD’s Defensive: LB Isaiah Garcia 102 Tackles, 10.2 TPG, 19.0 TFL Loveland Stat Leaders Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="62223" first="Garrett" last="Harstad"] 31/41, 75%, 499 Yards, 16.1 AVG, 9 TD’s, 0 INT’s Rushing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="62223" first="Garrett" last="Harstad"] 109 CAR, 1,100 Yards, 10.1 AVG, 122.2 YPG, 16 TD’s Receiving: WR Jude Meiu 6 REC, 120 Yards, 20.0 AVG, 1 TD Defensive: LB [player_tooltip player_id="22729" first="Ian" last="Loomis"] 136 Tackles, 13.6 TPG, 20.0 TFL In one of the more intriguing matchups in the second round of the 4A bracket, six seed Loveland and eleven seed Vista Ridge have garnered much success in both of their respective seasons. Unfortunately, the month of November and December usually do not take pity in how one has fared throughout the regular season, and that will be the honest truth when these two titans go head-to-head Friday evening.   #3 Pine Creek vs #14 Bear Creek Pine Creek Stat Leaders Passing: QB [player_tooltip player_id="153895" first="Josiah" last="Roy"] 84/140, 1,305 Yards, 60%, 15.5 AVG, 15 TD’s, 4 INT’s Rushing: RB [player_tooltip player_id="241224" first="Zion" last="Hill"] 111 CAR, 824 Yards, 7.4 AVG, 103 YPG, 7 TD’s Receiving: WR Braden Kramer 14 REC, 305 Yards, 21.8 AVG, 3 TD’s Defensive: LB [player_tooltip player_id="22783" first="Brett" last="Alvey"] 72 Tackles, 7.2 TPG, 11 TFL Bear Creek Stat Leaders Passing: QB Jaedon Minter 164/299, 54%, 2,180 Yards, 21 TD’s, 14 INT’s Rushing: RB Ryan Segovia 187 CAR, 1,179 Yards, 6.3 AVG, 107.2 YPG, 14 TD’s Receiving: WR [player_tooltip player_id="241207" first="Blake" last="McOmber"] 60 REC, 978 Yards, 16.3 AVG, 12 TD"s Defensive: LB Emilio Mendoza 81 Tackles, 7.4 TPG, 4.0 TFL In another highly contested matchup that could go either way, Pine Creek enters the CHSAA 4A State Tournament with their eyes on the ultimate prize. Standing in their way will be the rowdy Bear Creek Bears. The electrifying running back in Ryan Segovia has demonstrating why many opposing defensive coordinators have had their hair turn grey throughout the 2021 campaign, and he will do his best impression of the lightning that struck Benjamin Franklin’s kite. The four-year game changer will need to jolt the offense in order for the Bears to survive yet again. Pine Creek will look to avoid aging faster than they would like in this ballgame, as they will try to get tailback [player_tooltip player_id="241224" first="Zion" last="Hill"] going early and often in order to march their way one step closer to a state championship.