Undefeated Smoky Hill earns first Colorado football playoff bid in more than a decade

Here is a look at the five classifications that open postseason play this weekend:

Class 5A
Overview: Each of the four quadrants offers up an interesting storyline. In the first quadrant, an undefeated Valor Christian squad finds itself opposite an eighth-seeded ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) team that also has a first-round bye and put up 17 points on the Eagles in a loss Oct. 18 – the most points Valor allowed all season. No. 9 Fairview (Boulder) moves forward without record-setting quarterback Aidan Atkinson, sidelined with a thumb injury. … In Quadrant 2, No. 4 Eaglecrest and No. 5 Grandview could be on a collision course with a potential quarterfinal rematch. The Metro East foes played a thriller on Sept. 28, a 36-35 comeback victory by the Raptors. … In Quadrant 3, three Jeffco teams from the Metro West are thrown together. No. 2 Columbine, defending state champion and seventh-seeded Pomona (Arvada) and No. 10 Arvada West make up three of the six teams. Columbine is undefeated, while Pomona enters on a two-game losing streak. … Finally, Quadrant 4 offers up two Metro East teams in No. 3 Cherry Creek and No. 11 Cherokee Trail (Aurora); a sixth-seeded Ralston Valley (Arvada) team entering on a high after upending Pomona; and an upstart Castle View (Castle Rock) team in its first year under Todd Casebier.
Game to watch: No 16 Regis Jesuit vs. No. 17 Smoky Hill, 7 p.m., Friday
For reasons already covered, this is the marquee matchup of the first round. Smoky Hill is undefeated, and Regis Jesuit is riding a five-game winning streak. The Raiders haven't allowed more than 14 points in a game during that stretch – the defense has 41 sacks on the season, with senior Luke Keefe leading the way with 10. Junior Bryce Parsons has eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries, which may lead to Smoky Hill trying to establish its running game with Sanni. Regis Jesuit counters with its own 1,000-yard rusher in senior Kiahn Martinez (18 touchdowns).

Class 2A
Top seeds: 1. Bayfield, 2. Resurrection Christian (Loveland), 3. Basalt, 4. La Junta // Bracket
Overview: Defending state champion Bayfield enters state with some momentum after a big victory over fifth-ranked Salida in the regular-season finale. The team's only loss came to Durango, and the defense has been brilliant once again. … Resurrection Christian's defense allowed fewer than 10 points in eight of the team's nine victories. Senior Peter Kuppinger has 10 sacks, and the Cougars forced 27 turnovers. … The 2A Western Slope League was a no-holds barred affair this fall, with four teams seeded in the top 12. Basalt's only loss came to 2A newcomer and seventh-seeded Rifle, whose only loss came by one point to No. 12 Aspen. … No. 4 La Junta and No. 6 Platte Valley (Kersey) went undefeated; La Junta is attempting to get back to the title game for a third consecutive year, but would have to potentially go through Bayfield in order for that to happen.
Game to watch: No. 8 Kent Denver (Englewood) vs. No. 9 Faith Christian (Arvada), 2 p.m., Saturday
An old rivalry is renewed in the postseason between two teams that know each other well. Kent Denver has had Faith Christian's number, as the Eagles haven't bested the Sun Devils since the championship game back in 2009. Kent Denver (8-1) defeated Faith Christian (7-2) in the second week of the regular season 23-17 behind three total touchdowns from senior Joey Licht. Kent Denver's only loss came to No. 4 La Junta, and the team's three-headed senior rushing attack of Licht, Will Morland and Seth Lindsey combined for 28 rushing scores. … Faith Christian's only other loss came to No. 2 Resurrection Christian in the opener. The Eagles' defense pitched three shutouts in league play, and senior David Nagy came close to 1,000 yards in the regular season and scored 18 touchdowns.

Class 1A
Top seeds: 1. Limon, 2. Peyton, 3. Strasburg, 4. Colorado Springs Christian // Bracket
Overview: Limon and Peyton enter the postseason undefeated. Limon averages 251 rushing yards a game through a balanced attack, and the defense didn't allow more than 16 points in a game. Peyton defeated two of the top five seeds and had four shutouts. Senior J.D. Hart has 20 rushing touchdowns. … Two-time defending champion Strasburg's only loss came to Limon. … No. 4 CSCS' eight victories are the team's most since 2010. Junior Peyton Brones paces a rushing game that averages close to 300 yards a game with 22 touchdowns. … Florence is enjoying its best season in five years.
Game to watch: No. 8 Meeker vs. No. 9 Holyoke, 1 p.m., Saturday
It isn't just that these two teams can go toe-to-toe with each other. The winner is in line to face top-seeded and undefeated Limon in the second round, and both teams gave Limon all it could handle during the regular season. Meeker sophomore Ryan Phelan passed for more than 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for seven more scores, and the defense allowed a combined 14 points over the final five games. … Holyoke's Blake Mosenteen rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, and the defense intercepted 21 passes. The Dragons' two losses came by a combined nine points.

Class A 8-Man
Top seeds: 1. West Grand (Kremmling), 2. Mancos, 3. Sedgwick County (Julesburg), 4. Rangely // Bracket
Overview: After finishing as the runner-up a year ago, West Grand continues its hunt for its first state title since 1998. The top-seeded Mustangs (9-0) have a talented quarterback in senior Luis Dominguez (15 passing touchdowns, 18 rushing scores) and a defense that produced 18 sacks and 17 turnovers. … Sedgwick County will likely enter the postseason with a chip on its shoulder, despite being the three-time defending state champion. The Cougars lost to Merino 27-24 in the final game of the regular season. … After three consecutive two-win seasons, Rangely went 8-1 during the regular season, with the only loss coming to West Grand. Senior Drew Brannan had 21 touchdown passes. … Caliche (Iliff) senior Adam Zink rushed for 1,636 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine games. The Buffaloes have a tough draw with Sedgwick County potentially up in the second round.
Game to watch: No. 2 Mancos vs. No. 15 Merino, 1 p.m., Saturday
It isn't often that a No. 2 vs. No. 15 matchup would bear watching, but this is no mismatch. Mancos is undefeated, but beat Merino by only eight points back on Sept. 8. Senior Chance Garcia has driven an impressive ground game that averages 321 yards a game, rushing for more than 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Bluejays' defense also has 28 sacks, led by Breccen Morelli with 9.5. … Merino enters the postseason with plenty of momentum after ending three-time defending champion Sedgwick County's 29-game winning streak in the regular-season finale.

Class A 6-Man
Top seeds: 1. Stratton/Liberty; 2. Kit Carson; 3. Arickaree/Woodlin; 4. Otis // Bracket
Overview: The final week of the season brought about some intrigue. Top-seeded Stratton/Liberty hadn't had a close game all season, but Kit Carson limited the Knighted Eagles to a season-low 22 points in a 28-22 victory. The Wildcats were undefeated in the regular season. … Two of the state's highest-scoring teams could match up in the second round. No. 4 Otis and No. 5 Peetz each scored 460 points in nine games, with Otis winning the head-to-head in the season opener. Peetz senior Bryson Long scored 37 rushing touchdowns in the regular season. … No. 7 Fleming's defense allowed few than 30 points in seven of the team's nine games.
Game to watch: No. 6 Prairie (New Raymer) vs. No. 11 Idalia, 1 p.m., Saturday
Prairie could find its hands full with an Idalia team that has been more competitive than its 4-5 record would show. Prairie's three losses came to three of the top five teams in the classification, and the team's balanced rushing attack features four players with more than 350 yards. Senior Trey Moore has found the end zone 14 times. … Idalia allowed fewer than 40 points in three of its five losses, so the defense has risen to the occasion. Senior Sam McGinnis and freshman Yahir Enriquez combined to score 33 of the team's 37 rushing touchdowns.