Playoff Preview: Five First-Round Matchups
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It is that time of the year when the regular season ends and the playoffs begin. The playoff brackets were published by the Colorado High School Activities Association early Sunday morning–3A is to be released next Sunday–with games starting on…
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Continue ReadingIt is that time of the year when the regular season ends and the playoffs begin. The playoff brackets were published by the Colorado High School Activities Association early Sunday morning–3A is to be released next Sunday–with games starting on Thursday.
There are some entertaining matchups slated for the first round of the playoffs, making this week even more interesting. Here is a list of five games throughout all classifications to add to the radar.
#14 Chatfield vs #19 Cherokee Trail
The Chatfield Chargers will take on the Cherokee Trail Cougars in a rematch of the season opener. Both teams have progressed from last season. The Chargers are a senior-led team with a lot of talent coming up, while the Cougars have a significant number of junior starters with a solid group of underclassmen.
Chatfield | Cherokee Trail |
Jake Jones Jake Jones QB Chatfield | 2024 State CO | 2024 QB | Tyson Smith Tyson Smith QB Cherokee Trail | 2025 CO | 2025 QB |
Drew Rohlman Drew Rohlman 6'3" | TE Chatfield | 2024 State CO | 2024 WR/TE | Noah Collins | 2025 RB |
Niguse Shelp Niguse Shelp 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Chatfield | 2024 State CO | 2024 CB | Brian Tucker | 2025 RB |
Reed Narva | 2025 SS | Blake Rodriguez | 2025 LB |
Jaden Zeller Jaden Zeller 5'9" | 140 lbs | ATH CO | 2027 WR | Cade Brook | 2025 DE |
#15 Fairview vs #18 Fountain-Fort Carson
The Fariveiw Knights will take on the Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans in a game that has the potential to be one of the more exciting matchups of the first round. Fairview welcomed back their phenom QB from two years ago, who will lead the Knights in his first playoff appearance in the state. The Trojans have one of the state’s top rushers on the roster and a stout defensive unit, making this game a must-watch.
Fairview | Fountain-Fort Carson |
Bekkem Kritza | 2025 QB | Mathias Price Mathias Price 6'2" | 215 lbs | RB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO | 2024 RB |
Jordan Rechel Jordan Rechel 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Fairview | 2025 State CO | 2025 WR/ATH | Keenan Campbell Keenan Campbell 6'2" | WR Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO | 2024 WR |
Jace Hines Jace Hines WR Fairview | 2024 CO | 2024 WR | Lincoln Fa’apouli Jr Lincoln Fa’apouli Jr 6'5" | 320 lbs | OL Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO | 2024 OT |
Brock Kolstad Brock Kolstad 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Fairview | 2025 State CO | 2025 LB | Matthew Jennings Matthew Jennings 6'2" | 270 lbs | OL Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO | 2024 OL |
Toray Davis Toray Davis ATH Fairview | 2026 CO | 2026 FS/ATH | Myles McClarity Myles McClarity 6'2" | 165 lbs | DB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2024 State CO | 2024 FS |
#16 Vista Ridge vs #17 Denver South
The Vista Ridge Wolves will challenge the Denver South Ravens on Friday night. The last time these two teams faced off was when the Ravens beat the Wolves 14-0 in the first round of the playoffs in the 2016 season. Both teams have dynamic offenses capable of putting up large numbers.
Vista Ridge | Denver South |
Zayden Stevens Zayden Stevens 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Vista Ridge | 2025 State CO | 2025 QB | Jr Felipe | 2024 QB |
Sonny Endicott | 2024 WR | Chevelle Early Chevelle Early RB Denver South | 2024 State CO | 2024 RB |
Nayshawn Hall | 2025 RB | Alijah Landrum-Hamilton Alijah Landrum-Hamilton 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Denver South | 2027 CO | 2027 WR |
Kobe Dooley Kobe Dooley 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Unknown | 2026 CO | 2026 WR/ATH | Orlando Guevara Orlando Guevara ATH Denver South | 2024 State CO | 2024 RB/DB/ATH |
Wesley Wright Wesley Wright 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Vista Ridge | 2024 State CO | 2024 DB | Jeremiah Emery | 2024 LB |
#4 Berthoud vs #13 Wellington
The Berthoud Spartans are a team that has paid their dues over the last few years, and all of that hard work has paid off this year, entering the postseason as the four-seed with a senior-led squad. The Wellington Eagles are in their second season of football, quickly emerging as a playoff-caliber team with a lot of young talent.
Berthoud | Wellington |
Darin Davidson Darin Davidson 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Berthoud | 2024 CO | 2024 QB | Tanner Gray Tanner Gray 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Wellington | 2026 CO | 2026 QB/SS |
Alex Larson | 2024 RB | Cash Altschwager Cash Altschwager 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Wellington | 2025 State CO | 2025 RB/ATH |
Aiden McGrath Aiden McGrath 6'1" | 195 lbs | TE Berthoud | 2024 State CO | 2024 LB | Tyler Shaffer | 2026 LB |
Joey Finnegan | 2024 LB | Julius Olivo | 2026 DE |
Cole Bialek | 2025 LB | Ethan Thumes | 2027 DL/OL |
#8 Banning Lewis Academy vs #9 Wiggins
The Stallions from Banning Lewis Academy and the Wiggins Tigers will face off on Saturday afternoon. The Stallions have been perfect on the season so far, while the Tigers have proven themselves to be a stout team capable of standing their ground against top competition. Just because these teams are in the 1A classification, there will be no shortage of college-level talent on the field.
Banning Lewis Academy | Wiggins |
Sam Bell | 2024 QB | Jayson Lousberg | 2025 RB |
Ben Early Ben Early 6'4" | 200 lbs | TE Banning Lewis Prep Academy | 2024 State CO | 2024 TE/ATH | Tyler Dilka | 2025 RB |
Chase Riehle Chase Riehle 6'1" | 210 lbs | ATH Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy | 2025 State CO | 2025 RB/LB | Grant Reed | 2024 DL |
Joseph Bjegovich | 2024 ATH | Americo Lorenzini | 2024 DL |
Jordan Jones | 2026 DB | Jacob Dorren | 2024 RB/LB |