Colorado Class 5A, 4A, 3A Football: Quarterfinals Preview

Video: Dimitri Stanley's highlights vs. Ralston Valley
Watch the Cherry Creek receiver in action in the playoff win.

Emotions ranged from spiteful, ambivalent and apoplectic during the regular season, the first in which Class 5A's leagues were shaken up in a waterfall format. But after all the ruckus created by the controversial new system, one would be hard-pressed to argue that order has not been restored in the classification.

That's because the system didn't genuinely affect the playoffs.

Eight of the top nine seeds advanced past the first round, and the lone defector of that group was No. 9 Columbine (Littleton). Most consider the Rebels at least a top-eight team anyway. So after all of the regular-season turmoil, the state quarterfinals will feature only the upper-echelon teams.

Classes 4A and 3A also enter the quarterfinals this week, so it's time for a subjective look at what we consider the game of the week for each classification. We'll take a quick peek at the others, too.

MaxPreps Colorado state football brackets

Class 5A
(7) Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) at (2) Mullen (Denver), 7 p.m., Friday
This one faced stiff competition to be designated the must-see game of the week, as all four games make a compelling case for best of the bunch. But it doesn't get much juicier than former Mullen coach Dave Logan once again taking on his former team, this time as a mild underdog. Logan has coached each team to a state title and oversaw Mullen's dynastic run from 2008-2010.

Logan's Cherry Creek squad (7-3) has won six straight, and Bruins receiver Dimitri Stanley is one of the most electric players in the classification (12 touchdown receptions). Mullen (9-2) counters with a big play threat of its own in A'Jon Vivens (10 TD receptions) and beastly running back Marcus McElroy Jr. (1,128 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns).

Top-ranked Pomona (Arvada) will battle with former Jeffco rival Columbine, which is only fitting since the teams didn't meet in the regular season. They last met in the last season's semifinals, when Pomona eked out a 21-20 victory to halt Columbine's perfect season. Fresh off stud lineman Jake Moretti's switch of commitment from Ohio State to Colorado, the Panthers (10-1) will seek their 10th straight win and aim to remain perfect in state. Columbine (9-2) is looking for fifth straight win behind Mikey Griebel, who has combined for 22 rushing and passing touchdowns.

Elsewhere, No. 5 Eaglecrest (Centennial) (11-0) will look to remain unbeaten at No. 4 Regis Jesuit (Aurora) (10-1) which has won nine straight. Eaglecrest quarterback Jalen Mergerson has thrown 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions while Regis' Justin Lamb has tossed 11 TDs and no picks. Reigning champion and third-seeded Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (8-3) will play host to No. 6 Grandview (Aurora) (10-1) in a matchup featuring two of the top players in the state. Valor QB Dylan McCaffrey has committed to Michigan and Grandview running back Hayden Blubaugh has rushed for more than 4,000 yards over the past two seasons.

Class 4A
(5) Broomfield at (4) Ponderosa (Parker), 1 p.m., Saturday
The most compelling game in 4A is much more of a slam dunk, as this is the only contest in the classification with closely matched seeds. Each team started the season with a loss against a 5A opponent and area rival – Ponderosa to Legend (Parker); Broomfield to Legacy (Broomfield) – and each team has been on a mission ever since.

Not only has Ponderosa reeled off 10 consecutive wins, but the Mustangs (10-1) have shut out five opponents and held two others to single digits. Quarterback Sterling Ostdahl is a true dual-threat through the air and the ground. Broomfield (9-2), now under the tutelage of Blair Hubbard after longtime front man Gary Davies retired after last season, has gone 9-1 since the opener and is getting a magnificent season from sophomore signal-caller Steven Croell.

In other action, top-seeded Denver South will look to keep two streaks going. The Rebels (11-0) not only want to remain unbeaten, but also to continue their string of five consecutive shutouts. That could prove challenging against 2015 champ Windsor, a No. 8 Wizards outfit that pitched a shutout of its own in a 13-0 first-round win against Pueblo West.

Elsewhere, No. 2 Chatfield (Littleton) (10-1) will take its high-scoring ways on the road and look to upend No. 10 Fruita Monument (7-4). Chatfield's only loss was to 5A power Columbine in Week 4. Meanwhile, 2013 and '14 champ Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) will continue its pursuit of three titles in four years when the No. 3 Eagles (9-2) visit No. 11 Greeley West (8-3). The Spartans outlasted Rampart (Colorado Springs) 9-6 in the opening round.

Class 3A
(5) Silver Creek (Longmont) at (4) Lewis-Palmer (Monument), 7 p.m., Friday
Lewis-Palmer eliminated Longmont from the playoffs with a 28-23 win the first round. Now the Rangers (10-1) will try to knock out another team from the same city, but the challenge will rise when unbeaten Silver Creek (11-0) comes to town. Each team was challenged in the first round, as Silver Creek never fully shed Durango. But each survived, setting up a potential epic quarterfinal. Lewis-Palmer will lean on the talents of top back Dieudonne Chea (1,223 rushing yards, 15 TDs), who has topped the century mark in seven of the eight games he's played. Silver Creek counters with 1,000-yard back of its own in Andreik Knechtel and passing attack that has generated 24 TDs behind quarterback Dylan Ordway.

Elsewhere, two-time defending champion Pueblo East will be seeking its 10th straight playoff win and a chance at a third straight crown. The No. 2 Eagles (10-1) and top back Bryson Torres will play host to surging Holy Family (Broomfield) (9-2), which dispatched Rifle 47-0 in the first round. The Tigers have won six straight behind sophomore QB Stone Samaras, who has thrown 32 touchdowns this season.

Top-ranked Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) (11-0), the lone team to defeat Pueblo East this season, will travel to No. 9 Fort Morgan (10-1). Fort Morgan's top running back, Tate Kembel, was injured in the first half of the Mustangs' opening-round win against Conifer and did not return. His availability remains uncertain. Of note, Discovery Canyon QB Tyler McFarland has thrown only 59 passes this season but 12 have gone for touchdowns and he has not been picked off.

No. 3 Palisade, meanwhile, will travel to No. 11 Mead (Longmont) in matchup of teams with vastly different postseason histories. Palisade (10-1) is a playoff stalwart and perennial contender while Mead (8-3) first-round victory last week against Palmer Ridge (Colorado Springs) marked its first postseason win since the school was revived in 2007.