Rematches highlight Colorado Class 5A football playoffs

Rematch week hits the big-school bracket, as three of the four Class 5A quarterfinal football games feature matchups from the regular season. In each instance, the higher-seeded team won the first round; this time the stakes are a little higher.

First –and-goal

No. 9 Grandview (Aurora) at No. 1 ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch),
7 pm Friday, Shea Stadium

1. ThunderRidge beat Grandview 34-20 on Sept. 13, but the game was tied entering the fourth quarter before the Grizzlies held on late. Grandview appeared to be going in for the tying score midway through the fourth before fumbling at the ThunderRidge 1-yard line. Both teams enter this matchup feeling good, albeit for different reasons. ThunderRidge survived a wild 57-56 double overtime victory against Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) to advance, while Grandview might have played its best game of the season in a 48-14 blasting of No. 8 Fountain-Fort Carson.

ThunderRidge led Cherry Creek 28-7 at halftime, but the Grizzlies proved their mettle by recovering from a near collapse to advance. ThunderRidge amassed 474 yards of offense (350 rushing), but also yielded 485 (352 rushing) to the Bruins. Against Fountain-Fort Carson, QB Reece Weber again controlled matters for Grandview. The senior passed for 103 yards and rushed for 136 more, setting up a nice duel with equally versatile ThunderRidge quarterback Brody Westmoreland. Both teams like to do most of their work on the ground, but will take a shot or two down the field. This one figures to hinge on a key defensive play – or turnover – like the first meeting.

No. 5 Arapahoe (Centennial) at No. 4 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch),
7 pm Friday, Valor Stadium

2. The only non-rematch of the week, although it will be the first meeting between the programs from the south suburbs. Arapahoe outlasted a game Horizon (Thornton) team 17-14 behind running back Jose Cancanon's 136 yards. He has rushed for 372 yards and seven TDs in two playoff games and must do more of the same to help keep Valor Christian's offense waiting on the sidelines.

For Valor Christian, the numbers become more impressive each week. The Eagles now have scored at least 44 points in six straight games, while posting a combined winning margin of 448-30 during their nine-game win streak. Win No. 9 came against Regis Jesuit (Aurora), 44-3. Christian McCaffrey (102 yards) and Daryl Hawkins (97 yards on only nine carries) paced the ground game for the Eagles.

No. 7 Pomona (Arvada) at No. 2 Ralston Valley (Arvada),
7 pm Friday, North Area Athletic Complex

3. Ralston Valley upended then top-ranked Pomona 30-22 on Oct. 12 on the same field. The Mustangs were efficient and balanced offensively behind Jacob Knipp, Andrew Wingard and Spencer Svejcar, and opportunistic defensively by forcing five turnovers in that one. Ralston Valley has been the most dominant team in the playoffs, blanking Castle View (Highlands Ranch) and Fort Collins by a combined total of 87-0. The Mustangs have surrendered only 13 points in the past four games.

The Pomona offense is capable of putting up points in bunches, and despite the five miscues in the first meeting – which included four interceptions by QB Alec Feland – the Panthers were driving late with an opportunity to tie before Feland was picked off. Feland has played well in the postseason with four TDs to only one interception and will need a similar ratio for Pomona to take down the Mustangs. Panthers running back Chris Marquez has been a standout in the playoffs.

No. 3 Cherokee Trail (Aurora) at No. 22 Eaglecrest (Centennial),
1 pm Saturday, Legacy Stadium

4. Eaglecrest continued its impressive postseason surge by knocking off No. 6 Chaparral (Parker) 14-13 in the second round. The Raptors know they won't surprise Cherokee Trail, though. On Oct. 18, Eaglecrest led 10-0 in Centennial League play before the Cougars won 34-18, thanks to a 28-point second quarter. There is no question Eaglecrest is the feel-good story of the postseason, and the Raptors will have to continue to play good defense behind senior safety Lewis, Xavier to advance.

Cherokee Trail needed a late touchdown run from QB Aric Johnson in the final two minutes to overcome Mullen (Denver) 24-21 in the second round. Johnson also had his best passing game of the season – 215 yards. He received help from sophomore RB Cameron Smith, whose 141 rushing yards were just 4 yards shy of his top season total. Smith will need similar production, as Eaglecrest held the Cougars to a season-low 127 yards rushing in their first meeting, 80 coming from Johnson.