Colorado Class 4A State Quarterfinals Preview
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There has long been reason to wonder if the day would ever come at all, but the high school football postseason has finally arrived in Colorado. Starting this week in all classifications, teams that battled their way through a shortened…
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Continue ReadingThere has long been reason to wonder if the day would ever come at all, but the high school football postseason has finally arrived in Colorado.
Starting this week in all classifications, teams that battled their way through a shortened season, rampant cancellations and COVID-19 protocols are scheduled to take the field this week and open the playoffs with the quarterfinals for all seven classifications. As we go bracket-by-bracket to look at each matchup and the game-changing recruits to keep an eye on, let’s continue with Class 4A.
If you missed the 5A Preview, check it out here!
No. 1 Dakota Ridge vs. No. 8 Montrose
After getting eliminated in the semifinals last season, the Dakota Ridge Eagles fought hard in 2020 for the No. 1 overall seed and they’re ready to defend it. Their first test on the way to what they hope is a state championship will be No. 8 Montrose.
Dakota Ridge has no shortage of weapons on both sides of the ball, and that’s aided by the fact players like Charlie Offerdahl Charlie Offerdahl 5'10" | DB Dakota Ridge | 2021 State CO play both ways most of the game. As a senior, Offerdahl rushed for a team-high 428 yards and 11 touchdowns, returned kicks and punts and also led the team with three interceptions. But one player cannot make a team a top seed, and it took a combination of prospects like Jason Soderlin Jason Soderlin 6'3" | OL Dakota Ridge | 2021 State CO , Colin Stuhr Colin Stuhr 5'11" | LB Dakota Ridge | 2021 State CO , Mason Galbreath Mason Galbreath 6'2" | WR Dakota Ridge | 2021 State CO and Max Hart Max Hart 5'11" | K Dakota Ridge | 2021 CO to accomplish that. Eagles quarterback Ben Gultig (2021) posted 14 touchdowns to just five interceptions and Spencer Hardy (2021) led a solid defense – 5.3 points against per game – with six sacks during the regular season.
Challenging the top seed is a Montrose team that lost twice during the regular season and still cracked the bracket. The team relies on playmakers like Trent Blundell (2021) operating behind a solid offensive line that features Raul Martinez Raul Martinez 5'10" | OL Montrose | 2021 State CO .
No. 4 Loveland vs. No. 5 Broomfield
Between Loveland and Broomfield, these two teams have combined, one or the other, to play in four of the last five 4A state championship games. They have also traded victories in the last eight meetings of their head-to-head series. This time around, both teams are unbeaten and ready to face off once again.
The heart of the Broomfield offense and defense is Hall Edmonds Hall Edmonds 6'2" | LB Broomfield | 2021 State CO , as he leads the team in both rushing and total tackles. Offensively, the Eagles also have a dual-threat sophomore quarterback in Cole LaCrue Cole LaCrue 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Broomfield | 2023 State CO , who has impressed to the tune of 841 passing yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception is his first starting opportunity. Six-foot-3 receiver Josh Dunn Josh Dunn 6'4" | 190 lbs | Wide Receiver Broomfield | 2022 CO gives the Eagles and big-play threat down the field and kicker Matthew Eich Matthew Eich 5'9" | K Broomfield | 2021 CO is one of the best in the state of Colorado.
Dynamic athlete Zack Rakowsky Zack Rakowsky 5'8" | QB Loveland | 2021 State CO paced the Loveland offense and has racked up 1,004 yards of total offense while doing a bit of everything for LHS. Linebacker Ian Loomis Ian Loomis 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Loveland | 2022 State CO and Jadyn Tafoya (2021) are tackling machines, combing for 118 in just 10 games played between them. Loomis and Tyson Williams (2022) each has a team-high three interceptions.
No. 2 Palmer Ridge vs. No. 7 Pine Creek
Defending champion Pine Creek hits the bracket in a game that features a ton of exciting players who either have already committed or have yet to make decisions, as well as several more prospects who are still working hard to earn offers.
On Palmer Ridge, you have Kaden Dudley Kaden Dudley 6'0" | WR Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO (Boise State), Luke McAllister Luke McAllister 6'4" | QB Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO (Colorado State) and Marcellus Reed Marcellus Reed 5'10" | DB Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO (Pittsburg State), as well as quality uncommitted senior recruits like linebacker Saxon Wright Saxon Wright 6'0" | LB Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO , tight end Cameron Jones Cameron Jones 6'2" | TE Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO and wide receiver Kanoa Clemons Kanoa Clemons 5'11" | WR Palmer Ridge | 2021 State CO . In their 2022 class, the Bears also have Anthony Costanzo Anthony Costanzo 6'3" | 210 lbs | ATH Palmer Ridge | 2022 State CO , Connor Jones Connor Jones 6'7" | 290 lbs | OL Palmer Ridge | 2022 State CO and Alec Falk Alec Falk 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Palmer Ridge | 2022 State CO . Pine Creek is led by seniors Beau Freyler Beau Freyler 6'2" | DB Pine Creek | 2021 State CO (Iowa State), Colin Chatman Colin Chatman 6'1" | LB Pine Creek | 2021 State CO and Caleb Nott Caleb Nott 6'7" | OL Pine Creek | 2021 State CO , as well as 2022 recruits Gavin Whetzal Gavin Whetzal 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Pine Creek | 2022 State CO and Logan Noble Logan Noble LB Pine Creek | 2022 State CO .
It should be exciting to watch McAllister, who has 1,070 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, and the high-powered the Palmer Ridge passing offense face Freyler and a Pine Creek defense that allowed just 14.75 points through a tough 2020 schedule. There will be plenty of up-and-coming players to watch, as well, like 2023’s Brett Alvey Brett Alvey 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Pine Creek | 2023 State CO , Joshua Gerlach II Joshua Gerlach II 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO and KJ Smedley KJ Smedley 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO .
No. 3 Ponderosa vs. No. 6 Fountain-Fort Carson
Right out of the gate in this game, you can expect some exciting energy from Fountain-Fort Carson running back Q Jones Q Jones 5'11" | RB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2021 State CO , who led the state with 1,395 rushing yards in just six games after missing all of last season because of an injury. You can also expect the swarming Ponderosa defense to match that energy after allowing less than a dozen points per game in 2020.
Ponderosa quarterback Jack Hanenburg had an excellent regular season, completing 64 percent (56 for 87) of his passes on the way to 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games. Two-way standout Kolton Miller (2021) caught four of those and Carter Motichka (2021) caught the other five while Cael Porter Cael Porter 5'10" | DB Ponderosa | 2021 State CO , who also led the defense with 71 totals tackles, ran for 578 yards on 78 carries.
The Fountain-Fort Carson defense has its own studs on the roster, including Curtis Jackson Curtis Jackson 5'9" | 170 lbs | ATH Fountain-Fort Carson | 2022 State CO , who led the team with fourth interceptions, and Tai Faavae Tai Faavae 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2023 CO , who is just a sophomore but still led the Trojans defense with 41 tackles in six games.