Colorado high school football championship preview: 5A, 4A, 3A

Video: Cameron Gonzales' highlights vs. Grandview
Pomona (Arvada) running back looks to lead team to state title.


In-state losses for Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) are about as common as Peyton Manning-free sports radio session in Colorado these days, but it didn't take the Eagles long to accumulate one this season.

In the in-state opener on Sept. 4, Valor Christian fell 28-14 to Pomona (Arvada). Just so happens, those two will go at it again Saturday at Sports Authority Field in the Class 5A state championship game (2:30 p.m.). But don't expect Pomona to be hanging its hat on the earlier win.

"The fact that we beat them the first time means nothing this time, and we all know that," Pomona coach Jay Madden said. "It feels like it was two years ago, literally forever ago. You watch them play now and they don't look anything like they did then, and we don't look anything like we did then."

Pomona (10-3) endured narrow losses to Cherry Creek, Mullen and Columbine along the way as part of one of the state's most ambitious schedules. The Panthers earned redemption against previously unbeaten Columbine in the semifinals, by eking out a 21-20 win at the North Area Athletic Complex.

That was the Panthers' sixth straight win.

"There was a time we were sitting at 4-3 when we said, ‘It's great playing all these tough teams, but 4-3 isn't what we're all about,'" Madden said. "So we decided that season was now over. All you sophomores are now juniors, all you juniors are now seniors and all you seniors are all grad students.

"So you should all be much better players and we have seven more games to play and to do it right."

Led by running backs Cameron Gonzales (1,437 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns) and Max Borghi on offense and linebackers Josh Madrid (120 tackles) and Garrett Zanon on defense, the Panthers are aiming to give Valor Christian its second straight title-game loss.

The Eagles fell 25-24 to Cherry Creek last season, snapping a streak of five straight championships spanning three different classifications. So this marks the seventh straight time the Eagles are in the title game.

"This team is unique — different from teams we have had in the past," Valor Christian coach Rod Sherman said. "We're just thankful to be able to come here and compete in the game."

After the loss to Pomona, the Eagles (11-2) didn't lose another in-state game and went 2-1 against upper-level out-of-state competition. The emergence of 6-foot-5 quarterback Dylan McCaffrey has been a key factor, as the junior has thrown for 2,606 yards, 26 touchdowns, only four interceptions and has added 12 TDs on the ground.

"I think some of the areas he's specifically grown this year, his pocket presence, subtle pocket movements when he knows he can get a first down with his feet," Sherman said. "But all those things are secondary to his character and the joy he brings to the team."

Valor Christian's defense is led by beastly linebacker Gabriel Kortz, who has produced 104 tackles.


In 4A, this is precisely the matchup everyone predicted. The one everyone predicted not to happen, that is.

While Pine Creek and Longmont entered the semifinals unbeaten and seemed destined for a championship rematch, Loveland and Windsor had other ideas. Loveland, which started the season 2-4 and barely qualified for the playoffs as the No. 13 seed, has been the surprise of the playoffs regardless of classification.

The Indians (8-5) and quarterback Ayden Eberhardt have knocked off No. 4 Vista Ridge, No. 5 Durango and then the top-ranked Eagles by a score of 26-14.

"It started jelling and getting better, and we got to the point that we were going to have a lot of ‘playoff games' before we got to the playoff games," Loveland coach Wayne McGinn said. "I think that helped us, because one loss in our last three games and we don't get into the playoffs."

While Eberhardt has racked up more than 2,800 combined passing and rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns, Charles Dunkelman has also topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark and leads the Indians with 105 tackles.

Loveland will put its sizzling streak on the line against the stingiest defense in the state in Windsor (12-1). The Wizards' lone loss this season was an 8-7 decision to Longmont, but they earned revenge by ousting the Trojans 12-6 in the semifinals. Windsor has held 10 of its 13 opponents to under 10 points.

"We're not very big, but we sure pump a lot of heart onto the field week in and week out," Windsor coach Chris Jones said. "I'm not big on having the best guys. I want the right guys in our huddle."

The Wizards are led by linebacker Corte Tapia's 144 tackles, including 25.5 for loss, and feature several offensive playmakers in quarterback Brad Peeples and running backs Landon Schmidt and Jake Shields.

"We have a small-but-feisty offensive line that goes against a small-but-feisty defensive line every day in practice," Jones said. "They get pretty ticked off at each other at times, but it's worth it on Saturdays."

Windsor and Loveland will precede the 5A game at Sports Authority Field with an 11 a.m. kickoff.


The top two seeds prevailed in 3A, and No. 1 Pueblo East will welcome No. 2 Roosevelt (Johnstown) to Dutch Clark Stadium (1 p.m., Saturday). Eagles quarterback Daniel Martin and running back Bryson Torres each have topped 1,350 rushing yards and have accounted for 47 touchdowns on the ground.

Pueblo East has not lost since a season-opening setback at Longmont. Coach Lee Meisner's group has racked up 558 points this season and features a stout defense led by middle linebacker Bruno Derose (154 tackles).

Roosevelt (12-1) carries an 11-game win streak into the contest, as the Roughriders' lone loss was to Windsor. Coach Noland Eastin's group also features a running back/QB tandem that each has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in Carlos Ortega and Cameron Hurtado.

Free safety Orlondo Rivera has picked off 10 passes for the Roughriders and linebacker Christian Majszak has accounted for 114 tackles.