Colorado high school football season set for championship weekend

Class 5A // Bracket
(1) Cherry Creek vs. (2) Valor Christian, Dec. 5, 6 p.m.
Two of 5A's heavyweights are set to go toe-to-toe in the state championship game for the second time. Cherry Creek ended Valor's five-year championship run in 2014. Valor has won three more titles since then, and Cherry Creek topped Columbine in last year's state championship showdown. College-level players will be featured on both sides as each team looks to claim supremacy in the state's top classification.

It's impossible to pick one player who can be the difference-maker for the Bruins. Quarterback Julian Hammond helped Creek claim last year's championship and has talent all around him on offense, including running back James Walker II and wide receiver Chase Penry. Defensively, Myles Purchase has asserted himself as the "best all-around player in the state" according to coach Dave Logan. Purchase has picked off five passes this year and will likely be involved in several aspects of the 5A title game.

If there's one thing Valor Christian doesn't lack this year, it's depth. The Eagles tend to lean on running back Gavin Sawchuk to power the offense, but quarterback Sean McNair has been effective when needed, passing for 790 yards and six touchdowns. Sawchuk, Jordan Norwood and freshman Gabe Sawchuk each scored a rushing touchdown in Valor's 45-0 win over Legend (Parker) in the semifinals.

Class 4A // Bracket
(2) Palmer Ridge (Monument) vs. (4) Loveland, Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
There might not be more differing styles of offense in any game than in the 4A one. Palmer Ridge's pass-heavy offense has kept the Bears right in step with the 4A field, as it did in 3A. On the other side, Loveland tends to keep the ball on the ground and will look for a very balanced effort to claim its second title in three years.

Zack Rakowsky has been the steady hand for Loveland's traditional run-heavy offense. He's totaled 1,224 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season to get Loveland into the state title game. Perhaps more important for the Indians in this game is the defense's ability to slow down McAllister and the Bears. The Indians shut down top-ranked Dakota Ridge's high-powered offense in the semifinals, and will get a similar test here. Loveland has forced 20 turnovers this season, which includes four interceptions from Tyson Williams, and Ian Loomis is a tackling machine.

Class 3A // Bracket
(1) Roosevelt (Johnstown) vs. (3) Durango, Dec. 5, 2 p.m.
The 3A championship is going to be decided the old-fashioned way - in the trenches. Both Durango and Roosevelt boast size and strength up front, and it's the linemen – on both sides of the ball – who will play arguably the most crucial role in determining the outcome. After Roosevelt narrowly escaped Fort Morgan in the quarterfinals, the line dominated the trenches to get a more decisive win over Pueblo South in the semifinals. Durango has put its talented players behind its linemen to get here. Wins over Lutheran (Parker) and Holy Family (Broomfield) have put the Demons into the title game for the first time since 1988.

Having an offensive line that performs well always tends to show with the rushing stats. Keegan Sterkel and Cooper Walton have benefited from the push up front, as Sterkel averages around 93 yards per game and Walton has found the end zone eight times. The Rough Riders scored an impressive seven rushing touchdowns in the semifinal win over Pueblo South.

Jordan Woolverton has been the engine behind the Durango offense, but he's far from the only reason for its success. He has thrown for 10 touchdowns this year while running for eight touchdowns. Ben Finneseth has also been crucial with 717 all-purpose yards this season. Woolverton and Finneseth are looking to cap their stellar careers by bringing a state championship trophy over Wolf Creek Pass.

Class 2A // Bracket
(5) Eaton vs. (7) Lamar, Dec. 4, 2 p.m.
While it might seem like an unexpected matchup when looking at the seeds, both Eaton and Lamar have shown throughout the season that they are capable of playing in the last game of the year. Eaton started its playoff run with a trip to Pagosa Springs and came away with a 41-7 win. They then scored 27 points in the semifinal win over Resurrection Christian (Loveland), nearly doubling the amount of points the Cougars allowed all season. Lamar upset defending champion Sterling before winning a defensive showdown with Delta in the semifinals.

While each team has the ability to get the job done on the ground, Eaton has shown to have plenty of versatility in its running attack. Ethan Florez has led the team for most of the year, averaging 85.4 yards per game and scoring 11 total touchdowns. Quarterback Scott Grable has complimented Florez's ability by throwing for more than 700 yards and running for better than 500 yards on the season. In the semifinal win over Resurrection Christian, it was Tanner True who found the end zone twice on just 10 touches.

Quarterback Zane Rankin has shown flashes of brilliance in his time taking the snaps for Lamar. He overcame throwing three interceptions in the first game of the season to beat Elizabeth and has been solid for the bulk of the season since then. He connected with Blake Buxton for Lamar's only touchdown in the 7-6 win over Delta. Jesus Reyes led the team with 112 rushing yards and will be a big piece of the team's quest to claim its first title since 1961.

Class 1A // Bracket
(1) Limon vs. (2) Strasburg, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.
In the second of two state championship rematches, Limon looks to claim its third straight state title and will have to beat Strasburg, the runner-up the past two seasons, to get it done. Strasburg hopes the third time is the charm in denying the Limon three-peat.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Strasburg is that some of the biggest threats for Limon are the same from the previous two years. Kory Tacha scored both of Limon's touchdowns in the 2018 title game and scored two first-half touchdowns in 2019. Jeremiah Leeper has also been a big factor, as he's led the team this season with 706 rushing yards. He also has scored eight touchdowns.


Class A 8-Man // Bracket
(1) Sedgwick County vs. (2) Sanford, Dec. 3, 6 p.m.
Sedgwick County looks to become only the second team in Colorado history to win six consecutive state championships. The one program to accomplish that feat is Limon, back in the 1960's. On the flip side, this will be Sanford's first state championship game in school history, meaning the Indians are making a run at history of their own.

Since winning the 2015 state title, Sedgwick County has been the state's most dominant football program at any level. In the span from that championship to now, the Cougars have lost just two games, both in the regular season. They lost to Perkins County (Neb.) in 2016 and to Merino in 2018. They've outscored their opponents 387-68 this year and carry a half-decade's worth of experience into the state title game.


Class A 6-Man // Bracket
(1) Fleming vs. (2) Stratton/Liberty, Dec. 3, 2 p.m.
The 2020 6-Man championship game marks the fourth straight year that Stratton/Liberty will contend for the state crown. The Knighted Eagles beat Kit Carson two years ago to win state and are itching at the opportunity to get revenge against Fleming, the team that took them down in last year's championship.

Sophomore Alex Cruz and junior Charlie Clapper have been the pacemakers for the Knighted Eagles on the offensive side of the ball. Cruz rushes for 114 yards per game, while Clapper has close to 82. The duo combined to score 15 rushing touchdowns in the team's five games. They got a big win over Briggsdale in the 6-Man quarterfinals, then handed Cheyenne Wells its first loss of the season in a 36-15 semifinal win.

Fleming has played the part of defending state champion very nicely in 2020. The Wildcats have received consistent production from the offense and enough of a bend-but-don't-break style of defense that has kept opponents from gaining an edge. Charles Hobbs has been a monster in the ground game as he's rushed for 540 yards and 11 touchdowns. Joel Muller has played a bit of a thief defensively, stealing the ball away from opponents six times (two interceptions, four fumble recoveries). He also has blocked two field goals.