Top seeds emerge as Colorado Class 5A football playoffs hit semifinals

For all the jostling that occurred in the early rounds of the Class 5A football playoffs, the state semifinals emerged as the seeding committee of the Colorado High School Activities Association envisioned.

The top seeds in the 32-team bracket all are accounted for, making this weekend a final four to savor. 

MaxPreps Colorado Class 5A state bracket

No. 4 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (10-2) at No. 1 ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (11-1), 7 pm Friday, Shea Stadium

Simply, there is a lot of feeling surrounding this game. Less than 5 miles separate the two schools, which only adds to the private vs. public school sensitivity at issue in this one. It's also a game state followers have been waiting for since the brackets were revealed – Friday can't come soon enough in Highlands Ranch.

"Yes, that's the game we wanted," ThunderRidge quarterback Brody Westmoreland said of Valor Christian after the Grizzlies ousted Grandview (Aurora) 21-17 in the quarterfinals. "It will be a very intense week for everyone.

"We just have to battle through. Valor's a good team, we're a good team; we look forward to playing them."

Westmoreland epitomized ThunderRidge's gritty effort against Grandview. The junior took a big hit to his back early, but missed only a series before returning to lead the Grizzlies to victory. Similarly, ThunderRidge also withstood some heavy blows from the Wolves to advance to their first big-school semifinal.

"The victory came because we have the will to win," Westmoreland said. "We made a couple of mistakes, but nothing that we can't fix."

The Grizzlies enter on an 11-game win streak after losing their season opener to Vista Murrieta, Calif. Like their versatile quarterback, they have found different ways to survive and advance the past two weeks.

First came a wild 57-56 double-overtime outing against Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) in the second round, before the physical, defensive-minded affair against Grandview.

Any plan for victory against Valor Christian figures to include a steady dose of running back Steve Ray (1,605 yards, 21 TDs) behind a formidable ThunderRidge front led by 6-foot-5, 270-pound tackle Sam Jones. Jones and his linemates cleared the way for 261 rushing yards against Grandview, paced by 139 by Ray.

In addition, the ThunderRidge defense will have to be up to the challenge against a Valor Christian offense that has had no peer. Linebacker Sam Pauling notched 16 tackles against Grandview.

For Valor Christian, the numbers grow more lofty by the week. The Eagles have won 10 in a row, and the closest game during that stretch was the 31-point win last week against Arapahoe (Centennial). During the win streak Valor Christian has outscored opponents 497-48.

The discussion as the state's top playmaker begins and ends with junior running back Christian McCaffrey. He totaled 403 yards (295 rushing on only 12 carries, 108 receiving) and six TDs against Arapahoe, while Valor Christian churned out 412 yards on the ground overall.

The problem for Eagles opponents is that when McCaffrey doesn't have the ball in his hands, quarterback Luke Del Rio  does. The Oklahoma State recruit has excelled in the postseason, completing 72 percent (43-for-60) of his passes for 560 yards and eight TDs against no interceptions.

If you can't make it to Shea Stadium, Root Sports will televise the game live.

No. 2 Ralston Valley (Arvada) (11-1) at No. 3 Cherokee Trail (Aurora) (11-1),
1 pm Saturday, Legacy Stadium

Ralston Valley is in the big-school semifinals for the first time after snuffing a two-point conversion attempt by Pomona (Arvada) in overtime to advance 22-20 from the quarterfinals. As usual, the Mustangs received contributions from up and down the roster, showcasing their depth and balance.

In addition to being big and skilled up front on both sides of the ball, Ralston Valley possesses an efficient quarterback in Jacob Knipp who knows how to take care of the ball. Knipp has completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,459 yards and 28 TDs and only seven interceptions (no stats are yet available for the Pomona game.)

Andrew Wingard is the Mustangs' leading rusher, and he's complemented by Jakob Buys and Spencer Svejcar, Knipp's favorite receiving target.

If there was one cause for concern against Pomona, Ralston Valley yielded nearly 400 yards of total offense to Pomona (142 passing, 245 rushing) and for the first time in four weeks the defense allowed more than a touchdown.

Cherokee Trail is playing in the semifinals for the third time in six years (twice at 5A, once at 4A), but the Cougars have yet to advance to the title game.

While the offense has performed solidly, title hopes figure to rest with a speedy defense that has allowed more than 18 points only three times this season.

Offensively, Aric Johnson and Cameron Smith have been a tough duo to stop of late.

Last week in a 17-14 win against Eaglecrest (Aurora), Johnson passed for 142 yards and rushed for 102, while Smith added 71 yards on the ground to his playoff total of 328. Johnson has passed for nearly 500 yards in three playoff games, second only to Del Rio.