2022 Schedule Release: The Five Intriguing Matchups to Watch for

The new football year is officially here! With state playoffs well within the rearview mirror and National Signing Day all but history, football fanatics can finally circle the first week of September in their calendars. This may seem like a lifetime away from now, but those who love this sport realize that this is a small reason for celebration during the long and grueling offseason. A little over a week ago, certain schools throughout the Centennial state have learned about some of the teams that would be on their scheduled slate in 2022. Despite the opening matchup of the 2022 season still six months away, it is never too early to start looking ahead at some of the most fascinating matchups that the last few months of the year has to offer. From the powerhouses of Class 5A to the rural schools of 1A, there are a boatload of enticing games that will have us salivating with anticipation. That being said, what games deserve to be included among the top five most intriguing matchups to watch for in 2022? Let the fun begin!   <strong>Honorable Mentions: </strong><em>Regis Jesuit vs Fountain-Fort Carson (10/28/22), Palmer Ridge vs Cheyenne Mountain (10/21/22), Loveland vs Pomona (9/9/22), Roosevelt vs Thompson Valley (10/28/22), Rock Canyon vs Smoky Hill (9/2/22)</em>   <strong>Columbine vs Dakota Ridge</strong> <strong>When: </strong> 9/2/22 <strong>Where:</strong> Littleton, CO Titans of both 5A and 4A are confirmed to go head-to-head after the Columbine Rebels football twitter page leaked their schedule last week. Both squads have expectations to be championship contenders in 2022, and this contest should be considered as a measuring stick to see if both school’s lofty aspirations are realistic. One matchup to be on the lookout for: the star running backs for both explosive offenses. The Rebel’s rushing attack may look slightly different than the Eagles, as their traditional wishbone option assault will utilize RB [player_tooltip player_id="150207" first="Tyree" last="Trusty"] to the best of his abilities. Trusty will be the focal point of a heavy run offense, as he will look to build upon his impressive 6.6 YPC from a season ago. As for Dakota Ridge, they happen to possess one of the best all-around playmakers in the state. Not needing a formal introduction to the rest of the state, there isn’t much that tailback [player_tooltip player_id="150210" first="Noah" last="Triplett"] cannot do, as his 31 total touchdowns from the 2021 season prove his elite dependability to his squad. Outside of those two playmakers, there are a few names to know from now until September that will make a major impact when these two schools face off. Columbine returns LB Payton Wainwright, who recorded 87 tackles, 4.0 TFL, and 7.0 Sacks during his junior campaign. Another name that is already raising eyebrows strictly due to his larger than life 6’4 240 pound frame is DE [player_tooltip player_id="288459" first="Rocky" last="Shields"], with his 5.0 Sacks from 2021 offering a building block for a breakout senior year. The Eagles will have more than enough weapons at their disposal as well, with DB Landon Giebler making a name for himself as a leader in the Dakota Ridge secondary. https://twitter.com/RebelballCHS/status/1491506502846214146   <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12839759/619a76f63453c60bf4d777b6" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>   <strong>Legend vs Vista Ridge</strong> <strong>When:</strong> 8/26/22 <strong>Where:</strong> Colorado Springs, CO The second matchup between 5A and 4A schools looking to get off on the right foot should set the tone for both team’s 2022 season. With the contest currently scheduled for the last week of August, there will be plenty of sunshine and warm weather to go around when Legend and Vista Ridge go to battle. The Titans are coming off a season where their roster was senior heavy, and replacing that type of production will not be considered a simple task. Things won’t get any easier against a week 1 matchup versus Vista Ridge, a team that compiled a record of 7-4 and even reeled off a playoff win in 2021 before eventually faltering against Loveland in the second round. Not to mention, the Titans will have their hands full preparing to go up against four-star QB prospect [player_tooltip player_id="22744" first="Brayden" last="Dorman"], who is currently ranked as the best field general in the state. Despite a decent amount of players departing towards their next chapters in life, Legend has built a firm football foundation over recent years and are more than equipped to reload at multiple positions. The Titans will need to sort out who will be commanding the offense under center moving forward, but intriguing prospects such as DL [player_tooltip player_id="22779" first="Rory" last="Boulter"] and DB [player_tooltip player_id="150067" first="Sam" last="Axelrod"] will plan on keeping teams off the scoreboard in order provide much needed support to the offense. The Wolves will be coming off a strong sense of optimism heading into 2022, with skilled ballers occupying both sides of the football. Outside of the quarterback position, names like DE AJ Jordan, WR [player_tooltip player_id="22764" first="Brandon" last="Hills"], and WR [player_tooltip player_id="50576" first="Keyshawn" last="Dooley"] will be fun to watch. Expect a pass-happy offensive attack from Vista Ridge, something that Legend will be preparing for all offseason long. https://twitter.com/QSickafoose/status/1462181682509869060 <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12630358/619852269676a6033c2b542a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>   <strong>Chatfield vs Pomona</strong> <strong>When: </strong>10/6/22 <strong>Where: </strong>Arvada, CO As we take a sneak peek into some of the games that have already been scheduled for 2022, there appears to be no shortage of different classifications squaring off on the gridiron. These aren’t just your average run of the mill programs going to war, but instead some of the more noble schools the state of Colorado has to offer. For starters, Chatfield is coming off one of the most successful seasons they have put together to date, capping it off by hoisting the 4A State Championship trophy at Empower Field at Mile High. Pomona, on the other hand, has also had its fair share of success within the past decade. Under long time coach Jay Madden, the Panthers won the 5A State Championship in 2017, while also reaching the state semifinals six times while making it to the 5A title game a whopping four different occasions. In his first season as the boss, head coach Nathan Johnson knew there were going to be big shoes to fill. Fortunately for Pomona, 2021 was considered a success, as the Panthers managed to reach postseason play, including a first-round victory over Castle View. Obviously, Pomona will have championship expectations heading into 2022, but fresh faces will need to make a major impact after multiple seniors from last year’s club are on track to graduate in a couple months. 2024 Watch List running back [player_tooltip player_id="146049" first="Marcus" last="Talbert Jr"]. will be handed the keys to the rushing attack, and many believe he is more than capable after posting 410 rushing yards on 69 carries. Meanwhile, the Chargers of Chatfield will try to avoid a championship hangover, and ultimately will look to continue being the kings of 4A football for the second consecutive year. Even after losing RB [player_tooltip player_id="240088" first="Jake" last="Marschall"] and his near 2,000 rushing yards, fellow ball carriers [player_tooltip player_id="22769" first="Mason" last="Lowe"], [player_tooltip player_id="251310" first="Brock" last="Narva"], and TE [player_tooltip player_id="251279" first="Drew" last="Rohlman"] should provide the spark offensively. With this matchup scheduled for the first weekend of October, a general idea of how lethal these teams can really be will be on full display. https://twitter.com/MarcusTalbertJ1/status/1473545499496099841 <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10935633/61ce5192f31de90b9c3a1d72" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>   <strong>Montrose vs Pueblo West </strong> <strong>When: </strong>10/28/22 <strong>Where: </strong>Montrose, CO At first glance, the run dominant Montrose Indians facing off against the up and coming Pueblo West Cyclones has the chance to be quite the appetizing matchup. Everyone throughout the Colorado high school football community is well aware of the type of season Montrose was able to accomplish, but not many have been apprehensive to the positive direction that the Cyclones seem to be heading in the near future. In 2021, Pueblo West marched to a record of 7-5 and even clinched a playoff berth. After demolishing Vista Peak Prep 52-0 in the first round of the playoffs, the then 13-seeded Cyclones went on to put a scare into four seed Palmer Ridge, barely coming up short of completing the upset by falling 28-27 in double overtime. The heartbreaking shortcoming will no doubt be in the back of every Cyclones’ mind as they strap on the helmets and pads in preparation for what 2022 has to offer. Similarly, Montrose’s season possibly ended in an even more crushing defeat against Erie in the Final Four, as the Indians were a mere five minutes away from playing for the whole enchilada. Montrose had one and if not the best rushing attack the state had to offer a season ago, grinding and pounding out an insurmountable 3,998 yards on the ground. The dynamic duo of QB [player_tooltip player_id="251264" first="Gage" last="Wareham"] and RB [player_tooltip player_id="143632" first="Blake" last="Griffin"] should provide cheers on almost any given play, but they both will be tasked with the difficult job in replicating the success that was had in 2021. On the other side of things, the Cyclones have some star-studded players of their own. A name to be on the lookout for if you haven’t noticed him already? How about LB/special teams guru Jacob Trader, who manhandled his way to 77 tackles, 16.0 TFL, and a pair of sacks. Standing at 5’8", 170 pounds, Trader shows off phenomenal speed, thus giving him the ability to make plays in the special teams department, including an electrifying 84 yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Fruita. This matchup between these two schools won’t come until the end of October, so serious playoff implications could be at stake by then.   <strong>Fountain-Fort Carson vs Pine Creek </strong> <strong>When: </strong>9/30/22 <strong>Where: </strong>Fountain, CO Last but certainly not least, the fourth ranked Pine Creek Eagles and the eighth rated Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans from a season ago are scheduled to go head-to-head on the final day of September. This matchup has all the potential making to be one of the most competitive games of 2022, and there will be serious bragging rights for whoever comes out victorious within the Fountain/Colorado Springs region. Both squads did not meet on the football field a season ago, but with a combined record of 20-6 between the two in 2021, an exuberant amount of talent will be on full display. Only 30 miles separate the two schools, with a high probability that many of the players on both sides grew up together playing pop warner or youth ball. During the 2021 CHSAA 4A State Football Playoffs, the Eagles and Trojans both found themselves playing in the Elite Eight, as championship aspirations consumed their minds. Pine Creek was fortunate enough to punch their ticket to the Final Four, but were outplayed against the eventual state champs, 28-21. The Trojans final gasp to their respective season was a whole lot uglier, as they were severely dismantled by one-seeded Montrose by a final score of 48-14. Despite both squads having successful campaigns, each team would probably express disappointment about their season outcomes. Fortunately, a new page has been turned and every team in the state will have blank canvasses to work with. The Trojans boast a total of five athletes that are ranked in the Prep Redzone 2023 rankings. These handful of athletic specimens include LB [player_tooltip player_id="62220" first="Tai" last="Faavae"] (#1 LB, #7 Overall), TE [player_tooltip player_id="62246" first="Jesiah" last="Stevens-Silva"] (#3 TE, #26 Overall), DB [player_tooltip player_id="218422" first="Myles" last="McClarity"] (#4 DB, #49 Overall), QB [player_tooltip player_id="22751" first="Tavian" last="Tuli"] (#13 QB, #105 Overall), and LB [player_tooltip player_id="247208" first="Michael" last="Madrid"] (#19 LB, #165 Overall). Not to mention, 2024 Watch List nominee ATH [player_tooltip player_id="251216" first="Ryand" last="Manongdo II"], is also generating much excitement around Fountain with his stellar play. On the other hand, Pine Creek contains a few playmakers of their own in LB [player_tooltip player_id="22783" first="Brett" last="Alvey"] (#4 LB, #36 Overall), who is one of the best middle linebackers in the state. Possibly even more importantly, the Eagles look to be in good hands within their 2024 class, as LB Jayden Anetone, OL [player_tooltip player_id="220428" first="Carson" last="Caplan"], QB [player_tooltip player_id="143628" first="Caden" last="Coesens"], OL [player_tooltip player_id="143636" first="Matthew" last="Jennings"], ATH [player_tooltip player_id="251217" first="Mason" last="Miller"], WR [player_tooltip player_id="251280" first="Justis" last="Nicholson"], DB [player_tooltip player_id="146050" first="Ramon" last="Pacheco"], DB [player_tooltip player_id="146074" first="Leyton" last="Robinson"], ATH [player_tooltip player_id="143647" first="Marquis" last="Williams"], and LB [player_tooltip player_id="146075" first="Luke" last="Zimmerman"] are all apart of the 2024 Watch List (Yes, you can take a breath now). These schools are building something special down south, and the game between the two in seven months will be one of many contests around the state that we will be feverishly looking forward to in 2022. https://twitter.com/pinecreek_fb/status/1486708944168898560 <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12783744/61a695b1c1250b0670e5a37f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12590382/61ce5db4a676e4055c661acf" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>