Early Season Leaders, Surprises in Colorado 5A, 4A and 3A football

Video: Jalen Mergerson highlights
Watch the Rangeview quarterback in action against Grandview last week.

When the prognosticators are wrong, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It means that a handful of surprises have occurred, and that makes for a compelling football season.

To be clear, it's not time to abandon the consensus preseason favorites. Many of the top-tier teams that have already lost a game or two have done so because of an ambitious schedule against other formidable competition. That being said, the rankings have received their fair share of movement in the three largest classifications, so it's time to take a peek at some of the surprisingly hot starts.

In addition, it's also time to take inventory of some of the top statistical performances now that every team has played at least three games.

Class 5A
Strong starts: Eaglecrest (Centennial) is turning the corner. Some scoffed at the Raptors' No. 9 ranking to start the season in the CHSAANow.com poll, but the Raptors have validated that designation. They've done better than that, actually. Behind dual-threat junior quarterback Jalen Mergerson, the Raptors have vaulted their way to No. 4 this week and received one first-place vote. Last week's 36-29 win against then-No. 3 Grandview (Aurora) was the arrival moment for the Raptors.

Legend (Parker) has also exceeded expectations. Under the guidance of longtime Cherokee Trail (Aurora) head coach Monte Thelen, the Titans have started 3-0 and checked in at No. 10 this week. Zack Hrovat and Marc Muma have combined for more than 700 yards on the ground for Thelen's squad. Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins), Aurora Central and Lakewood also qualify as surprise 3-0 squads, but each has yet to face a high-level challenge.

Top performers: Grandview's Hayden Blubaugh, last season's leading rusher, is third so far this season with 545 yards. He trails Cade Verkler of Horizon (Thornton) (614) and Joseph Erickson of Poudre (Fort Collins) (628). Erickson, though, has played four games, one more than the others.

Another Erickson – Judd Erickson of Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) – has been 5A's top passer in the early going with 1,160 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Arvada West's Chase Dixon has a 5A-best 31 receptions while A'Jon Vivens of Mullen (Denver) leads in receiving yardage with 407.

Mountain Vista's Zach Hammer has recorded a 5A-best 53 tackles – including 46 solo – and Mullen's Tanner Clem is the sack leader with 5.5.

Class 4A

Chatfield's Ben Frenette

File photo by Lance Wendt

Strong starts: Chatfield (Littleton) was projected to be solid moving down to 4A, but the Chargers made immediate waves in their new classification by besting perennial power Pine Creek 50-39 in Week 1. It didn't take the Chargers long to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the 4A poll. Coach Bret McGatlin's squad will face a stern test Thursday night against 5A No. 3 Columbine, but Chatfield likely won't be judged too heavily for whatever transpires in the cross-classification matchup.

While favorites such as Denver South and Loveland have performed up to expectations – and preseason Nos. 1 and 2 Windsor and Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) attempt to retool from 1-2 starts – another pleasant surprise has been Rampart (Colorado Springs). The Rams (3-1) were the 11th team in the receiving votes section to start the season – essentially ranked No. 21 – and checked in at No. 10 this week.

Top performers: The classification's rushing race could be epic this season, as three ball carriers are averaging more than 200 yards per game. Talented Denver South running back Marcus Lindsay leads the pack with 668 yards, followed by Pueblo West's Devyn Morgan, who has 650. Loveland's Noah Pangrac has rushed for 624, which slightly trails the total of Montrose's Riley Freeland (632), but Freeland has played four games.

Grand Junction Central's EJ Barrera enters Week 4 as 4A's leading passer (941 yards, 9 TDs, 3 interceptions) with teammate Darrion Alton the leading receiver. The senior has caught 28 passes for 474 yards and six touchdowns. Fruita Monument's Ty Bird leads the classification with 54 tackles and Mountain View (Loveland) junior Mike Felton has registered six sacks.

Class 3A
Strong starts: Neither Lewis-Palmer (Monument), Silver Creek (Longmont) or Erie were in the preseason poll, and Erie didn't receive a single vote. All have started 3-0 and are now ranked Nos. 5, 7 and 9, respectively. Lewis-Palmer has lit up the scoreboard with 47.7 points a game and already has rushed for 1,100 yards as a team, including 522 by top back Dieudonne Chea.

Silver Creek (41 points per game) has benefitted from the accuracy of quarterback Dylan Ordway, who has tossed eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Erie, behind new coach Chad Cooper, is coming off a thrilling 45-41 win at Northridge (Greeley). Erie and Silver Creek will meet on Sept. 29.

Top performers: Lewis-Palmer's Chea leads the classification in rushing, a total that includes a 202-yard performance last week against Palmer Ridge (Colorado Springs). Mead's Nathan Mackey (514 yards) and Michael Zeman of Holy Family (Broomfield) (470) are on his heels.

Holy Family has never been shy about putting it in the air, and Tigers sophomore Stone Samaras has obliged with 1,181 passing yards and 13 TDs to go with four interceptions. Nick Ciccio of Lutheran (Parker) has hauled in 33 receptions to lead the classification, but Holy Family's Joe Golter, Samaras' favorite target, leads in yards (489) and touchdowns, with nine.

Thompson Valley (Loveland) defensive ace Mike Berg has 46 tackles, one shy of Palisade's Braden Gonzales for the lead, but the latter has played four games. Durango's Jacob Bourdon is the sacks leader with five.