Video: Michael Pavlakovich (Regis Jesuit) highlights vs. Legacy
With all four top seeds alive, it serves as no surprise that much of the focus surrounds these high-level squads entering the Class 5A quarterfinals. They've earned it.
But the four challengers have distinctive stories of their own as they aim for upsets, none richer than that of
Regis Jesuit (Aurora). It started with offseason headlines, in which six-year head coach Mark Nolan departed in March to take over the program at Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Danny Filleman took over, and when the Raiders lost their opener to Cherry Creek, those outside the program took awhile to realize that Regis Jesuit was still a powerhouse. Since the opener, the Raiders and dual-threat quarterback
Michael Pavlakovich have won nine of 10.
"Each week we have seemed to get better on offense," Filleman said. "I feel the big turning point was after our loss to ThunderRidge in Week 6. Since then, we have been playing much better on offense. The players are really starting to understand the concepts in this offense.
"Defensively, we have been solid all year, but we have a big test against Columbine. Both sides are playing their best football right now."
Indeed, the Raiders will take on top overall seed
Columbine (Littleton) (6 p.m., Friday, Jeffco Stadium), the lone remaining unblemished squad at 11-0. The Rebels have gotten monster seasons from running back
Mikey Griebel and quarterback
Jake Lowry and possess a suffocating defense. But Regis Jesuit was acutely aware when the bracket was released that the Rebels likely would be waiting this week.
"We have been preparing for a grind this Friday," Filleman said. "Columbine does a great job of ball control, grinding it out on offense and playing solid defense. We need to play physical and disciplined football on defense and make sure we sustain drives on offense."
The winner of this one will oppose the
Grandview (Aurora) vs.
Pomona (Arvada) winner next week in the semifinals. Top-tier running backs will be on display in this one, including player-of-the-year candidate
Hayden Blubaugh of Grandview. The junior has topped the 100-yard mark and scored at least one touchdown in every game for the Wolves (9-2) and enters with 2,215 yards and 29 total TDs.
Pomona (8-3) counters with
Cameron Gonzales, a 1,000-yard back who has found the end zone 23 times. The Panthers are battle-tested after a brutal schedule and bring a four-game winning streak into the contest.
On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (9-2) and emerging freshman
Joshia Davis will take on a
Ralston Valley (Arvada) (9-2) squad that ended Arapahoe's perfect season last week with a 21-3 win. Defending champion
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (9-2), meanwhile, will put its top seed on the line against No. 6
ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (7-4), the classification's lone bracket buster.
In Class 4A, don't look now but
Denver South has once again fashioned itself into a contender. The No. 10 Rebels (8-3) face a stout task in No. 2
Longmont (11-0) this week, but junior running back
Marcus Lindsay is beginning to follow the large footsteps of his older brother Phillip Lindsay, now playing for the University of Colorado.
Marcus Lindsay, Denver South
File photo by Jeffery Tucker
"He's doing well," Phillip Lindsay said. "He's a big boy, about 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, and I think he's faster than me. I'm proud of him."
Longmont will undoubtedly be a beastly opponent, as the Trojans' lone loss in their past 22 games was to
Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) in last season's championship game.
A rematch definitely is still in play, as top-seeded Pine Creek (11-0) brings a 36-game winning streak into its matchup with No. 8 Wheat Ridge (9-2). Led by uber athlete
JoJo Domann and a deep cast of playmakers on both sides of the ball, the Eagles are the overwhelming favorite for a third straight title.
Elsewhere, upset-minded
Loveland (6-5) will welcome
Durango (10-1) to its turf in one that's hard to get a read on. That's because No. 13 Loveland has been very unpredictable this season and is coming off a 30-14 win at No. 4 Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs) that qualifies as the undoubted shocker of the playoffs to this point.
Durango, with steady play from quarterback
Terrence Trujillo and running back
Lawrence Mayberry, has lost only to Pine Creek.
Windsor will take on
Palmer Ridge (Monument) in a contest that will pit strength against strength. No. 11 Palmer Ridge (8-3), which defeated No. 6 Dakota Ridge (Littleton) by 18 in the first round, boasts a high-flying attack led by quarterback
Isaiah Sanders. The senior has thrown 31 touchdowns (only four interceptions) and has run for 14 more.
No. 3 Windsor (10-1), conversely, hasn't allowed an opponent to reach double figures since Week 2. Led by linebacker
Corte Tapia, the unit has held all of its foes in check, including in the Wizards' lone loss. That was an 8-7 decision to Longmont on which the Trojans scored on the final play.
In the 3A bracket, many eyes shift immediately to the matchup featuring No. 3
Delta and No. 6
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs). The teams played a memorable Zero Week opener, with Delta triumphing 38-35. The third-seeded Panthers (10-1) have the added benefit of a home game this time.
"I think the game will be a little less scoring now that the teams have film on each other," Delta coach Ben Johnson said. "In the Zero Week game, I think both teams were doing some new stuff and caught the defenses off guard. Should be a great game."
Delta running back
Jonny Ponce, who battled injuries for part of the season, is back to his steamrolling self and enters with 1,453 yards and 12 touchdowns. But teammate
Tristan Brown has served as a nice diversion and has found the end zone on 15 of his 67 carries.
"Tristan is a very explosive player for us," Johnson said. "He is 6-3, 227 pounds and has very good hands, he's fast and is a very hard runner. He's also a great blocker, which allows our offense to do multiple of things."
TCA (8-3) counters with a balanced rushing attack led by senior
Jayce Hall. The winner of this one will advance to take on the
Roosevelt (Johnstown)-
Evergreen winner. Each of these teams won handily in the first round, and No. 2 Roosevelt (10-1) enters on a nine-game winning streak. The Roughriders' lone loss was to 4A power Windsor. Evergreen has won six straight, all by double digits.
On the topside of the bracket, No. 1
Pueblo East will oppose No. 8
Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) in a rematch of a Sept. 25 shootout won 47-36 by Pueblo East. The Eagles (10-1) have rolled since an opening loss to Longmont. Discovery Canyon was sitting at 0-4 after the loss to East, but the Thunder has reeled off seven straight wins since.
The classification's lone unbeaten squad is No. 4
Sterling (11-0). The Tigers will clash with No. 5
Palisade (9-2), which will make a 5 hour, 25 minute statewide road trip. The Bulldogs have gotten a 1,000-yard season from junior running back
Isaac Maestas.
