As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Colorado for the 2009 season.
Mullen's Adonis Ameen-Moore is the state's top running back.
Photo by Dennis Marpuri
It’s no surprise the defending Class 5A state champions enter as the favorite. The Mustangs possess the state’s top running back in junior Adonis Ameen-Moore, who rushed for 1,400 yards last season, and its top returning defensive player in Nduka Onyeali. Onyeali was an All-Colorado selection last season after notching a state-leading 19 sacks. He teams with Leilon Willingham to give Mullen a standout tandem at defensive end. With quarterback Jonny Miller and receiver Rayshon Williams emerging, a third big-school title in six years is within reach.
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2. Columbine
Only a last-second field goal by state runner-up Cherry Creek kept the Rebels from the title game for the second time in three seasons. A hungry Columbine squad returns with one of the state’s top offensive backfields. University of Colorado signee Danny Spond is a dual-threat at quarterback and has few peers. The speed and elusiveness of running backs Demetrius McDondle and Phillip Romero will be tough for any defense to contain. Graduation left some holes to fill up front, but the Rebels annually field a standout offensive line.{VIDEO_dcccb043-2b49-4f6e-adc3-ae57216bc60b,floatRightWithBar}
3. Cherry Creek
The Bruins certainly were hit hard by graduation, but having the state’s largest student body from which to pull players always translates into quality replacements and depth. The state runners-up do return multi-talented Kain Colter under center.The Stanford-bound Colter accounted for more than 2,700 yards of offense last season (1,780 passing, 928 rushing) and his playmaking ability is second to none.Last season first-year head coach Mike Brookhart instilled a toughness that had been missing from recent Bruins teams and that figures to continue.
4. Bear Creek
As always, it begins and ends for the Bears with their prolific offense.In 2008, senior quarterback Zach Thenell led Class 5A in passing for the second consecutive season (3,048 yards, 33 TDs), and he should top the leaderboard again. Gone are standout performers Tommy Flanagan and DaJuan Mack, but Lukas Lockett (887 rushing yards) and Dylan Chafin (41 receptions, 557 yards) appear ready to take over the top spot at running back and receiver, respectively. The test again for the Bears will be developing a playoff-caliber defense.
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The Panthers won the rugged Big 8 League title before falling to Columbine in the state quarterfinals. The Pomona defense, keyed by senior linebacker Daijon Tyler, again should be fast and physical. Tyler logged 108 tackles in 2008 and was selected the league’s defensive player of the year as well as All-Colorado. The Panthers also have the versatile and experienced Nate Grimes returning at quarterback, which gives them the edge over perennial powers such as Grandview, ThunderRidge and Douglas County for the fifth spot here.
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