Double-digit seeds busting Colorado football brackets

They are the teams that weren't supposed to still be practicing this week, the teams that, to some extent, were supposed to be satisfied with merely qualifying for the playoffs.

But in the state's three largest classifications, there are undisputed bracket-busters. As Class 5A enters the quarterfinals, all the remaining teams are top-eight seeds — other than No. 20 Grandview (Aurora), which has forced its way into the party.

Same with 4A, with the exception of No. 13 Dakota Ridge (Littleton), which is still alive after ousting No. 4 Falcon 42-41 in the first round.

In 3A, four lower seeds advanced. One of them, No. 9 Silver Creek (Longmont), couldn't be considered a huge surprise considering the Raptors are defending champions. But No. 12 Glenwood Springs, No. 13 Delta and No. 16 Pueblo East absolutely crashed the bracket.

MaxPreps Colorado state football brackets

Grandview's feat arguably is the most impressive, considering 5A features a 32-team bracket and the Wolves have had to defeat two higher seeds. They first ousted No. 13 Prairie View (Henderson) 47-6 in the opening round.

Some argued it was a favorable matchup against a team from a non-power league. But then Grandview (7-4) knocked off No. 4 Regis Jesuit (Aurora) 31-21, which served as notice that the Wolves belong among the elite.

"We've gotten better," Grandview coach John Schultz said. "We've eliminated some of our mistakes. Our losses are all to teams that made the Sweet 16, so we've done a little better against teams like that when we haven't made those mistakes. So, hopefully we can continue to do that and get better.

Grandview, which began the season 4-4, next faces No. 5 ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (10-1) in the classification's lone Saturday game (1 p.m., Legacy Stadium). The Wolves lost 21-7 to the Grizzlies in Week 4, but as Schultz mentioned, his teamed has molded since then.

Only center Gabe Cirivello has significant playoff experience on the offensive side of the ball, but the Wolves have several standouts in the fold. Included is emerging junior running back Chukwuma Obinnah, who has rushed for more than 200 yards in each playoff win and is seven shy of 1,000 for the season.

While many eyes will be on 5A's other matchups — such as the Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) and Cherokee Trail (Aurora) rematch from a one-point Bruins win in the regular season — Grandview also has propelled itself into "must-see" status.

"We have a pretty good tradition of final eights and final fours and one final game, so we've basically been taking it one week at a time since we were 4-4," Schultz said. "We've had to get better if we wanted to keep playing. It's been good, but hopefully we're not finished."

In 4A, Dakota Ridge (8-3) was a lower seed, but it was difficult for the Eagles to view themselves as such. Two of their losses were to top-10 5A teams (ThunderRidge and Chatfield) and the other to a top-10 4A team, Denver South. That being said, the Eagles' No. 13-over-4 win, in which they survived five touchdowns by Falcon running back Kalen Ballage, garnered plenty attention as the classification's lone first-round upset.

"I think all year our kids have felt that our non-league schedule would help them when it came time for the playoffs," Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalewicz said. "I don't think there is any doubt that playing ThunderRidge and Chatfield really helped prepare our kids for the Falcon game.

"Even though we had three losses, I really think that our kids believed that they were a good team based on who they have played and how tough we played those good teams."

The Eagles next will take on No. 5 Pueblo South (1 p.m., Saturday, Jefferson County Stadium) and will do so behind a hot quarterback in Braxton Thais, a 1,337-yard rusher in Aaron Nelson and a staunch offensive line that has allowed it all to happen.

Thais has worked extensively with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeremiah Behrendsen and it has paid off. He has thrown for 2,484 yards, 24 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

"Braxton has been such a big surprise this year," Woitalewicz said. "We knew that he had all the skill sets, but just needed some experience to see how he would do against varsity competition. He has exceeded our expectations and has done a really great job directing our offense."

While Grandview and Dakota Ridge are something of lone rangers in their respective classifications, 3A is jam-packed with upset-minded squads.

Pueblo East pulled off the rare No. 16-over-1 feat when the Eagles blasted Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) 47-13 behind a big day on the ground from sophomore quarterback Danny Martin. The Eagles now will aim to keep it going against Silver Creek, which similarly handled No. 8 Evergreen 47-14.

The oddest quarterfinals matchup, however, has to be No. 13 Delta at No. 12 Glenwood Springs (1 p.m., Saturday). Delta survived No. 4 Holy Family (Broomfield) 42-41 after a missed PAT in overtime, and Glenwood Springs eked its way past No. 5 Elizabeth 14-13 behind 191 rushing yards from Henry Hill.

"Even when we got seeded, we kind of just threw the seeds out because we felt like this was a really strong conference over here and it usually fares pretty well," said Delta coach Ben Johnson, referring to the Western Slope League. "We never really figured the seed into it. We just know we need to go play each week really hard."

Panthers sophomore running back Jonney Ponce has rushed for 1,503 yards and 6-foot-6 junior quarterback Cade Gafford has a sterling 23-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Delta lost to 15-7 at Glenwood Springs in the league matchup in Week 5, but Johnson said that not much could be taken from that contest.

"They're an elite team, but that night was actually a monsoon," Johnson said. "It was raining, snowing, sleeting and the field was all muddy, so I think that led to a lot of the low scoring. The ball was really slippery, so I can guarantee there will be some more points scored in this one."

For certain is, at least one double-digit seed will be alive for next weekend's semifinals.