Must-Watch Match-Ups in the 5A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The end of the football season is upon us. The state championship game for the 5A classification will be played between the top two schools in the state, the Cherry Creek Bruins and the Columbine Rebels. The two undefeated teams will meet at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado–home to the Colorado State Rams–on Saturday at 3:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What makes this game so exciting are the individual match-ups on the field between some of the top prospects in the area. With all eyes on the state final, players have a chance to show their skills on the biggest stage to fans and scouts alike.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This article will look at the key match-ups to watch in this game, especially for college coaches looking for the next class of difference-makers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>In The Trenches</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will come down to which defensive front can win the most in the trenches. Both teams specialize in establishing the run, while Cherry Creek adds a balanced pass attack to their repertoire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherry Creek's offensive line is arguably the top-recruited line unit in the state. With guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381193' first='Hayden' last='Treter']</strong> (2024 USC commit), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323104' first='Maxwell' last='Parrott']</strong> (2024 Purdue commit), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385132' first='Andre' last='Burton'] </strong>(2024 Iowa State commit) on the roster, having a really good line is to be expected. Add <strong>Evan Godin </strong>(2024 OG), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275124' first='Soren' last='Shinofield'] </strong>(2025 OT), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1274299' first='Ned' last='Zilinskas']</strong> (2025 C) to the mix, and end up with a phenomenal offensive line full of Division I talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbine's defensive front will face its toughest challenge of the season, but they are a team built for the task. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875547' first='Hunter' last='Hamilton'] </strong>(2024 DE/TE), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276505' first='Spencer' last='Houle']</strong> (2024 DE/TE), <strong>Alan Pham</strong> (2024 OG/DT), and <strong>Carlos Mendoza</strong> (2024 C/DT) have 20 sacks between the four of them, with Hamilton leading with seven.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherry Creek's defensive front has a tough challenge of its own. Facing a polished offensive line of a generationally dominant rushing program. Mendoza, Pham, <strong>Andrew Ossola </strong>(2024 OT), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404985' first='Peyton' last='Burcar']</strong> (2025 OT), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1596013' first='DJ' last='Ironshell']</strong> (2025 OG), Houle, and Hamilton make up a fundamentally sound offensive line with elite techniques, paving the way for a powerful rushing attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins have a dangerous defensive front that consists of D1 talent in guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146052' first='Exodus' last='Johnson']</strong> (2024 DT/DE), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406464' first='Keegan' last='Perea']</strong> (2025 DE), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250174' first='Jack' last='Francis']</strong> (2025 DT/DE), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283707' first='Tufanua' last='Ionatana Umu-Cais']</strong> (2026 DT). In a game like this, expect the box to be stacked with linebacker help, but winning up front will be critical for Cherry Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Run Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned, both teams do fantastic jobs of establishing a strong run game. The Bruins run a more balanced offense that is designed for both aspects of the game. The Rebels, however, have a grueling ground game that delivers clock-chewing body blows that wear down their opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbine's rushing trifecta of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381226' first='Josh' last='Snyder']</strong> (2024), <strong>Mason Moreno</strong> (2024 ATH), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276508' first='James' last='Basinger'] </strong>(2025 RB/SS) make up one of the more dangerous running back groups in the state. The box for the Bruins will have <strong>Jake Howell</strong> (2024 LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251220' first='Angelo' last='Petrides']</strong> (2024 LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710688' first='Eli' last='Martinez']</strong> (2024 S), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232189' first='Aiden' last='Knapke']</strong> (2025 S) to bring a lot of speed and power to help fill gaps and attack running lanes. The hits and level of physicality that will be on display from these prospects bring a whole different level of anticipation to this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259298' first='Jordan' last='Herron'] </strong>(2024 RB) is Cherry Creek's dynamic running back with electrifying skills, while <strong>Cortlen Johnson</strong> (2024 RB) is more of a downhill power runner. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381202' first='James' last='Cillessen']</strong> (2024 LB/RB) has been a force this season, leading the Rebels in tackles. Cillessen, <strong>Titus Miranda</strong> (2024 LB), <strong>Niko Zaharas</strong> (2024 LB), and <strong>Tre Ogden</strong> (2025 LB) will play significant roles in the pace of this game, making the Rebels' linebacker core an ideal watch for coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->