Platte Valley was on the verge of Sweet 16. Village High School had other ideas.

After losing the first two sets, the Mountaineers came roaring back to beat Platte Valley in five sets to capture the Class 3A state girls volleyball championship Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum.

The night’s drama was spelled out by the set scores: 20-25, 21-25, 32-30, 25-17, 17-15.

PV, the 2022 champions, has won 15 state titles and appeared to be closing in on a state record 16th. But the No. 2-seeded Broncos lost their mojo as the Mountaineers took the final three sets.

Village (25-3) won 11 straight to conclude its championship season.

The Mountaineers had defeated Platte Valley in the third round on Friday, serving notice they were a formidable foe. Platte Valley bounced back, picking up a 3-1 win (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18) against No. 8 Sterling in the lower bracket’s third round Saturday morning.

The Broncos (25-4) defeated top-seeded rival Eaton 3-1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-15) in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship match.

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/11/16/village-platte-valley-3a-volleyball-championship-score/

Colorado Rockies third baseman Kris Bryant has been reunited with his 2023 Lamborghini Huracan after it was rerouted by thieves on its way to Bryant’s offseason Las Vegas home.

Detective Justin Smith of the Cherry Hills Village Police Department said hackers infiltrated the email system of a carrier company used by a broker that Bryant contacted about transporting the vehicle.

Cherry Hills Village police used license-plate-detecting cameras to track the truck that took the car from Colorado to Nevada, where Las Vegas police arrested a man suspected of being behind in a string of thefts.

“Me, and our chief, and our command staff all take auto theft very seriously, and any time we can get back somebody’s vehicle that’s been stolen, that’s a win for us,” Smith said. “We would treat it no differently if it was someone’s F-150 versus a Lamborghini.”

New models of the 2023 Lamborghini Huracan can retail for more than $340,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. Bryant’s car was also customized in a way that made it easy to identify when it was spotted by a Las Vegas police officer.

The car was picked up from Bryant’s home in Cherry Hills Village on Sept. 29. When it failed to arrive at the athlete’s Vegas home, on Oct. 2, Bryant and his broker both contacted police.

Members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s auto theft team, U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents and Cherry Hills Village police worked together to find the Lamborghini. The car was spotted Oct. 7, and the driver told police that he owned a maintenance shop and was asked by a Texas man to fix the car’s computer system.

The man was later identified as Dat Viet Tieu and was confronted by police when he arrived at Harry Reid International Airport to pick up the Lamborghini. When police asked how Tieu planned to travel from the airport to the maintenance shop, Tieu directed police to a stolen Jeep that Smith said contained tools used to perpetrate motor vehicle thefts.

Smith said additional suspects have since been arrested in connection with the hacking and related thefts, whose victims also included a player for the Texas Rangers baseball team.

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/11/16/police-retrieve-lamborghini-stolen-rockies-kris-bryant/

PARKER — Legend came in as a heavy favorite in Friday’s second-round Class 5A playoff game, but the Titans were met with some stiff black-and-gold resistance.

No. 11 Arapahoe gave the No. 6 Titans all they could handle before Legend eked by the Warriors 24-20 at EchoPark Stadium. Arapahoe held the lead for much of the game, and then late, but senior running back Jaden Lawrence’s track speed was the differentiator.

The Wyoming commit’s 21-yard touchdown run capped the Titans’ final scoring drive as they had their back to the ropes, down three points with under five minutes to play.

“This was a character check,” Legend head coach Monte Thelen said. “You’ve always got to overcome adversity in games, in seasons, and we definitely had to overcome some tonight. I thought Jaden Lawrence looked like a million bucks on that deciding drive. We have a lot of respect for Arapahoe, and we feel fortunate to advance.”

Arapahoe came out swinging on the opening drive, with star senior Andrew Smart’s receiver pass propelling the Warriors into Legend territory. But as the visitors were knocking on the door of the red zone, a strip sack turned the ball over to Legend.

After the Warriors’ defense forced a three-and-out, Arapahoe took the lead late in the first quarter on senior quarterback Mitchell Price’s 10-yard TD pass to Smart. It marked Smart’s 14th TD catch of the season after he torched Douglas County for three scores and 118 yards in last week’s playoff opener.

Legend responded on its next possession, marching the field for a score. The drive was capped by senior quarterback Nick Farley’s 23-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Kellen Marchand to make it 7-7 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

Senior kicker Lincoln Peterson then gave Arapahoe the lead again, with a 31-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. That made it 10-7 entering the locker room as Arapahoe snuffed out the Titans’ drive in the waning minutes of the half.

“We needed to play with a more physical effort than we did in the opening quarters,” Legend senior center Isaac Schmitz said. “We thought the energy was low in the first half, so at halftime, we focused on bringing that energy back up.”

The Titans finally got momentum on their side on the opening drive of the second half.

Senior Champ Jones jumped over the line of scrimmage, full Superman, for a 1-yard TD run. It marked Legend’s first lead of the game at 7:47 in the third quarter on a drive highlighted by several strong runs by Lawrence.

But the Warriors responded with another scoring drive. Smart’s 32-yard catch put Arapahoe into Legend territory. A flea-flicker by Smart gave the Warriors 20 more yards, and eventually led to Peterson’s 37-yard field goal with 3:55 left in the third quarter to cut Legend’s lead to 14-13.

After Arapahoe stopped Legend on the next drive, Smart muffed a punt and the Titans recovered at Arapahoe’s 47-yard line. That led to senior kicker Carson Flowers’ 27-yard field goal to extend the Titans’ advantage to 17-13 with 9:45 remaining in the game.

But the Warriors didn’t quit. They marched down the field with a steady mix of run and pass, converted a 4th and 5 in Legend territory, and then the next play Price found senior wideout Tyson Watson for a 24-yard touchdown pass. With 4:26 left, Arapahoe re-took the lead at 20-17.

Arapahoe just needed one final stop to seal the upset, but they couldn’t get it. A long pass set the Titans up in plus territory before Lawrence ripped off his game-changing run on an inside zone to the left that he bounced the other way.

“I bounced it out left, saw three guys there,” Lawrence said. “I cut to the right, then bounced it out and saw no one there and I knew I could beat them with that track speed.”

Lawrence’s track speed, an X-factor on Friday, also opened the door for his college recruiting earlier in the year.

After doing track for the Titans as a freshman, he took his sophomore year off for the sport before going back out last spring. That jump-started his offer list, which also included Air Force and a couple of FCS schools, after Lawrence set school records in the 100-meters (10.71 seconds) and the 200-meters (21.3) while finishing third at the Class 5A state meet in the former.

“Everyone saw me as the fast kid on the football team,” Lawrence said. “But then track brought that speed to a whole different level. Once I got onto the track and showed what I could do in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, it really showed recruiters what my top speed could be on the football field. It allowed college coaches to see that I wasn’t just football fast. Track speed is in my repertoire as a football player, too.”

For the Warriors (8-4), despite the defeat, Friday marked an impressive performance under third-year head coach Tyler Brayton, whose squad faced a significant size disadvantage in the trenches. Brayton, a former first-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2003, played at CU and then nine years in the NFL as a defensive end with Oakland, Carolina and Indianapolis.

The Titans (10-1) now face the winner of No. 3 Ralston Valley and No. 14 Arvada West, who play Saturday at the NAAC, in next week’s quarterfinals.

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/11/15/legend-arapahoe-score-class-5a-football-playoffs/

The CHSAA state football playoffs are down to 16 teams in the top three classifications. Here’s a look at this weekend’s slate in all three with quarterfinal spots up for grabs.

Class 5A

The chalk

Upsets happen all the time in prep football. But in regards to these matchups, we’ll go with “highly unlikely” the underdog wins.

No. 17 Grandview (6-5) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: The Bruins have played for the 5A championship six straight years and won four. They’re loaded with FBS talent once again, and the last time these two met in Week 10, Creek piled up 466 yards in a 35-18 win.

No. 20 Cherokee Trail (5-6) at No. 4 Columbine (9-1), 3:30 p.m., Saturday: Cherokee Trail pulled a stunner in the first round with a 25-7 win over Castle View, but the Rebels are an entirely different animal. Only one team has held their “caveman” offense below 34 points: No. 6 Legend.

No. 15 Fossil Ridge (7-4) at No. 2 Mountain Vista (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Fossil Ridge may be the one team that would welcome a shootout with Mountain Vista. Senior QB Nick Kubat (2,847) is second in the state to MV’s Austyn Modrzewski (2,936) in passing yards — albeit with an extra game played. The problem: The Golden Eagles’ defense (6.8 points allowed/game) might also be the best in the state.

No. 11 Arapahoe (8-3) at No. 6 Legend (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Arapahoe has taken care of the teams it’s supposed to, but is 1-3 against teams still alive in the 5A bracket. Monte Thelen’s Titans have given up 17 points in their last seven games — total. A tall order for the Warriors.

The toss-ups

The reward for winning these games? A date with one of the two 5A powers that have looked indestructible all fall.

No. 9 Erie (9-2) at No. 8 Pine Creek (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday: The reigning 4A champion Erie Tigers’ offense has been as prolific as ever (39.3 points, 339.4 yards/game) after the move up to 5A. But the Pine Creek defense (15.8 points allowed/game) may be the toughest they’ve faced since a 55-12 Week 3 loss to Mountain Vista.

No. 10 Chatfield (8-3) at No. 7 Fairview (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Now is the time for Fairview to prove its unbeaten record isn’t just the product of a light schedule. Consider Chatfield, loaded with young talent led by sophomore dual-threat QB Cash Williams, a worthy first-round test.

Upset watch

Three double-digit seeds reached the 5A quarterfinals last season, so there’s plenty of precedent for second-round wackiness.

No. 12 Regis Jesuit (6-5) at No. 5 Valor Christian (9-1), 11 a.m., Saturday: The state’s top private school powers meet for the sixth time in four years. Valor won three of the previous five, including a Week 1 matchup (17-0) that was Regis QB Luke Rubley’s first varsity start. Just how much has the freshman wunderkind improved since? We’re about to find out.

No. 14 Arvada West (7-4) at No. 3 Ralston Valley (9-1), noon, Saturday: How does a No. 3 seed fall into this category? Simple: The last time these two played in Week 10, A-West outgained the Mustangs 360-279 and took a 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter. This could be a dogfight.

Class 4A

The chalk

Would it be shocking if any of the top five seeds in 4A won the whole thing? Nope. That’s why all five of them are here. 

No. 17 Loveland (5-6) at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (9-1), noon Saturday: Loveland is on a roll after winning four of five, including a 45-14 drubbing of Doherty last week. But Dakota Ridge, riding a nine-game win streak just one of those games decided by less than 17, is a runaway freight train.

No. 15 Frederick (8-3) at No. 2 Montrose (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: We doff our cap in the direction of Frederick, the one community that actually had the guts to play a snow game in last Friday’s snowpocalypse. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles’ well-plowed road ends on the Western Slope.

No. 19 Golden (6-5) at No. 3 Pueblo West (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Golden showed a lot of grit the last two weeks with two very different types of wins over Highlands Ranch (50-41) and Riverdale Ridge (17-14), but the Cyclones are simply too sturdy on both sides of the ball.

No. 13 Rampart (7-4) at No. 4 Palmer Ridge (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: It could be argued Palmer Ridge has been the most consistent program in 4A since joining the classification in 2020, going 50-6 over that period with two title game trips. The Bears thumped Rampart, 50-13, three weeks ago. Is another deep November run on tap?

No. 12 Vista Ridge (7-4) at No. 5 Broomfield (9-1), 10 a.m. Saturday: Vista Ridge faced an absolute gauntlet of a schedule with five of its regular-season opponents still alive in the 5A and 4A playoffs. Did those tests harden them for a date with a Broomfield team that faced a much less daunting slate?

The toss-up

There’s just one game in this category for 4A?!?! Really?!?!? Yes, really.

No. 9 Grand Junction (10-1) at No. 8 Ponderosa (7-3), 1 p.m. Saturday: Grand Junction’s turnaround from 2-8 last season to 10 wins this fall is one of the best stories in the state. Can the Tigers keep it going against a Pondo team that found another gear with senior RB De’alcapon Veazy?

Upset watch

This might be a tough year for 4A’s double-digit seeds given the strength at the top. But never say never. Especially with teenagers. 

No. 11 Heritage (6-5) at No. 6 Durango (7-3), 1 p.m. Saturday: Heritage waited until Monday to play its first-round game — and promptly dumped 62 points on Air Academy. It was the Eagles’ third 60-point game in four weeks. Translation: Durango’s defense is in for a serious test.

No. 10 Monarch (9-2) at No. 7 Mesa Ridge (7-3), 6 p.m. Friday: Normally, we wouldn’t consider a No. 10 beating a No. 7 an “upset,” but Mesa Ridge isn’t a normal 7 seed. The Grizzlies hung with the best of the best in 4A. If Monarch takes them down for a seventh straight win, it would be a stunner.

Class 3A

The chalk

There’s no such thing as a guarantee in 3A, but consider these top seeds the best of the best in what should be a wildly entertaining bracket.

No. 16 Holy Family (6-4) at No. 1 Thompson Valley (10-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: Thompson Valley took down Pomona in a 16-7 defensive slugfest last Saturday to claim the bracket’s top seed. The Eagles’ reward for the most impressive win in 3A to date? A date with the defending 3A champs.

No. 15 Pueblo South (6-4) at No. 2 Mead (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: Mead’s bid for an unbeaten season was denied in a Week 10 loss to Windsor. Last week’s snowstorm gave the Mavericks a gift in the form of a late-season bye. Enough time for the Mavs to regain their mojo?

No. 14 Conifer (7-3) at No. 3 Pomona (7-3), 3:30 p.m. Saturday: Pomona learned just how hard it’s going to be to claim a 3A title with last week’s loss at Thompson Valley. Still, with a defense like the Panthers have (12.4 points allowed/game), they’re going to be one tough out.

No. 11 Mountain View (6-4) at No. 6 Windsor (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: So, Windsor went into Mead’s house, beat the Mavericks with a smothering defensive effort and ended up with the No. 6 seed and a date with sneaky tough Mountain View for its troubles? Maybe it’s time to reboot the computer that spits out the CHSAA RPI.

The toss-ups

As one might suspect, the 8-9 and 7-10 matchups figure to produce drama. 

No. 9 Pueblo East (8-2) at No. 8 Discovery Canyon (8-2), 1 p.m. Saturday: These two teams met way back in Week 2 — a game that Discovery Canyon controlled from start to finish en route to a 32-14 win. So how is this a toss-up? Pueblo East has been an entirely different team since.

No. 10 Lutheran (9-1) at No. 7 Pueblo Central (8-2), 1 p.m. Saturday: Sympathies to Pueblo Central, which earned the No. 7 seed into the bracket only to draw a Lutheran program that’s reached the 3A semifinals or better each of the last three years. The Lions’ lone loss this fall was to 4A No. 3 Pueblo West. Another epic CHSAA RPI fail.

Upset watch

This is the classification where we come for chaos. Last year, three of eight first-round games were won by the lower seed. Will we see more carnage this year?

No. 13 Severance (4-6) at No. 4 Palisade (8-2), 6 p.m. Friday: Is Severance the best four-win team in the state, pound-for-pound? Given how competitive the Silver Knights were against 4A Riverdale Ridge (13-8), No. 1 Thompson Valley (6-0), No. 3 Pomona (20-7), No. 6 Windsor (21-7) and No. 12 Roosevelt (10-9), the answer is a resounding “yes.”

No. 12 Roosevelt (6-4) at No. 5 Green Mountain (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday: Consider this a nod to the 3A football factory Lane Wasinger has built in Johnstown. Nobody is more battle-tested than the Rough Riders, who played seven teams still alive in the state playoffs. A tough draw for a Green Mountain team that’s won five straight.

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/11/13/colorado-high-school-football-playoffs-second-weekend-2024/

Class 5A

No. 17 Grandview (5-5) at No. 16 Denver East (6-4), 3 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 1 Cherry Creek (9-1), TBA.

No. 24 Overland (6-4) at No. 9 Erie (8-2), 1 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 8 Pine Creek (7-3), TBA

No. 20 Cherokee Trail (4-6) at No. 13 Castle View (7-3), noon Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 4 Columbine (9-1), TBA

No. 21 Eaglecrest (5-5) at No. 12 Regis Jesuit (5-5), 2 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 5 Valor Christian (9-1), TBA

No. 18 Mullen (4-6) at No. 15 Fossil Ridge (6-4), 7 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 2 Mountain Vista (10-0), TBA

No. 23 Rock Canyon (4-6) at No. 10 Chatfield (7-3), 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 7 Fairview (10-0), TBA

No. 19 Fort Collins (6-4) at No. 14 Arvada West (6-4), 1 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 3 Ralston Valley (9-1), TBA

No. 22 Douglas County (5-5) at No. 11 Arapahoe (7-3), 7 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 6 Legend (9-1), TBA

Class 4A

No. 17 Loveland (4-6) at No. 16 Doherty (5-5), 1 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (9-1), TBA

No. 24 Longmont (3-7) at No. 9 Grand Junction (9-1), 1 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 8 Ponderosa (7-3), TBA

No. 20 Grand Junction Central (4-6) at No. 13 Rampart (6-4), 1 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 4 Palmer Ridge (9-1), TBA

No. 21 Highlands Ranch (5-5) at No. 12 Vista Ridge (6-4), 1 p.m. Sunday. Next week: Winner at No. 5 Broomfield (9-1), TBA

No. 15 Frederick beat No. 18 Northfield, 32-14: Tristen Dean scored a pair of touchdowns, quarterback Gavin Ishmael had a rushing score of his own and Sonny Delpizzo put things away with a TD and two-point conversion as the Golden Eagles (8-3) advanced to the second round in their first season in 4A. Northfield (6-5), which also rose from 3A to 4A this fall, saw its five-game win streak snapped. Next week: Winner at No. 2 Montrose (10-0), TBA

No. 23 Bear Creek (4-6) at No. 10 Monarch (8-2), noon Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 7 Mesa Ridge (7-3), TBA

No. 19 Golden (5-5) at No. 14 Riverdale Ridge (9-1), 4 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 3 Pueblo West (9-1), TBA

No. 22 Air Academy (4-6) at No. 11 Heritage (5-5), 3 p.m. Saturday. Next week: Winner at No. 6 Durango (7-3), TBA

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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/11/09/chsaa-state-football-playoffs-first-round-2024/

The 24-team Class 5A and 4A football playoff fields are set, with first-round games beginning Friday night. Here’s what to watch for in Colorado’s biggest classifications leading up to the state championship game on Dec. 7 at Canvas Stadium.

Class 5A

The Favorite

Cherry Creek: The Bruins have played in six straight championships. They’re led by the most famous coach in Colorado high school football history, Dave Logan, who owns a record 12 state titles. They have an abundance of skill and Division I talent on both sides of the ball. And the Bruins played a rigorous out-of-state schedule to prepare for another run. They remain the odds-on favorite.

The Challengers

Mountain Vista: The Golden Eagles could easily be considered a co-favorite as they seek an undefeated season and the first state title in program history. Led by star senior quarterback Austyn Modrzewski, a South Dakota commit who broke the CHSAA career record for touchdowns and is on the doorstep of the passing yards record, Mountain Vista’s unstoppable offense averaged 55.1 points a game this fall.

Columbine: Recall last year, when the “junkyard dawgs” went undefeated and upset Cherry Creek in the championship en route to the program’s sixth title. The Rebels’ physicality up front, and their consistency within head coach Andy Lowry’s decades-old system, sets them apart. As does the dynamic running back tandem of James Basinger and Mark Snyder, who have combined for 40 rushing TDs.

Ralston Valley: The Mustangs handed the Rebels their last two losses: stuffing a two-point attempt to snap Columbine’s 21-game win streak on Oct. 18, and in the 2022 quarterfinals. The Mustangs took Cherry Creek down to the wire in last year’s semifinal. In other words: RV’s on the cusp of a championship breakthrough, one QB Zeke Andrews, linebacker Matt Gates & Co. could achieve this fall.

Legend: The Titans are a handful in the trenches and have their best and most talented team in school history. Their lone defeat came in a Week 3 nail-biter to Columbine when the Rebels hit the game-winning field goal with 12 seconds left. Like RV, they are seeking their first championship game appearance. An offense with many weapons, plus defensive end John Niedringhaus, lead the charge.

Valor Christian: Despite getting crushed by Mountain Vista 62-21 on Oct. 4, the Eagles beat two other top teams in Pine Creek and Ralston Valley. Junior Cash Spence can do it all at wideout, running back, safety and returner. And Valor Christian has plenty more speed and size around him. If the Eagles get hot in November, they’re capable of a push for the program’s ninth championship.

The Dark Horses

Pine Creek: Those who doubt Pine Creek is capable of a deep run in the playoffs need to watch the tape from the Eagles’ narrow 21-14 loss to Cherry Creek in Greenwood Village on Sept. 27. The Eagles were the only in-state team that played Cherry Creek close this year. Junior linebacker Jared Ibarra and senior safety Emmanuel El Shaddai Hill highlight a defense capable of stifling top attacks.

Erie: In their first year in 5A, last year’s 4A champions have proven competitive against the state’s big dogs. Erie’s two losses came to Ralston Valley and Mountain Vista, but it thrashed almost every other team it played, minus 4A contender Broomfield. Junior running back Braylon Toliver is their key catalyst on offense, while senior linebacker Carson Hageman is the heart of the defense.

Three Questions

Can Fairview make postseason impact?

The Knights cruised to a 10-0 mark but played only three playoff teams along the way — close wins over Arvada West and Fossil Ridge, plus a victory over Fort Collins in a game in which the Lambkins put up 49 points. Will Fairview’s high-powered attack, headlined by star senior wideout/running back Jordan Rechel, be enough to make noise in the playoffs after a so-so regular-season schedule?

Can anyone stop Mountain Vista’s offense?

Modrzewski has a slew of talented receivers to throw the ball to, including Jakhai Mack, Sean Conway, Ja’pree Jennings and Brooklyn Bailey. Plus, the Golden Eagles don’t just throw it, as shifty running back Jack Blais is capable of grind-it-out runs as well as huge bursts. Top it off with an offensive line headlined by the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Jack Heath, and Mountain Vista will be tough to slow down.

Does parity have a chance?

You have to rewind the clock to 2017, when Pomona beat Eaglecrest in a shootout in Denver, for the last time a team other than Cherry Creek, Columbine or Valor Christian played in the Class 5A title game. So with 5A as top-heavy as it’s ever been, can a pair of schools outside of those three break that streak of power and give Colorado high school football fans a fresh matchup at Canvas Stadium?

Class 4A

The Favorite

Montrose: Could it really be that the No. 2 seed is the team best suited to win it all? It’s been 74 years since Montrose claimed a state title, but this year’s Red Hawks have the one thing that travels best: Physicality in the trenches. Class 4A’s last unbeaten has already taken down three of the bracket’s top seven seeds (Pueblo West, Mesa Ridge, Durango). Nobody else has a resume quite like that.

The Challengers

Dakota Ridge: The top-seeded Eagles enter the playoffs riding a nine-game win streak with an eye on claiming the program’s first state title. They’re playing for something bigger than themselves after the tragic deaths of a former teammate and their coach’s wife. They have depth and a legit two-way star in junior RB/LB Landon Kalsbeck. And their only loss was to a 5A program (Chatfield) way back in Week 1.

Pueblo West: Up until last Friday, it could have been argued that the Cyclones were the team to beat in 4A. Then they traveled to Montrose in Week 10 and lost … on a late touchdown. Could the 9-1 ‘Clones beat the Red Hawks in a semifinal rematch? With a dual-threat senior QB like Gavin Lockett (6,109 career total yards) and a defense that’s allowed just 12.2 points per game, the answer is “yes.”

Palmer Ridge: The Bears have been knocking on the door in 4A since moving up in 2020. They’ve reached the title game twice, including as the top seed last fall, but lost both times. Their lone loss this fall came vs. No. 7 Mesa Ridge in a game they led at half. They’ve won five in a row since, including a gritty 24-21 win at No. 6 Durango. The offense (41.8 points/game) led by Air Force OL commit Court Towns is as dangerous as ever. Can the Bears finally finish the job?

Broomfield: Two years removed from claiming a state title, the No. 5 Eagles boast a 9-0 record against 4A teams and a defense allowing just 8.2 points/game. The schedule didn’t have many heavyweights, with No. 10 Monarch, No. 14 Riverdale Ridge and No. 15 Frederick their best wins. But with a game-breaking talent like Air Force CB/WR commit Mikhail Benner and a winning pedigree, don’t count them out.

Mesa Ridge: How are No. 7 Grizzlies listed here ahead of No. 6 Durango? They are the lone team in the bracket to face each of the top four seeds, and they went 1-3 with a cumulative point differential of minus-9. Simply put, the Grizzlies played the best and hung with them thanks to an explosive offense (37.8 points/game) led by senior dual-threat QB Bryce Riehl. If the defense steps up, they can beat anyone.

The Dark Horses

Durango: The Demons have not backslid one bit after their rise back to 4A. Outside of a Week 0 loss at No. 2 Montrose (42-16), they’ve won or been in every game. A narrow loss vs. Palmer Ridge denied them a league title, but a Week 10 win over Vista Ridge assured them of a bye. The defense (13.4 points allowed/game) is solid, and senior Cully Feeney (2,119 total yards) can beat teams with his arm and legs.

Ponderosa: Could it be that the eighth-seeded Mustangs are peaking at the right time? The ‘Stangs lost big to No. 4 Palmer Ridge (44-7) and No. 1 Dakota Ridge (36-7) in the first six weeks but enter November on a four-game heater punctuated by a 45-34 victory over Heritage. Oh, and they may have unearthed a star in the process: RB De’Alcapon Veazy has 692 yards and 10 TDs since Week 7.

Three Questions

Is this a Western Slope renaissance?

A total of four Western Slope teams are in the bracket, with three (Montrose, Durango, Grand Junction) among the top nine seeds. The other, Grand Junction Central (4-6), is No. 20 with a trip to Rampart (6-4) in the first round. If the Warriors or No. 9 Grand Junction win their first-round game this weekend, the Western Slope will have three teams in the 4A Round of 16 for just the third time in 11 years. Not too shabby.

Which first-round team could make a run?

There are several intriguing prospects here. Few first-round teams can match No. 11 Heritage’s talent. No. 18 Northfield played a grueling non-league schedule, then outscored its 4A Denver Metro League opponents 262-53 en route to a title. And this is the best Grand Junction (9-1) team in 11 years. Still, we’ll go with No. 14 Riverdale Ridge and its under-the-radar salty defense (6.5 points allowed/game).

This bracket is wide open, right?

Without. A. Doubt. While Montrose is listed as the favorite here, it’s conceivable that any one of 6-7 teams could come away with the 4A title. That is not something you see in most brackets, where there’s often a juggernaut like Cherry Creek lurking. If you’re looking for predictable you’ve come to the wrong place. All of which is to say: Buckle up, this is going to be fun.

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A listing of the CHSAA state football tournament brackets and results:

Class 5A

First round

All games Friday, Nov. 8 unless listed otherwise

Game 1: No. 17 Grandview (5-5) at No. 16 Denver East (6-4), TBA

Game 2: No. 24 Overland (6-4) at No. 9 Erie (8-2), TBA

Game 3: No. 20 Cherokee Trail (4-6) at No. 13 Castle View (7-3), TBA

Game 4: No. 21 Eaglecrest (5-5) at No. 12 Regis Jesuit (5-5), TBA

Game 5: No. 18 Mullen (4-6) at No. 15 Fossil Ridge (6-4), TBA

Game 6: No. 23 Rock Canyon (4-6) at No. 10 Chatfield (7-3), 7 p.m.

Game 7: No. 19 Fort Collins (6-4) at No. 14 Arvada West (6-4), TBA

Game 8: No. 22 Douglas County (5-5) at No. 11 Arapahoe (7-3), 7 p.m.

Round of 16

Game 9: G1 winner at No. 1 Cherry Creek (9-1)

Game 10: G2 winner at No. 8 Pine Creek (7-3)

Game 11: G3 winner at No. 4 Columbine (9-1)

Game 12: G4 winner at No. 5 Valor Christian (9-1)

Game 13: G5 winner at No. 2 Mountain Vista (10-0)

Game 14: G6 winner at No. 7 Fairview (10-0)

Game 15: G7 winner at No. 3 Ralston Valley (9-1)

Game 16: G8 winner at No. 6 Legend (9-1)

Quarterfinals

Game 17: G9 winner vs. G10 winner

Game 18: G11 winner vs. G12 winner

Game 19: G13 winner vs. G14 winner

Game 20: G15 winner vs. G16 winner

Semifinals

Game 21: G17 winner vs. G18 winner

Game 22: G19 winner vs. G20 winner

Championship

Dec. 7 at Canvas Stadium

Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

Class 4A

First round

All games Friday, Nov. 8 unless listed otherwise

Game 1: No. 17 Loveland (4-6) at No. 16 Doherty (5-5), TBA

Game 2: No. 24 Longmont (3-7) at No. 9 Grand Junction (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9

Game 3: No. 20 Grand Junction Central (4-6) at No. 13 Rampart (6-4), TBA

Game 4: No. 21 Highlands Ranch (5-5) at No. 12 Vista Ridge (6-4), TBA

Game 5: No. 18 Northfield (6-4) at No. 15 Frederick (7-3), 6 p.m.

Game 6: No. 23 Bear Creek (4-6) at No. 10 Monarch (8-2), TBA

Game 7: No. 19 Golden (5-5) at No. 14 Riverdale Ridge (9-1), TBA

Game 8: No. 22 Air Academy (4-6) at No. 11 Heritage (5-5), TBA

Round of 16

Game 9: G1 winner at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (9-1)

Game 10: G2 winner at No. 8 Ponderosa (7-3)

Game 11: G3 winner at No. 4 Palmer Ridge (9-1)

Game 12: G4 winner at No. 5 Broomfield (9-1)

Game 13: G5 winner at No. 2 Montrose (10-0)

Game 14: G6 winner at No. 7 Mesa Ridge (7-3)

Game 15: G7 winner at No. 3 Pueblo West (9-1)

Game 16: G8 winner at No. 6 Durango (7-3)

Quarterfinals

Game 17: G9 winner vs. G10 winner

Game 18: G11 winner vs. G12 winner

Game 19: G13 winner vs. G14 winner

Game 20: G15 winner vs. G16 winner

Semifinals

Game 21: G17 winner vs. G18 winner

Game 22: G19 winner vs. G20 winner

Championship

Dec. 7 at Canvas Stadium

Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

Class 2A

Round of 16

All games Friday, Nov. 8 unless listed otherwise

Game 1: No. 16 Denver West (7-2) at No. 1 Strasburg (8-1), TBA

Game 2: No. 9 Wellington (7-2) at No. 8 Delta (7-2), TBA

Game 3: No. 13 Eaton (5-4) at No. 4 Elizabeth (7-2), TBA

Game 4: No. 12 Alamosa (6-3) at No. 5 Lamar (8-1), TBA

Game 5: No. 15 The Academy (6-3) at No. 2 Basalt (9-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9

Game 6: No. 10 Sterling (8-1) at No. 7 Woodland Park (9-0), TBA

Game 7: No. 11 Montezuma-Cortez (7-2) at No. 6 Berthoud (7-2), TBA

Game 8: No. 14 Pagosa Springs (5-4) at No. 3 The Classical Academy (9-0), TBA

Quarterfinals

Game 9: G1 winner vs. G2 winner

Game 10: G3 winner vs. G4 winner

Game 11: G5 winner vs. G6 winner

Game 12: G7 winner vs. G8 winner

Semifinals

Game 13: G9 winner vs. G10 winner

Game 14: G11 winner vs. G12 winner

Championship

Nov. 30 at CSU Pueblo

Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

Class 1A

Round of 16

All games Friday, Nov. 8 unless listed otherwise

Game 1: No. 16 North Fork (6-3) at No. 1 Wray (9-0), 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9

Game 2: No. 9 Flatirons Academy (6-3) at No. 8 Highland (7-2), TBA

Game 3: No. 13 Holyoke (3-4) at No. 4 Centauri (8-1), TBA

Game 4: No. 12 Burlington (4-5) at No. 5 Buena Vista (7-2), TBA

Game 5: No. 15 Yuma (4-5) at No. 2 Forge Christian (9-0), 6 p.m.

Game 6: No. 10 Monte Vista (7-2) at No. 7 Meeker (7-2), TBA

Game 7: No. 11 Colorado Springs Christian (5-4) at No. 6 Wiggins (4-5)

Game 8: No. 14 Platte Valley (4-5) at No. 3 Limon (7-2), TBA

Quarterfinals

Game 9: G1 winner vs. G2 winner

Game 10: G3 winner vs. G4 winner

Game 11: G5 winner vs. G6 winner

Game 12: G7 winner vs. G8 winner

Semifinals

Game 13: G9 winner vs. G10 winner

Game 14: G11 winner vs. G12 winner

Championship

Nov. 30 at CSU Pueblo

Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.

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MEAD — The Mead High School band played Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at halftime.

Quite appropriate for the night after Halloween, and for a Class 3A, white-knuckle showdown between No. 1 Windsor and No. 2 Mead.

In the end, the Wizards knocked the Mavericks from the ranks of the unbeaten and took control of the North 2 League with a 13-7 victory at Mead Stadium.

Mead, set up by a 37-yard halfback pass from Ethan Elmore to Ryan St. Aubin, appeared to be driving to the game-tying score in the final moments, but another Elmore halfback pass was broken up inside the Windsor 10-yard line.

“Our guys came up big at the end,” Windsor coach Chris Jones said. “But man, they had a third-and-12 play and we were telling the guys, ‘Halfback pass, halfback pass.’ But we still bit on it.

“But we came through. That was a good game, and that’s a well-coached team over there. Jason (Klatt) has that team well-oiled over there. They are fundamentally sound and it’s a tough team to beat and make plays on.”

The Wizards emerged from the rugged affair with an 8-1 record and a perfect 4-0 league mark. Mead tumbled to 8-1 and 3-1.

Windsor’s kicking game gave it a 10-7 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter. Senior Matt Zenger pinned Mead at its own 4-yard line. The Mavericks went four-and-out, giving the Wizards a short field. The Wizards didn’t do much with it but Kale Frederick drilled a 33-yard field goal.

Early in the fourth quarter, Windsor began feeding the ball to junior Adrian Czyszczon and he delivered with runs up the middle.

“It was just 3 or 4 yards on every play,” Czyszczon said. “They just gave me the ball over and over again. Their (defense) started making adjustments and we were getting hit in the backfield, so we finally said, ‘Let’s not go with any trickery or anything like that. We are just going to run it right down their throats.”

However, a holding penalty wiped out Czyszczon 5-yard touchdown run and Frederick was called on to make another field goal. He was perfect, again, drilling a 29-yarder to increase the lead to 13-7 with 10:10 remaining in the game.

“We knew it was going to be close,” Frederick said. “They are a hard team to beat. They battle on the ground, we battle on the ground. So making the kicks was what we needed, at least this time around.

Frederick felt the pressure, but he didn’t let it spook him.

“I just knew I had to do my job,” he said. “I could hear the fans in their stands getting loud and I just wanted to shut them down.”

The two rivals were deadlocked at halftime, 7-7, with jarring defense the predominant theme.

The Wizards opened the game making two big statements. They stuffed Mead on the game’s first possession and promptly scored in four plays for a 7-0 lead. On a third-and-seven play, Windsor used a no-huddle offense, and senior running back Tripp Thomas found a seam, cut outside and jetted 55 yards to the Mead 3-yard line. On the next play, Thomas slipped into the end zone for the touchdown.

“We do hurry up from time to time and we kind of had a tell from their defense that tells us, ‘This is what’s coming next,’ ” Jones said, referring to Thomas’ breakout play. “So we checked into that play and it hit big.”

Mead struggled offensively for most of the first half. The Mavericks put together a nice drive late in the first quarter but a false-start penalty on second down at the Wizards’ 38 short-circuited the possession.

A huge defensive play set up Mead’s only score. Early in the second quarter, junior defensive back Carter Woods, timing his blitz perfectly, hit Windsor quarterback Edison Burk just as Burk released the ball. JD Hamilton gathered in the dying pass for an interception, giving Mead a first down at the Windsor 33.

The Mavericks fed Elmore for four consecutive runs and he finished off the drive with a 16-yard TD, cutting back against Windsor’s pursuit.

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Class 5A

1. Mountain Vista (9-0) at Castle View, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

2. Cherry Creek (8-1) vs. Grandview, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

3. Valor Christian (9-1) won at Rock Canyon, 59-7: Watch out, the Eagles are playoff-ready. Valor topped 50 points for the second week in a row, as junior running back Chase Hanosh ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries, and junior QB Dawson Olk completed 10 of 14 passes for 109 yards and a score. Since losing to Mountain Vista at the start of October, the Eagles have outscored their last four opponents 205-27. Next week: TBD

4. Legend (8-1) at No. 10 Regis Jesuit, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

5. Ralston Valley (9-1) won at Arvada West, 17-7: The Mustangs scored both of their touchdowns in the fourth quarter to hand A-West another heartbreaking loss and put the finishing touches on an unbeaten run through the 5A Jeffco League. Nico Benallo gave the Mustangs a 10-7 lead with a short TD run early in the fourth, then Zeke Andrews found Colby Kurtz for a 21-yard strike with 7:31 to go to put the game on ice. Next week: TBD

6. Columbine (8-1) vs. Chatfield, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

7. Pine Creek (6-3) at Fountain-Fort Carson, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

8. Erie (7-2) vs. Horizon, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

9. Fairview (9-0) at Rocky Mountain, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

10. Regis Jesuit (5-4) vs. No. 4 Legend, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

Class 4A

1. Pueblo West (9-0) at No. 2 Montrose, 6 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

2. Montrose (9-0) vs. No. 1 Pueblo West, 6 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

3. Dakota Ridge (9-1) won vs. Bear Creek, 51-0: The Eagles will take a nine-game win streak into the postseason after putting 37 on the board by halftime against Bear Creek and rolling from there. Junior Landon Kalsbeck needed all of four carries to total 119 yards and a touchdown. He added another score on a pass from Kellen Behrendsen, who finished 13 of 17 for 182 yards passing and three TDs. Next week: TBD

4. Broomfield (8-1) at Skyline, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

5. Mesa Ridge (6-3) at Falcon, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

6. Palmer Ridge (8-1) vs. Liberty, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

7. Riverdale Ridge (8-1) vs. Grand Junction Central, 7 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

8. Durango (6-3) vs. No. 10 Vista Ridge, 6 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

9. Heritage (5-4) at Ponderosa, 6 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

10. Vista Ridge (6-3) at No. 8 Durango, 6 p.m. Friday. Next week: TBD

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