By Kevin Shaffer, ColoradoPreps.com
Special to MaxPreps.com
Football: Top Programs Hit the Gridiron for Season-Openers a Week Early
Due to scheduling issues and the problem of finding enough open dates, several teams in Colorado open the football season a week early in so-called zero week. Three years ago, the state high school activities association started allowing teams to schedule games in "zero-week" to alleviate the issue of finding enough opponents to fill a schedule. This year, the week is filled with more than the normal amount of games and the match-ups feature several top programs.
Defending Class 2A champion Holy Family headlines the list. The Tigers open at home in Broomfield against non-conference foe La Junta. Holy Family defeated Buena Vista in the state finals a year ago, capturing their second championship in school history. They will use the early season to get tuned up for back-to-back midseason clashes against Denver Christian and Faith Christian in weeks four and five. But with the new playoff format emphasizing wildcard points, each game, including non-conference battles, carry much more weight than in years past.
The best zero week match-up can be found in the eight man division where state powers Merino and Stratton collide. These two teams have combined to win three of the last five state championships. Former conference rivals, the Rams and Eagles are now in different leagues, but have decided to continue the regular season rivalry by scheduling this early season contest. Merino has won three-straight against the Eagles and is an amazing 41-3 since losing to Stratton in the 2002 regular season. Merino is the defending eight man champs while Stratton last won a crown in 2001.
Two top-notch 4A teams from the Western Slope also step on the field a week early as Grand Junction and Montrose open at home. Grand Junction is the defending 4A state runners-up and they're hoping to rekindle the offensive firepower of last year when they meet Cottonwood, Utah, a top program from the Salt Lake City area. Grand Junction lost to Cottonwood 24-0 two years ago, but the Tigers are coming off a 12-1 season where they scored at least 40 points in each of their first seven games. They are hoping to stay focused on the first two games ahead of a state finals rematch with ThunderRidge in week three.
Fellow conference member Montrose also opens up in zero week against Wheat Ridge. In an understatement, the Indians were the surprise team of 2005. Having lost 16-straight games entering the season, Montrose reeled off five-straight wins and finished 9-3 with two losses to eventual state runner-up Grand Junction. The Indians edged Littleton 21-20 in the first round to score their first playoff win since 1991. Much of the credit went to new coach Todd Casebier. After leading Palisade to a couple of state titles in 3A, he took over the struggling Montrose program and saw immediate results. To keep the success going this year, Casebier must find a replacement for do-everything running back Tyler Rawlings, who totaled over 16-hundred yards in offense last year.
Football: Son of Bronco Hall of Famer Hoping to Get Starting QB Job
Jack Elway, the son of John Elway, is in a two-way battle for the starting quarterback position at Cherry Creek high school. Jack, a 6-2 185 pound junior led the Bruins junior varsity to an 8-2 record last year. He's battling senior Silva Collin, a transfer from Mullen, for the starting job. Cherry Creek opens next week at home against Montbello.
Football: Standout Running Back Makes College Decision
Mullen running back Phillip Morelli has given an oral commitment to Colorado State. The 5-11, 185-pound running back amassed over 1,100 yards and hauled in 30 passes as a junior helping Mullen reach the state finals before losing to Douglas County. Mullen is widely considered as the team to beat in Class 5A.
Football: New Quarterback Named at 1A Power Limon
The new starting quarterback at Class 1A Limon will be senior Travis Sandersfeld. He has big shoes to fill as the successor to two-time player of the year Tyson Liggett, who led the Badgers to three state titles and a 39-0 record as a starter. Liggett has been moved to wide receiver and is likely to be redshirted at Colorado State this season.