Colorado football season preview: Let the games begin

VIDEO: Luke McCaffrey (Valor Christian) highlights vs. Cherry Creek.

Finally.

After more than eight months away, the 2017 prep football season finally gets underway this week. The summer camps and August practices start paying off Thursday when Zero Week kicks off around the state.

The questions surrounding the fall campaign will start being answered over the coming weeks. Chief among them:

• Can Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) continue its dominance in Class 5A, or is this the year that a loaded classification catches up to the Eagles?
• Will Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) go back-to-back in 4A for the second time in five years?
• Is a four-peat in store for Pueblo East in 3A, or will another team rise to the occasion and dethrone the Eagles?

These are just a few of the many storylines of the upcoming season. It's a long grind, though, and nothing will be decided in the first few weeks. That said, every team is looking to establish themselves early and gain some momentum before venturing into league play.

With a pair of games Thursday evening, here is a look at each of the state's seven classifications headed into the 2017 season:

Class 5A
Defending champion: Valor Christian
Preseason Top 3: Valor Christian, Pomona (Arvada), Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village)
Overview: Coming off of consecutive 5A championships, Valor Christian is the team to beat until someone else moves the Eagles off the top of the mountain. The Eagles took their hits to graduation, including quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, but senior Blake Stenstrom and junior Luke McCaffrey are both talented competitors looking to run the offense. … Pomona, the runner-up the previous two years, will get all-state running back Max Borghi back from injury and also returns quarterback Ryan Marquez (2,212 yards passing, 20 touchdowns). … Cherry Creek was injury-plagued a year ago, but the Bruins bring a plethora of talent back – including all-state wide receiver Dimitri Stanley – to a team that lost by a field goal in the state semifinals. Stanley caught 65 passes and 13 touchdowns as a junior.
Returning all-state players: Max Borghi, Sr., Pomona (1st team); Victor Garnes, Sr., Eaglecrest (Centennial) (1st team); Gunner Gentry, Sr., Grandview (Aurora) (2nd team); Jake Heimlicher, Sr., Regis Jesuit (Aurora) (1st team); Luke McCaffrey, Jr., Valor Christian (2nd team); Barrett Miller, Jr., Eaglecrest (2nd team); Dimitri Stanley, Sr., Cherry Creek (1st team); A'Jon Vivens, Sr., Mullen (Denver) (1st team).
Early games to watch: No. 4 Mullen at No. 2 Pomona, 7 p.m., Aug. 25; Ralston Valley (Arvada) at No. 8 Columbine (Littleton), 7 p.m., Aug. 25; No. 4 Mullen at No. 1 Valor Christian, 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 5 Regis Jesuit at No. 3 Cherry Creek, 7 p.m., Sept. 1.

Class 4A
Defending champion: Pine Creek
Preseason Top 3: Pine Creek, Broomfield, Ponderosa (Parker)
Overview: After a one-year absence from the title game, Pine Creek returned to Sports Authority Field at Mile High and came away with a third 4A title in four years. The Eagles graduated quarterback Brock Domann, but sophomore David Moore III burst onto the scene as a freshman. The team's defense allowed just less than 11 points a game. … Broomfield graduated a trio of first-team all-state selections, but the Eagles have quarterback Steven Croell back for his junior year. The Eagles averaged almost 32 points a game in the playoffs. … Ponderosa had a 10-game winning streak at one point last fall and pitched five shutouts. The Mustangs return a handful of all-state talent and are strong up front.
Returning all-state players: Marcell Barbee, Sr., Pueblo South (1st team); Jesse Bridge, Sr., Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) (2nd team); Steve Brock, Sr., Pueblo South (2nd team); Maxwell Bruner, Sr., Ponderosa (1st team); Payton Dietrich, Sr., Wheat Ridge (2nd team); Mason Knighton, Sr., Ponderosa (2nd team); Christion Louis, Sr., Pine Creek (2nd team); Jayden Manu, Sr., Loveland (2nd team); Devyn Morgan, Sr., Pueblo West (2nd team); Griffin Moss, Sr., Chatfield (Littleton) (1st team); Quinton Ostdahl, Sr., Ponderosa (2nd team); Sterling Ostdahl, Sr., Ponderosa (2nd team); Brandon Ramirez, Sr., Windsor (1st team); Isaak Rolfe, Sr., Pine Creek (1st team); Zach Watts, Sr., Windsor (2nd team).
Early games to watch: Pueblo West at Wheat Ridge, 7 p.m., Aug. 24; No. 7 Fruita Monument at Montrose, 7 p.m., Aug. 25; No. 3 Ponderosa at Legend (Parker) (5A), 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 2 Broomfield at Legacy (Broomfield) (5A), 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 5 Windsor at Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs), 7 p.m., Sept. 1

Class 3A
Defending champion: Pueblo East
Preseason Top 3: Pueblo East, Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs), Holy Family (Broomfield)
Overview: After three consecutive 3A titles, Pueblo East comes into the season having graduated Bryson Torres, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. Quarterback Luc Andrada returns though, having thrown for more than 1,800 yards with 13 touchdown passes and seven more rushing scores. Linebacker Mark Vivoda led the team in tackles at 8.5 a game. … Discovery Canyon was undefeated until falling to East in the title game. Trevor Ivy was second on the team with 824 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, and Mitchell Draper and Caleb Grotelueschen led the team in tackles as juniors. … Holy Family averaged 42 points a game last fall, with Stone Samaras passing for nearly 2,800 yards and 33 touchdowns as a sophomore. The Tigers have to replace running back Michael Zeman and receiver Joe Golter, but the defense made strides late in the season.
Returning all-state players: Ty Evans, Jr., Palmer Ridge (Monument) (2nd team); Austin Hassler, Sr., Longmont (2nd team); Nathan Mackey, Sr., Mead (Longmont) (1st team); Trey McBride, Sr., Fort Morgan (1st team); Gavin Mestas, Sr., Durango (2nd team); Stone Samaras, Jr., Holy Family (2nd team); Derrick Smashum, Sr., Vista PEAK Prep (Aurora) (2nd team); Sean Willden, Sr., Holy Family (2nd team).
Early games to watch: Dakota Ridge (Littleton) (4A) at No. 4 Silver Creek (Longmont), 6:30 p.m., Aug. 31; No. 3 Holy Family at No. 8 Palisade, 4 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 1 Pueblo East at No. 7 Longmont, 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 5 Mead at No. 9 Lewis-Palmer (Monument), 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 2 Discovery Canyon at No. 7 Fruita Monument (4A), 1 p.m., Sept. 2.

Class 2A
Defending champion: La Junta
Preseason Top 3: La Junta, Kent Denver (Englewood), Bayfield
Overview: La Junta put it all together last fall, running the table and defeating Kent Denver twice – including 17-10 in the 2A title game. Quarterback Jon Nuschy rushed for more than 1,400 yards and threw for 1,100 as a sophomore in earning Player of the Year honors. The Tigers have to replace a number of key parts though in their bid to repeat. … Kent Denver, on the other hand, was fairly young last fall. Quarterback Joey Licht is a junior, and the Sun Devils have four first-team all-state selections back – including two on the line in Willy Boatman and T.J. Love. … Bayfield nearly got back to the title game before La Junta put together a fourth-quarter rally in the semifinals. The Wolverines boasted one of the state's top defenses, finishing with five shutouts. David Hawkins rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore, and Ryan Phelps and Cole Wood combined for 24 sacks as juniors.
Returning all-state players: Mitchell Black, Sr., Faith Christian (Arvada) (2nd team); Willie Boatman, Sr., Kent Denver (1st team); Logan Church, Sr., Delta (2nd team); Peter Flack, Sr., D'Evelyn (Denver) (1st team); T.J. Love, Sr., Kent Denver (1st team); Joshua McDonald, Sr., Kent Denver (1st team); Charles McKissick, Sr., Kent Denver (1st team); Jon Nuschy, Jr., La Junta (1st team); Ryan Phelps, Sr., Bayfield (2nd team); Josh Reeder, Sr., Delta (2nd team); Cole Sienknecht, Sr., Manitou Springs (2nd team); Trevon Wehrman, Jr., Platte Valley (Kersey) (2nd team); Cole Wood, Sr., Bayfield (2nd team); Taylor Wright, Sr., Manitou Springs (2nd team).
Early games to watch: No. 7 Sterling at No. 6 Resurrection Christian (Loveland), 7 p.m., Aug. 25; No. 4 Delta at Durango (3A), 7 p.m., Aug. 25; No. 8 D'Evelyn at No. 7 Sterling, 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 6 Resurrection Christian at No. 9 Faith Christian, 7 p.m., Sept. 1.

Class 1A
Defending champion: Strasburg
Preseason Top 3: Strasburg, Meeker, Bennett
Overview: After dropping down a classification, Strasburg finished a perfect 13-0 in 1A, eliminating four Western Slope teams in the postseason. The Indians need to replace quarterback Conner Martin, but Hunter Bergstrom rushed for more than 1,100 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a junior. A pair of all-state linemen also are back to pace a ground game that accounted for nearly 3,900 yards and 62 scores. … Logan Hughes was a force to be reckoned with as a junior for Meeker, finishing with 2,529 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. Doak Mantle rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 11 touchdowns as a junior, giving the Cowboys' offense a big boost headed into 2017. … Bennett's only two losses in 2016 came to Strasburg and Meeker. The Tigers rushed for more than 4,600 yards, and bring back their top two rushers in seniors Jesse Rodriquez and Rocky Lechman (2,598 yards, 38 touchdowns between them).
Returning all-state players: Hunter Bergstrom, Sr., Strasburg (1st team); Jadyn Brown, Sr., Bennett (2nd team); Chris Gudka, Sr., Strasburg (1st team); Logan Hughes, Sr., Meeker (1st team); Rocky Lechman, Sr., Bennett (1st team); Doak Mantle, Sr., Meeker (2nd team); Jaden Miller, Sr., Paonia (2nd team); Forest Pejsa, Jr., Dolores (2nd team); Parker Randolph, Jr., Monte Vista (2nd team); Jesse Rodriquez, Sr., Bennett (1st team); Noah Sarria, Sr., Clear Creek (Evergreen) (2nd team); J.C. Spence, Jr., Strasburg (2nd team); Chiante' Stewart, Sr., Ellicott (Calhan) (2nd team); Chad Wiebelhaus, Sr., Strasburg (1st team).
Early games to watch: No. 4 Paonia at Centauri (La Jara), 7 p.m., Aug. 25; No. 1 Strasburg at No. 8 Burlington), 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 9 Cedaredge at Monte Vista, 7 p.m., Sept. 1.

8-Man
Defending champion: Sedgwick County (Julesburg)
Preseason Top 3: Sedgwick County, Akron, Sargent (Monte Vista)
Overview: For the second year in a row, Sedgwick County topped Akron to claim the 8-Man championship. Brennan Ehmke had 27 touchdown passes as a junior, and Layne Green led the rushing attack with 935 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. The Cougars' defense had six shutouts. … Akron's rushing attack moves forward without quarterback Levin Basler, but the Rams had two players (Derrick Poss and Tyler Wylie) who combined for more than 2,200 yards on the ground and 24 touchdowns. … Sargent had been undefeated before falling to Akron by one point in the semifinals. Quarterback Ryan Davis had 18 touchdown passes and rushed for 15 more scores as a junior. Christian Schaller led a relatively young defense with 13 tackles a game.
Returning all-state players: Remmington Canfield, Sr., Merino (2nd team); Brennan Ehmke, Sr., Sedgwick County (1st team); Tyce Marquez, Sr., Sedgwick County (2nd team); Seth Mondragon, Sr., Dayspring Christian Academy (Greeley) (1st team); Christian Schaller, Sr., Sargent (2nd team); Jacob Yates, Sr., Hoehne (2nd team).
Early games to watch: No. 3 Hoehne at No. 4 Sargent, 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 5 Dayspring Christian at No. 2 Akron, 7 p.m., Sept. 1;

6-Man
Defending champion: Hi-Plains (Seibert)
Preseason Top 3: Flagler/Hi-Plains, Fleming, Kit Carson
Overview: Hi-Plains became the fifth different champion over the past five years after defeating Cheyenne Wells in the title game. Competing under Flagler this fall, the team has to replace eight seniors, but Kyle Klann led the team in tackles as a sophomore. … Fleming was unbeaten before running into Hi-Plains in the semifinals. The Wildcats graduated all-state quarterback Jaxon King, but Kolton Dickinson led the team with 1,122 yards rushing as a junior. … Kit Carson was also undefeated through the regular season, but was upset by Cheyenne Wells in the second round. The Wildcats had some underclassmen play well a year ago, with William Hornung and Chris Bryan combining for 11 sacks.
Returning all-state players: Bryson Long, Jr., Peetz (2nd team); Caid Smith, Sr., Genoa-Hugo (2nd team).
Early games to watch: No. 1 Flagler at No. 3 Cheyenne Wells, 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 2 Fleming at No. 10 Pawnee (Grover), 7 p.m., Sept. 1; No. 7 Genoa-Hugo at No. 6 Stratton/Liberty (Joes), 7 p.m., Sept. 1.