The Colorado high school football season is down to its final two weekends. With four teams left in Class 5A, 4A and 3A, here’s a preview of what to look for with trips to the championship at Canvas Stadium on the line:
Class 5A
No. 5 Valor Christian (10-2) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Stutler Bowl: This will be the 13th meeting between the Colorado superpowers, with the record split 6-6 after the Bruins thumped the Eagles 42-17 in last year’s semifinal. Cherry Creek is seeking its eighth straight title game appearance, while the Eagles are trying to get back to the big game for the first time since losing to the Bruins there in 2022. Cherry Creek has won 14 titles, including five of the last six, while Valor Christian has won eight, but none since 2018.
This game likely comes down to who can control the line of scrimmage and each team’s dynamic backs. Cherry Creek features the speedy and elusive Jayden Fox, a UNLV commit, who has rushed for 1,414 yards and 20 TDs this season. Valor Christian has the tandem of Chase Hanosh (1,370 yards and 13 TDs) and Channing Fox, who is having a forceful senior season at tailback and box safety after missing the last two falls with ACL injuries. To pull the upset, the Eagles need that duo to help them control possession.
No. 3 Mountain Vista (12-0) at No. 2 Ralston Valley (12-0), 3 p.m. Saturday, North Area Athletic Complex: Both of these programs have been on the ascent in recent years, and on Saturday at the NAAC, one of them gets to kick down the door to a first-ever championship game appearance. No one has come close to beating Ralston Valley this season, as the Mustangs have won every game by at least two touchdowns. Mountain Vista beat 10 opponents soundly, and also edged Liberty (Calif.) and Valor Christian in nail-biting affairs.
The key players in Saturday’s matchup are the quarterbacks. Ralston Valley senior Zeke Andrews, a CSU pledge, has thrown for 2,415 yards and 25 TDs to just two interceptions. He has an array of weapons at his disposal and has been the Mustangs’ heart and soul over the last two years. Meanwhile, Mountain Vista junior Marquise Reese leads 5A with 3,082 yards and 42 TDs as the centerpiece of the Golden Eagles’ pass-heavy offense; his favorite target is junior Brooklyn Bailey. The better-performing secondary will be an X factor.
Class 4A
No. 5 Heritage (9-3) at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Jeffco Stadium: The top-ranked Eagles look like an unstoppable force and come into the semis as a heavy favorite. They feature the talented trio of senior quarterback Kellen Behrendsen (82.5% passing for 2,929 yards and 37 TDs), 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior running back and Washington State commit Landon Kalsbeck (759 yards, 9.1-yard average, 12 TD) and senior wide receiver Nathan Rodriguez (56 receptions, 1,030 yards, 11 TDs). Dakota Ridge destroyed Pueblo West, 42-14, in the quarterfinals. The Eagles have outscored their opponents 496-140 and have scored more than 40 points in each of their last seven games.
Heritage lost to Dakota Ridge, 49-21, on Oct. 10, but has won five straight since, including a wild 45-36 victory at Durango in the quarterfinals. Heritage senior running back Mo Thenell could be the upset wild-card this Saturday. The bowling ball back rushed for 296 rushing yards and three scores vs. Durango and has put up 1,422 yards and scored 18 TDs in his last seven games.
No. 3 Palmer Ridge (12-0) at No. 2 Montrose (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Rice Stadium: Two unbeaten 4A titans meet for the right to advance to the championship game. Both defenses are salty: the Bears have allowed just 9.4 points per game, and the Red Hawks just 8.5. The Red Hawks are seeking redemption after losing a heartbreaker to Broomfield in the 4A title game last season, when they built a 28-point lead before falling, 35-28. Montrose has crushed its Front Range foes in the playoffs, beating Frederick 55-6 in the first round and trouncing Monarch 56-27 in the quarters.
Palmer Ridge is fresh off an impressive, 45-27 quarterfinal victory over Broomfield in which the Bears rushed for 321 yards. But the Bears can throw the ball, too. Senior quarterback Cole Harris has completed 64% of his passes for 1,638 yards, 20 TDs and just two picks. His favorite target is junior Zak Crisler (53 receptions, 841 yards, six TDs). Palmer Ridge will have to negate Montrose’s ball-control ground attack to win the game.
Class 3A
No. 5 Holy Family (11-1) at No. 1 Windsor (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Windsor High School Stadium: There are plenty of eye-popping numbers pumping off both teams’ stat sheets, but one stands out: Windsor has outscored its opponents 450-65. There are also revealing comparative matchups. Holy Family beat Mead twice — 27-21 in the regular season and 34-26 in last week’s 3A quarterfinals. Windsor blanked Mead, 23-0, on Halloween.
The top-ranked Wizards are a run-first team, punishing opponents with 2,989 yards on the ground. Senior running back Adrian Czyszczon (1,035 yards, 20 TDs) is the workhorse, but the Wizards can go airborne when they need to. QBs Junior Trotter and Mason Moore have combined for 685 yards and 10 TD passes.
Holy Family sophomore quarterback Kaden Hopkin (2,609 yards, 27 TDs) threw for 363 yards and three TDs in the Tigers’ quarterfinal victory. The Tigers spread the ball around, with four players with more than 25 receptions, led by sophomore Kai Osburn (37 receptions, 498 yards, five TDs).
No. 3 Palisade (10-2) at No. 2 Pomona (11-1), 10:30 a.m. Saturday, North Area Athletic Complex: This 3A game shapes up as a tight one. Palisade beat Roosevelt 21-14 in last week’s quarterfinals, while Pomona beat Roosevelt 23-15 on Oct. 10.
Pomona features a formidable ground attack that’s churned out at least 200 yards in five consecutive games. The Panthers ran for 364 rushing yards in their 30-27 win over Lutheran in the quarterfinals, with senior Luis Santana (73.3 yards per game) running for a career-high 222 yards. Junior QB Tucker Ingersoll (1,730 yards passing, 27 TDs) is Pomona’s other playmaker and provides offensive versatility. The Panthers have outscored their opponents 440-154. Their only loss was a 45-14 shellacking by 4A powerhouse Dakota Ridge on Sept. 19.
Palisades’ two losses came against 4A powers Montrose (37-20) and Durango (17-6). The Bulldogs are dependent on their running game (301.6 yards per game) and a stout defense that has given up only 160 points all season. The Bulldogs love to run, averaging 301.6 yards per game on the ground vs. just 53.8 yards through the air. Senior QB Branson Springer has rushed for 492 yards and 10 scores, while passing for 556 yards and seven TDs. Senior running back Dylon Larson has gained 746 yards (12.4 yards a pop) for eight TDs.
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