Denver Christian Dominates 1A While Colorado Playoffs Feature Wide-Open Contests

The Colorado high school football playoffs begin this Friday as teams from every class enter a postseason defined by stark contrasts. While some squads are building dynasties, others are fighting for a first appearance in the MaxPreps era. The opening round for Class 2A starts immediately, with other classes joining the brackets next week.

Denver Christian enters the 1A bracket as the top seed and the only undefeated team in that class. Head coach Bret McGatlin has turned the Thunder around rapidly. The program went 2-7 the year before his arrival and 4-5 the previous season. Now, Denver Christian has not played a close game all season. The team holds a 37.25-point average margin of victory. Senior running back and middle linebacker Quinn Barkema leads the offense.

Elizabeth seeks redemption in Class 2A after suffering a 35-0 loss to Wellington in last year's title game. The Cardinals are currently undefeated and hold the number two seed. They finished the regular season with a 27-17 win over The Classical Academy. Michael Zoesch is in his 12th year as head coach. The defense features defensive ends Cash Buron and Tyler Hanak. Elizabeth has a bye during this opening week.

Palmer Ridge is dismantling opponents in Class 3A after dropping down from 4A for a two-year cycle. The Bears hold a 28.4-point average margin of victory. Their closest game came on August 28 against La Cueva of New Mexico, which they won 29-14. Palmer Ridge finished as runner-up in 4A last year when their perfect season ended against Dakota Ridge.

Class 4A offers the most uncertainty in the state. Broomfield and Ponderosa are the only undefeated teams in that bracket. Roosevelt is ranked number one by the CHSAA despite an 8-1 record. They have not lost since their opening game. Montrose has a 7-2 record and has faced tough cross-class opponents, including 5A Mountain Vista and 3A Palmer Ridge. Other capable teams include Monarch, Loveland, Pueblo West, Golden, Douglas County, and Columbine.

Cherry Creek remains the favorite in 5A despite a shaky start. The Bruins forfeited their season opener to Chatfield due to an ineligible player, which snapped a 27-game win streak. They also needed overtime to beat Legend in September. A come-from-behind victory over Valor Christian followed in the next week. Valor Christian and Mountain Vista are the most likely candidates to end the Cherry Creek dynasty.

Individual defensive standouts are making noise in the smaller classes. Senior Arath Carrazco of Wiggins and junior Turner Oldach of Prospect Ridge Academy are tied for the state lead with seven interceptions. Carrazco plays four sports, including baseball, basketball, and track. Oldach is a key player on a Prospect Ridge squad that is on a four-game winning streak. Three other players in the state have six interceptions each, and ten have five.

Gage Gunderson is challenging Palmer Ridge's dominance in 3A. The junior tailback for Holy Family leads the state with 27 rushing touchdowns. He also ranks second in rushing yardage with 1,718 and averages 9.04 yards per carry. Holy Family won a championship in 2023 and features junior linebacker Adam Moore and junior wideout Nick Leopardi.

Sand Creek is on the bubble for a first playoff appearance since 2004. The Scorpions are currently ranked number 22. Last season they went 9-1 but were excluded from 4A play because they were in a rebuilding league where only the champion advanced. Senior Ethan Mangrum plays tailback, slot, and safety for the team.

Two senior quarterbacks are leading the state in passing yards in 5A. Ki Ellison of Fairview tops the list with 3,180 yards, while Marquise Reese of Mountain Vista has 2,832. Ellison set a school scoring record with 84 points against Legacy, throwing for 633 yards and seven touchdowns. Reese, a CSU commit, holds a 67.8% completion rate. Jackson Coleman of Valor Christian is also a major threat, averaging 20.7 yards per catch on 46 receptions for 950 yards and 12 touchdowns.