4A State Playoffs Second Round Preview: One Step Closer
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The first round of the CHSAA 4A state playoffs are officially in the books, and the stakes are at an all time high as the remaining 16 teams will look to fend off elimination and survive for another week. Schools…
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Continue ReadingThe first round of the CHSAA 4A state playoffs are officially in the books, and the stakes are at an all time high as the remaining 16 teams will look to fend off elimination and survive for another week. Schools like Denver South, Ponderosa, Golden, Pueblo West, Fruita Monument, Longmont, Bear Creek, and Vista Ridge all had big time wins in their playoff openers, as they all will await showdowns with teams that had first round byes. A win all but guarantees a spot in the prestigious elite eight, and one step closer to the promised land. What are the games to watch for? Which teams will prove their legitimacy? What players will make the right play at the right time? Who wants it more? Anything is possible in the month of November. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty, round two is officially here!
#10 Ponderosa vs #7 Chatfield
Ponderosa Stat Leaders:
Passing: QB Andrew Heidel
118/215, 55%, 1,324 Yards, 16 TD’s, 7 INT’s
Rushing: RB Zachary Pekarek
114 CAR, 735 Yards, 6.4 AVG, 91.9 YPG, 9 TD’s
Receiving: 38 REC, 560 Yards, 14.7 AVG, 56.0 YPG, 7 TD’s
Defensive: LB Brady Porter
111 Tackles, 10.1 TPG, 11.0 TFL
Chatfield Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Jake Jones
35/61, 57%, 570 Yards, 16.3 AVG, 6 TD’s 6 INT’s
Rushing: RB Jake Marschall Jake Marschall 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Chatfield | 2022 State CO
261 CAR, 1,549 Yards, 5.9 AVG, 110.6 YPG, 21 TD’s
Receiving: WR Mason Lowe
12 REC, 226 Yards, 18.8 AVG, 37.7 YPG, 2 TD’s
Defensive: LB Cade Thomas Cade Thomas 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Chatfield | 2023 State CO
97 Tackles, 10.8 TPG
Both teams come into the state tournament with the belief that they can make a run at a championship, but one of these squads will be going home brokenhearted on Friday night. The Mustangs come into the contest with a convincing 29-14 victory over Aurora Central. They are led by Freshman phenom Andrew Heidel who looks very promising in years to come. Ponderosa’s biggest task will be having to shut down bruiser Jake Marschall Jake Marschall 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Chatfield | 2022 State CO , who is no doubt the heart of the Chargers offense. Chatfield doesn’t air it out much, but they do a tremendous job in making the safeties come up on the run and utilizing the play action pass for big gains. Expect this one to be a battle won in the trenches.
#9 Golden vs #8 Fountain-Fort Carson
Golden Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Jazel Riley IV Jazel Riley IV 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Golden | 2023 State CO
123/193, 63%, 1,975 Yards, 16.1 AVG, 25 TD’s, 9 TD’s
Rushing: QB Jazel Riley IV Jazel Riley IV 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Golden | 2023 State CO
100 CAR, 953 Yards, 9.5 AVG, 86.6 YPG, 17 TD’s
Receiving: WR Josh Torrey Josh Torrey WR Golden | 2022 State CO
53 REC, 1,033 Yards, 19.5 AVG, 93.9 YPG, 16 TD’s
Defensive: 63 Tackles, 5.7 TPG, 2.0 TFL
Fountain-Fort Carson Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Tavian Tuli Tavian Tuli ATH Fountain-Fort Carson | 2023 State CO
63/110, 57%, 840 Yards, 13.3 AVG 10 TD’s, 3 INT’s
Rushing: RB Dezmen Oliver Dezmen Oliver RB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2022 State CO
155 CAR, 1,339 Yards, 8.6 AVG, 148.8 YPG, 23 TD’s
Receiving: TE Jesiah Steven-Silva
21 REC, 301 Yards, 14.3 AVG, 33 YPG, 3 TD’s
Defensive: LB Tai Faavae Tai Faavae 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2023 State CO
107 Tackles, 11.9 TPG
After 19 years, the Golden Demons finally broke their long-awaited football curse. With the football Gods finally looking favorably upon the Demons, what is in store now? Despite the unfamiliar territory, QB Jazel Riley IV Jazel Riley IV 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Golden | 2023 State CO has accounted for 42 touchdowns in 11 games thus far, a simply remarkable stat. Golden will have to effectively move the ball against a Fountain-Fort Carson squad that is known for sucking the life out of their opponents with an extremely physical run game and a stout defense led by linebacker Tai Faavae Tai Faavae 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2023 CO .
#4 Palmer Ridge vs #13 Pueblo West
Palmer Ridge Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Derek Hester
122/178, 68%, 15.8 AVG, 24 TD’s, 8 INT’s
Rushing: RB Connor Cook
127 CAR, 801 Yards, 6.3 AVG, 80.1 YPG, 13 TD’s
Receiving: WR Anthony Costanzo Anthony Costanzo 6'3" | 210 lbs | ATH Palmer Ridge | 2022 State CO
35 REC, 561 Yards, 16.0 AVG, 56.1 YPG, 12 TD’s
Defensive: LB Holden Wright
79 Tackles, 7.9 TPG, 6.0 TFL
Pueblo West Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Cole Brinkley
67/127, 52%, 784 Yards, 11.7 AVG, 6 TD’s, 4 INT’s
Rushing: RB Jeremiah Sanchez Jeremiah Sanchez 5'5" | RB Pueblo West | 2022 State CO
110 CAR, 804 Yards, 7.3 AVG, 73.1 YPG, 13 TD’s
Receiving: WR Gage Martinez
25 REC, 365 Yards, 14.6 AVG, 40.6 YPG, 3 TD’s
Defensive: LB Lamaine Arrington
80 Tackles, 7.3 TPG, 7.0 TFL
If there were to be an upset between the 4 and 13 seeds, do not look past this matchup and the gutsy Pueblo West Cyclones. They don’t necessarily stand out at a position, but they play together like a true pest and can give their enemies on the gridiron fits. In order for Palmer Ridge to avoid the major letdown, they will need second year signal caller Derek Hester to continue his stellar play where he recorded 24 aerial strikes through the air. If Palmer Ridge can stick to the game plan, they should be able to sneak this one out and move on to the Elite Eight.
#11 Vista Ridge vs #6 Loveland
Vista Ridge Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Brayden Dorman Brayden Dorman 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB Vista Ridge | 2023 State CO
182/300, 60%, 2,506 Yards, 13.8 AVG, 27 TD’s, 7 INT’s
Rushing: RB Dacio Ramos-Tuiletufuga
35 CAR, 212 Yards, 6.1 AVG, 42.4 YPG
Receiving: WR Brandon Hills Brandon Hills 5'9" | 150 lbs | WR Vista Ridge | 2023 State CO
65 REC, 1,035 Yards, 15.9 AVG, 103.5 YPG, 13 TD’s
Defensive: LB Isaiah Garcia
102 Tackles, 10.2 TPG, 19.0 TFL
Loveland Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Garrett Harstad Garrett Harstad 6'5" | 195 lbs | ATH Loveland | 2023 State CO
31/41, 75%, 499 Yards, 16.1 AVG, 9 TD’s, 0 INT’s
Rushing: QB Garrett Harstad Garrett Harstad 6'5" | 195 lbs | ATH Loveland | 2023 State CO
109 CAR, 1,100 Yards, 10.1 AVG, 122.2 YPG, 16 TD’s
Receiving: WR Jude Meiu
6 REC, 120 Yards, 20.0 AVG, 1 TD
Defensive: LB Ian Loomis Ian Loomis 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Loveland | 2022 State CO
136 Tackles, 13.6 TPG, 20.0 TFL
In one of the more intriguing matchups in the second round of the 4A bracket, six seed Loveland and eleven seed Vista Ridge have garnered much success in both of their respective seasons. Unfortunately, the month of November and December usually do not take pity in how one has fared throughout the regular season, and that will be the honest truth when these two titans go head-to-head Friday evening.
#3 Pine Creek vs #14 Bear Creek
Pine Creek Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Josiah Roy Josiah Roy 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Pine Creek | 2022 State CO
84/140, 1,305 Yards, 60%, 15.5 AVG, 15 TD’s, 4 INT’s
Rushing: RB Zion Hill Zion Hill RB Pine Creek | 2022 State CO
111 CAR, 824 Yards, 7.4 AVG, 103 YPG, 7 TD’s
Receiving: WR Braden Kramer
14 REC, 305 Yards, 21.8 AVG, 3 TD’s
Defensive: LB Brett Alvey Brett Alvey 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Pine Creek | 2023 State CO
72 Tackles, 7.2 TPG, 11 TFL
Bear Creek Stat Leaders
Passing: QB Jaedon Minter
164/299, 54%, 2,180 Yards, 21 TD’s, 14 INT’s
Rushing: RB Ryan Segovia
187 CAR, 1,179 Yards, 6.3 AVG, 107.2 YPG, 14 TD’s
Receiving: WR Blake McOmber Blake McOmber WR Bear Creek | 2022 State CO
60 REC, 978 Yards, 16.3 AVG, 12 TD”s
Defensive: LB Emilio Mendoza
81 Tackles, 7.4 TPG, 4.0 TFL
In another highly contested matchup that could go either way, Pine Creek enters the CHSAA 4A State Tournament with their eyes on the ultimate prize. Standing in their way will be the rowdy Bear Creek Bears. The electrifying running back in Ryan Segovia has demonstrating why many opposing defensive coordinators have had their hair turn grey throughout the 2021 campaign, and he will do his best impression of the lightning that struck Benjamin Franklin’s kite. The four-year game changer will need to jolt the offense in order for the Bears to survive yet again. Pine Creek will look to avoid aging faster than they would like in this ballgame, as they will try to get tailback Zion Hill Zion Hill RB Pine Creek | 2022 State CO going early and often in order to march their way one step closer to a state championship.