Playoff Prospects: 5A Semifinal QBs
In this article:
Now that the postseason has been narrowed down to four teams, highlighting the remaining prospects is an important focus as the final game approaches. The semifinal games for the class 5A playoff bracket will have one game kickoff tonight, while…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNow that the postseason has been narrowed down to four teams, highlighting the remaining prospects is an important focus as the final game approaches. The semifinal games for the class 5A playoff bracket will have one game kickoff tonight, while the other is scheduled to play tomorrow afternoon.
Both games will feature dangerous offenses spearheaded by top-tier quarterbacks, all but one being seniors. This article will briefly look at the four quarterbacks from the 5A semifinals who have had outstanding seasons heading into the biggest games of the year.
#2 Columbine vs. #14 Chatfield | Friday at 6:00 P.M.
These two Jeffco teams will meet again for the second time this fall. They faced off in the regular season where the Columbine Rebels defeated the Chatfield Chargers 35-14 in a league matchup. Columbine enters this game as a team that has been consistently dominant all season, while Chatfield has refused to let spectators overlook just how dangerous their team is on the field.
Reeve Holliday
Reeve Holliday
rnHolliday is a sleeper QB who has had one of the more impressive seasons in the state. As the point man for a dominant running offense, airing out the ball every game for double-digit pass attempts is not something Holliday is tasked with doing. Instead, he is a mobile QB who can manage an offense like a seasoned veteran yet make every throw as if he were a top-rated gunslinger.
rnHolliday is one of the more accurate throwers in the state, making him just as dangerous as any big-name QB from a spread offense. Columbine’s regular season game against Arapahoe was the only time this season when Holliday was tasked with throwing the ball more than eight times, and he finished with 17 completions on 20 attempts for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
rnSo far, Holliday has a senior stat line of 53 completions on 63 attempts for 774 yards and ten touchdowns with a single interception. Even though Holliday is not in a spread system running air raid concepts, he is still a top quarterback whose on-field talents make him a worthy recruit.
rnJones has had a phenomenal senior season, helping to lead the Chargers to the semifinals. He is an athletic QB with a cannon for an arm and the ability to throw bombs on the run. Even though he has the skills needed to be a legitimate dual-threat, he does an excellent job of keeping his eyes downfield to scan for potential window openings to throw through and only running when he deems it necessary.
rnAs a thrower who can charge the line of scrimmage and throw at the last second or tuck the ball and outrun secondaries, Jones is a true difference-maker. So far, Jones has racked up 2,261 passing yards and 23 touchdowns with 11 interceptions on 158 completions on 279 attempts. As a runner, he has 825 yards and 16 touchdowns on 97 carries.
rnJones threw the state championship-winning touchdown pass for the Chargers during the program’s final year in the 4A classification as a sophomore, laying the groundwork for his final year as one of the bigger stock-risers in his class.
#1 Cherry Creek vs. #5 Ralston Valley | Saturday 1:00 P.M.
The Cherry Creek Bruins and Ralston Valley Mustangs began these last two seasons with a home and away opener against each other. The Bruins won both meetings, ending this year’s game with a 35-9 victory over the Mustangs. Cherry Creek is looking to win its fifth-consecutive state title in its sixth-consecutive state championship appearance, but the Bruins will have to get past an eager Ralston Valley that is fighting for its first state title in program history.
Vodicka is a sophomore in his second year as a varsity player with the Bruins and has shown tremendous growth this season. He is a mobile QB whose impressive size makes him a powerful runner who is tough to bring down. He has a big-time arm and can hit his receivers in stride on deep shots downfield.
Vodicka has a balanced skillset that forces defenses to stay disciplined in every aspect of the game. He enters this semifinal matchup with a stat line of 147 completions on 209 for 2,030 yards with 24 touchdowns and three interceptions. Vodicka is a player who entered the fall with high expectations for this season and is on pace to exceed those expectations.
Highlights
rnMadden is a talented QB who exploded onto the scene last year when Ralston Valley introduced itself as a dominant team. He is a poised QB who can extend plays with his legs and pick up yards on his own when needed. His quick and smart decision-making has supplanted him as one of the more problematic throwers for defenses. His snappy releases and big-time arm enable him to make every throw in the route tree.
rnMadden enters this match having completed 187 of his 273 pass attempts for 2,551 yards and 22 touchdowns with five interceptions. Madden is an experienced leader with a true competitor’s spirit that his offense rallies behind, making him a QB worthy of having his name circled on recruiting boards.