Colorado Class 4A State Quarterfinals Preview

There has long been reason to wonder if the day would ever come at all, but the high school football postseason has finally arrived in Colorado. Starting this week in all classifications, teams that battled their way through a shortened season, rampant cancellations and COVID-19 protocols are scheduled to take the field this week and open the playoffs with the quarterfinals for all seven classifications. As we go bracket-by-bracket to look at each matchup and the game-changing recruits to keep an eye on, let’s continue with Class 4A. If you missed the 5A Preview, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/11/colorado-class-5a-state-quarterfinals-preview/">check it out here!</a> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. 1 Dakota Ridge vs. No. 8 Montrose</strong></p> After getting eliminated in the semifinals last season, the Dakota Ridge Eagles fought hard in 2020 for the No. 1 overall seed and they’re ready to defend it. Their first test on the way to what they hope is a state championship will be No. 8 Montrose. Dakota Ridge has no shortage of weapons on both sides of the ball, and that’s aided by the fact players like [player_tooltip player_id="56027" first="Charlie" last="Offerdahl"] play both ways most of the game. As a senior, Offerdahl rushed for a team-high 428 yards and 11 touchdowns, returned kicks and punts and also led the team with three interceptions. But one player cannot make a team a top seed, and it took a combination of prospects like [player_tooltip player_id="22578" first="Jason" last="Soderlin"], [player_tooltip player_id="46109" first="Colin" last="Stuhr"], [player_tooltip player_id="22632" first="Mason" last="Galbreath"] and [player_tooltip player_id="40902" first="Max" last="Hart"] to accomplish that. Eagles quarterback Ben Gultig (2021) posted 14 touchdowns to just five interceptions and Spencer Hardy (2021) led a solid defense – 5.3 points against per game – with six sacks during the regular season. Challenging the top seed is a Montrose team that lost twice during the regular season and still cracked the bracket. The team relies on playmakers like Trent Blundell (2021) operating behind a solid offensive line that features [player_tooltip player_id="22659" first="Raul" last="Martinez"]. <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. 4 Loveland vs. No. 5 Broomfield</strong></p> Between Loveland and Broomfield, these two teams have combined, one or the other, to play in four of the last five 4A state championship games. They have also traded victories in the last eight meetings of their head-to-head series. This time around, both teams are unbeaten and ready to face off once again. The heart of the Broomfield offense and defense is [player_tooltip player_id="22597" first="Hall" last="Edmonds"], as he leads the team in both rushing and total tackles. Offensively, the Eagles also have a dual-threat sophomore quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id="62228" first="Cole" last="LaCrue"], who has impressed to the tune of 841 passing yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception is his first starting opportunity. Six-foot-3 receiver [player_tooltip player_id="62055" first="Josh" last="Dunn"] gives the Eagles and big-play threat down the field and kicker [player_tooltip player_id="40901" first="Matthew" last="Eich"] is one of the best in the state of Colorado. Dynamic athlete [player_tooltip player_id="58946" first="Zack" last="Rakowsky"] paced the Loveland offense and has racked up 1,004 yards of total offense while doing a bit of everything for LHS. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="22729" first="Ian" last="Loomis"] and Jadyn Tafoya (2021) are tackling machines, combing for 118 in just 10 games played between them. Loomis and Tyson Williams (2022) each has a team-high three interceptions. <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. 2 Palmer Ridge vs. No. 7 Pine Creek</strong></p> Defending champion Pine Creek hits the bracket in a game that features a ton of exciting players who either have already committed or have yet to make decisions, as well as several more prospects who are still working hard to earn offers. On Palmer Ridge, you have [player_tooltip player_id="22527" first="Kaden" last="Dudley"] (Boise State), [player_tooltip player_id="22533" first="Luke" last="McAllister"] (Colorado State) and [player_tooltip player_id="22560" first="Marcellus" last="Reed"] (Pittsburg State), as well as quality uncommitted senior recruits like linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="22562" first="Saxon" last="Wright"], tight end [player_tooltip player_id="22595" first="Cameron" last="Jones"] and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="56034" first="Kanoa" last="Clemons"]. In their 2022 class, the Bears also have [player_tooltip player_id="22673" first="Anthony" last="Costanzo"], [player_tooltip player_id="22675" first="Connor" last="Jones"] and [player_tooltip player_id="22684" first="Alec" last="Falk"]. Pine Creek is led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id="22522" first="Beau" last="Freyler"] (Iowa State), [player_tooltip player_id="22545" first="Colin" last="Chatman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="22582" first="Caleb" last="Nott"], as well as 2022 recruits [player_tooltip player_id="22682" first="Gavin" last="Whetzal"] and [player_tooltip player_id="22878" first="Logan" last="Noble"]. It should be exciting to watch McAllister, who has 1,070 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, and the high-powered the Palmer Ridge passing offense face Freyler and a Pine Creek defense that allowed just 14.75 points through a tough 2020 schedule. There will be plenty of up-and-coming players to watch, as well, like 2023’s [player_tooltip player_id="22783" first="Brett" last="Alvey"], [player_tooltip player_id="22762" first="Joshua" last="Gerlach II"] and [player_tooltip player_id="22790" first="KJ" last="Smedley"]. <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. 3 Ponderosa vs. No. 6 Fountain-Fort Carson</strong></p> Right out of the gate in this game, you can expect some exciting energy from Fountain-Fort Carson running back [player_tooltip player_id="22588" first="Q" last="Jones"], who led the state with 1,395 rushing yards in just six games after missing all of last season because of an injury. You can also expect the swarming Ponderosa defense to match that energy after allowing less than a dozen points per game in 2020. Ponderosa quarterback Jack Hanenburg had an excellent regular season, completing 64 percent (56 for 87) of his passes on the way to 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games. Two-way standout Kolton Miller (2021) caught four of those and Carter Motichka (2021) caught the other five while [player_tooltip player_id="56050" first="Cael" last="Porter"], who also led the defense with 71 totals tackles, ran for 578 yards on 78 carries. The Fountain-Fort Carson defense has its own studs on the roster, including [player_tooltip player_id="153759" first="Curtis" last="Jackson"], who led the team with fourth interceptions, and [player_tooltip player_id="44626" first="Tai" last="Faavae"], who is just a sophomore but still led the Trojans defense with 41 tackles in six games.