November 30th 2024.
The highly-anticipated Class 5A playoffs are in full swing, and this Saturday, two of the top teams, No. 5 Valor Christian and No. 1 Cherry Creek, will face off at 1 p.m. This matchup marks the eighth time in the last 11 seasons that these two powerhouse programs have met in the semifinals or later. The Bruins have dominated in recent years, winning the last three meetings, all of which were in the 5A championship round. They are now seeking their seventh consecutive trip to the 5A title game. Led by juniors Brady Vodicka and RB Jayden Fox, the Creek offense has been on fire, averaging an impressive 42.0 points per game. And their defense has been just as impressive, not allowing more than 18 points in a game since late September. They will certainly have their work cut out for them against a Valor team that has been on a rampage since a humbling 62-21 loss to Mountain Vista on October 4th. In the six games since then, the Eagles have outscored their opponents 260-51, including a dominant 31-7 victory over Columbine in the quarterfinals. Valor's strong defense held the Rebels to just 209 total yards in that game.
The other 5A matchup on Saturday features No. 7 Fairview taking on No. 6 Legend at 1 p.m. Fairview is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind win against No. 2 Mountain Vista that sent them to the state semifinals for the first time in 11 years. The Knights are currently the only unbeaten team in 5A and are led by sophomore QB Ki Ellison, who has been steadily improving with each game, and senior Jordan Rechel, who is on the verge of reaching 1,000 yards rushing and receiving this season. They will face a tough challenge in Legend's run game, which left a mark on No. 3 Ralston Valley in a 35-16 win last week. The Titans' defense has also been impressive, allowing just 5.8 points per game during their nine-game win streak. If they can keep up this level of play, they could be heading to their first state championship game.
In the Class 4A playoffs, No. 5 Broomfield will take on No. 1 Dakota Ridge at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Dakota Ridge is having a dream season and is just one game away from their second appearance in the state championship round in program history, and their first in 20 years. However, they will have to get past a tough Broomfield team that is only two years removed from winning their fifth state title. Led by senior RB Colin Torres, senior QB Darien Jackson, and Air Force commit Mikhail Benner, the Eagles have been on a roll, recently eliminating last year's 4A runner-up, Palmer Ridge. But the Dakota Ridge defense has been just as impressive, coming off a 14-0 shutout of Ponderosa in the quarterfinals. Junior Landon Kalsbeck had an outstanding game with 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks on defense and 124 total yards on offense. The Eagles will need a similar performance to get past Broomfield.
The other 4A matchup on Saturday is No. 3 Pueblo West at No. 2 Montrose at 1 p.m. Montrose is no stranger to the semifinals, making it to this stage for the third time in the last four years. They are also the only unbeaten team in 4A this season. Pueblo West will have revenge on their minds, as Montrose defeated them 27-24 in Week 10 of the regular season. But Pueblo West is coming off an impressive 42-28 quarterfinal win over Heritage, led by senior QB Gavin Lockett, who had 292 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries. This game is sure to be a close one, with both teams fighting for a spot in the state championship game.
In the Class 3A playoffs, No. 5 Green Mountain will take on No. 1 Thompson Valley at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Green Mountain is back in the state semifinals for the third consecutive year and is looking to finish what the previous two teams started. They will have a tough challenge in Thompson Valley's stingy defense, which has allowed just 72 points all season. However, Green Mountain's offense, led by senior QB Simon Lunsford, has been on fire lately, with Lunsford throwing for 1,322 yards and 19 touchdowns in the last six games. In the quarterfinals, he had an impressive 18-for-22 performance with 283 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Severance.
The other 3A matchup on Saturday is No. 3 Pomona at No. 2 Mead at 1 p.m. Pomona is back in the playoffs after a successful season at the 3A level, and they are looking to continue their run to the state championship game. They are coming off a back-and-forth battle with Windsor in the quarterfinals, where they came out on top thanks to junior RB Emmitt Munson's second consecutive 100-yard game on the ground. They will face a tough challenge in Mead's strong defense, which is allowing just 9.5 points per game. The Mavericks will look to control the ball with their grinding run game and make Pomona earn every yard. This game is sure to be a physical battle, with both teams fighting for a spot in the state championship game.
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