Win or Go Home: Saturday’s 5A Quarterfinal Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The postseason has officially arrived in the state of Colorado! After an eventful first two rounds of this year's playoffs in the Classes of 5A and 4A, the next slate of games has kicked off this weekend. With more than enough intriguing matchups going down from Class 5A all the way to 1A, the most wonderful time of the year is here! Which teams and players will step up with the lights shining at its brightest?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 Cherry Creek vs #9 ThunderRidge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What to Watch For: </strong>Cherry Creek's pass rush vs ThunderRidge's pass protection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cherry Creek Top Playmaker:</strong> OLB [player_tooltip player_id='62241' first='Blake' last='Purchase']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ThunderRidge Top Playmaker: </strong>QB D.J. Bordeaux </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After disposing Fountain-Fort Carson rather easily in blowout fashion by a score 42-6 during the second round a week ago, the Bruins have shown that they aren't here to mess around. With an abundant amount of talent on both sides of the ball, the Bruins are fortunate to have the top-ranked player in the state in outside-linebacker who leads the Box State with a whopping 17 sacks on the season. In response, the ninth-seeded Grizzlies will hope to continue to raise eyebrows around the state with their 14-year-old phenom quarterback D.J. Bordeaux. With three touchdown passes in the win versus Arapahoe last weekend, Bordeaux is ThunderRidge's best chance at dethroning the 3x 5A defending champs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Cherry Creek 38, ThunderRidge 24</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CreekFB/status/1593849651257450496","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CreekFB/status/1593849651257450496 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GoDJ/status/1591549842190635008","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GoDJ/status/1591549842190635008 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3 Ralston Valley vs #6 Columbine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What to Watch For: </strong>Ralston Valley's passing game vs Columbine's rushing attack </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ralston Valley Top Playmaker:</strong> QB Logan Madden </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbine Top Playmaker: </strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id='376592' first='Marquane' last='Taylor']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both squads were able to take care of business in the second round, but the quarterfinals know how to make the stakes that much higher. The biggest thing to keep your eye out for is how Ralston Valley responds to a run-heavy attack that Columbine loves to utilize. However, the Rebels pass defense, although capable, will have their hands full against one of the more well-balanced field generals in the state in Logan Madden. Home-field advantage may end up being the deciding factor in this thrilling showdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Ralston Valley 28, Columbine 20</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HS_MUSTANGS/status/1591252803036536833","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/HS_MUSTANGS/status/1591252803036536833 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RebelballCHS/status/1593849656655564800","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RebelballCHS/status/1593849656655564800 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4 Grandview vs #5 Pine Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What to Watch For: </strong>Grandview's ball-hawking defense vs Pine Creek's offensive line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grandview Top Playmaker</strong>: QB [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pine Creek Top Playmaker</strong>: CB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='146050' first='Ramon' last='Pacheco'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already posting a pair of defensive shutouts throughout the regular season, there is no question that Grandview is as confident as ever in their abilities to stop opposing offenses dead in their tracks. The Wolves will face off with a Pine Creek offense that can score in a hurry, so consider this one of the toughest tests so far this year for four-seed Grandview. Whether both offenses are stymied or a a scoring shootout breaks out on the gridiron, the matchup between QB [player_tooltip player_id='218297' first='Liam' last='Szarka'] and his cannon for an arm versus Pine Creek's top cover corner [player_tooltip player_id='146050' first='Ramon' last='Pacheco']. In eleven games played, Pacheco has reeled in seven interceptions and is an absolute baller in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><em>Grandview 23, Pine Creek 27</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GHSWolvesFB/status/1593597466091233280","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GHSWolvesFB/status/1593597466091233280 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Ramon_Pacheco1_/status/1587253538677309441","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Ramon_Pacheco1_/status/1587253538677309441 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->