4A Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final four teams remain in the race for a state title, meaning the 2022 season is nearing its end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both games will be played at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, with the winner of each earning their spot in the championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This article will preview both semifinal games and which players to watch during the contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>#11 Erie (9-4) at #2 Broomfield (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Erie Tigers entered the postseason as underdogs with little expectation of making a deep run from many people outside the program. After a rocky start to the season with one of the more strenuous non-league schedules, the Tigers went on a 7-0 run to land one game away from a redemption opportunity in the state championship. Standing in their way is one of the more dominant teams in the classification, a team the Tigers fell to in the early half of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time the Broomfield Eagles hosted the Tigers was in week four, where the Eagles comfortably sealed a 35-14 victory. Since that win, Broomfield has gone on to win every game with one of the state's top defenses and a quarterback who recently committed to Wisconsin. The Eagles have had one of the more impressive postseason showings, scoring over 40 points and posting shutouts in each of their playoff games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broomfield comes into this game as the favorite to win. Their dynamic offense has proven that it can score at any given moment, but it is the outstanding defense that has consistently kept games in the Eagles' favor. Some have picked the Eagles to win it all this season, but no one would love to foil those predictions more than the Tigers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rivalry between these two programs is intense, and anything is possible in a postseason match between two teams who dislike one another. Will the Eagles handle business and seal their spot in the state championship game, or will the Tigers pull off the upset of the season and return to the championship stage for the second season in a row?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Broomfield:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62228' first='Cole' last='LaCrue']</strong> | 2023 QB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514370' first='Luke' last='Francis']</strong> | 2023 RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514389' first='Canon' last='Juarez']</strong> | 2023 CB/WR<br><strong>Garrett Keeler</strong> | 2023 DE<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269650' first='Devin' last='Furuiye']</strong> | 2023 DT<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='515031' first='Nick' last='Petrich']</strong> | 2023 LB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22784' first='Ryland' last='Boehmer']</strong> | 2023 LB/RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334594' first='Landen' last='Davidson']</strong> | 2024 OL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514396' first='Anthony' last='Cobb']</strong> | 2024 WR<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514391' first='Brent' last='Harris']</strong> | 2024 DB/ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404963' first='Mikhail' last='Benner']</strong> | 2025 CB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Erie:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='143622' first='Blake' last='Barnett']</strong> | 2024 QB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62229' first='Caden' last='Lettis']</strong> | 2023 WR<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247201' first='Logan' last='Gilmore']</strong> | 2023 OL<br><strong>Darryk Hall</strong> | 2023 DB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150153' first='Jackson' last='Clancy']</strong> | 2023 OL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251219' first='Jackson' last='Cowgill']</strong> | 2024 DL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='143644' first='Mason' last='Cowgill']</strong> | 2024 TE<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='503780' first='Kaveh' last='Meredith']</strong> | 2024 WR/ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='503796' first='Gavin' last='Lusk']</strong> | 2025 RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='503793' first='Ronin' last='Ward']</strong> | 2025 QB/ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='757121' first='Braylon' last='Toliver']</strong> | 2026 FS/RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>#4 Loveland (11-1) at #1 Palmer Ridge (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Palmer Ridge Bears will be hosting the Loveland Red Wolves in a match that has a little history of its own. These two teams last met in the state championship game during the 2020 season, Palmer Ridge's first season in the 4A classification. Loveland won the game 42-6 to claim the state title while handing the Bears their first loss of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, the two teams meet under similar circumstances, but this time is for the opportunity to advance to the state championship against the winner of Erie and Broomfield. With playoff seeding aside, the team favored to win this game depends heavily on who you speak with. The Bears have one of the more talented rosters in the state, which has helped them maintain an undefeated record coming into this game. Loveland is a program that has consistently been successful for years, giving this matchup the potential to be a game that ends with a close score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will likely come down to time-of-possession and whichever team finds the most success at controlling the line of scrimmage on offense. Loveland's offense will require the Bears to remain disciplined for the entire four quarters. Palmer Ridge's offense will want to maintain a balanced attack to avoid being forced into a one-dimensional scheme. This game can easily fall either way, making it an exciting contest to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Palmer Ridge:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251258' first='Derek' last='Hester']</strong> | 2024 QB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150219' first='Nathaniel' last='Robinson']</strong> | 2023 RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='171225' first='KC' last='Fackerell']</strong> | 2023 WR/ATH<br><strong>James Jimmer-Weir</strong> | 2023 WR/DB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22790' first='KJ' last='Smedley']</strong> | 2023 DB/WR/ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22762' first='Joshua' last='Gerlach II']</strong> | 2023 DB/WR/ATH<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150254' first='Jackson' last='St. Aubyn']</strong> | 2023 OL/DL<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230277' first='Walker' last='Himebauch']</strong> | 2023 LS/TE/LB<br><strong>Orlando Aranda</strong> | 2023 RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='253721' first='Dylan' last='Coyle']</strong> | 2023 LB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251215' first='Holden' last='Wright']</strong> | 2024 LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Loveland:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62223' first='Garrett' last='Harstad']</strong> | 2023 QB<br><strong>Lane Thomas</strong> | 2023 CB/RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150074' first='Hudson' last='Voggesser']</strong> | 2023 SS/OLB<br><strong>Trent Stephenson</strong> | 2023 LB/RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246921' first='Drew' last='Foley']</strong> | 2023 RB/OLB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325533' first='Ty' last='Young']</strong> | 2023 WR/ATH<br><strong>Jude Meiu</strong> | 2023 CB/RB<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304728' first='Dylan' last='Lindgren']</strong> | 2023 LB<br><strong>Cody Lease</strong> | 2023 FS/WR<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='733400' first='Trey' last='Olsen']</strong> | 2024 DB/ATH<br><strong>Cade Stansbury</strong> | 2024 DE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->