The Road to State: 3A Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>#1 Roosevelt (13-0) vs. #3 Lutheran (11-2) | Saturday, December 3rd | 1:00 P.M.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The road to the 3A state championship game for the 2022 season was an exciting journey that will end at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Stadium in Pueblo, home to the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves. This year's title game will be between the undefeated Roosevelt Roughriders and the Lutheran Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roosevelt's most recent trip to the state final was in the 2020 season, where they lost 21-14 to Durango in what turned out to be the most exciting finale of all the classifications. The Lions fell short of reaching the finals last year, losing in the semifinals to the team that went on to win the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran's drive to reach the state finals this year began immediately following the semifinal loss last season. They have continued to build off the up-tempo spread offense and have been highly successful through the air and on the ground.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roosevelt's balanced offense combines dynamic passing schemes and powerful ground-and-pound running styles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much like the 2020 season, the final contest of the 3A classification has the makings of being the most exciting game of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Top Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the season comes down to the last two teams left standing, there is rarely a shortage of talented players with top-tier potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Roosevelt:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22771' first='Tucker' last='Peterson']</strong> | 2023 WR/SS/ATH | <a href="https://twitter.com/tuckerpeterso14?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@TuckerPeterso14</a><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246923' first='Ryan' last='Doucette']</strong> | 2023 DB/RB | <a href="https://twitter.com/ryandouc3tte?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@RyanDouc3tte</a><br><strong>Bowie Schmitz</strong> |&nbsp; 2023 WR/DB | <a href="https://twitter.com/bowieschmitz?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@BowieSchmitz</a><br><strong>Peyton Zikomski</strong> | 2023 WR | <a href="https://twitter.com/zikomski_peyton?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@Zikomski_Peyton</a><br><strong>Ryne Knutson</strong> | 2023 TE/LB | <a href="https://twitter.com/ryneknutson?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@RyneKnutson</a><br><strong>Evan Cline</strong> | 2023 LB/TE | <a href="https://twitter.com/evancline21?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@EvanCline21</a><br><strong>Elizar Valencia </strong>| 2023 DE | <a href="https://twitter.com/elizarvalencia1?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@ElizarValencia1</a><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381209' first='Bronco' last='Hartson']</strong> | 2024 QB/DE | <a href="https://twitter.com/broncohartson?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@BroncoHartson</a><br><strong>Trevor Karabensh</strong> | 2025 DB/WR | <a href="https://twitter.com/trevorkarabensh?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@TrevorKarabensh</a><br><strong>Dillon Doyon</strong> | 2026 LB | <a href="https://twitter.com/dillon_doyon?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@Dillon_Doyon</a><br><strong>Andrew Lara</strong> | 2023 RB/LB&nbsp;<br><strong>Miguel Hernandez</strong> | 2023 OLB&nbsp;<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150161' first='Anthony' last='Munoz']</strong> | 2023 DL/OL<br><strong>Izain Palacio</strong> | 2023&nbsp;<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251270' first='Xavier' last='Ramirez']</strong> | 2024 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Lutheran:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150202' first='Ryan' last='Kenny']</strong> | 2023 RB/LB/ATH | <a href="https://twitter.com/ryan_kenny5?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@Ryan_Kenny5</a><br><strong>Chace Sorenson</strong> | 2023 QB/ATH | <a href="https://twitter.com/chacesorenson?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@ChaceSorenson</a><br><strong>Sam Wisler</strong> | 2023 WR | <a href="https://twitter.com/wislersam?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@WislerSam</a><br><strong>Josh Ayers</strong> | 2023 LB/WR | <a href="https://twitter.com/cjoshalb33?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@cjoshuaLB33</a><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='143625' first='Ryken' last='Daugaard']</strong> | 2024 QB | <a href="https://twitter.com/ryken_daugaard?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@Ryken_Daugaard</a><br><strong>Joe Ciccio</strong> | 2024 WR/DB | <a href="https://twitter.com/ciccio_joe?s=21&amp;t=Hgx9bbtxr6hc0RWQW-WXRQ">@ciccio_joe</a><br><strong>Reichen Posey</strong> | 2024 DE/OL | <a href="https://twitter.com/reichen_posey17?s=20&amp;t=yG_BaKlF8ENNSZlVvOyGSQ">@Reichen_Posey17</a><br><strong>Peyton Garrett</strong> | 2024 LB/DE | <a href="https://twitter.com/PeytonGarrettFB?s=20&amp;t=yG_BaKlF8ENNSZlVvOyGSQ">@PeytonGarrettFB</a><br><strong>Teagan McNellis</strong> | 2024 WR/OLB | <a href="https://twitter.com/tdmcnellis17?s=20&amp;t=yG_BaKlF8ENNSZlVvOyGSQ">@tdmcnellis17</a><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='312594' first='Colin' last='Sturm']</strong> | 2024 OL/DL | <a href="https://twitter.com/colin_sturm?s=20&amp;t=SDY0FYJ5DqNO_MjaSrA5nA">@Colin_Sturm</a> <br><strong>Michael Lopez</strong> | 2023 WR<br><strong>Samuel Smolen</strong> | 2024 WR/CB <br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1085472' first='Sawyer' last='Wald']</strong> | 2025 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->