CHSAA state football playoffs: Previewing Saturday’s championship games

State football champions will be crowned in Class 5A, 4A and 3A on Saturday in Fort Collins. Here’s a scouting report of the teams competing for titles:

Class 5A

No. 6 Legend (12-1) vs. No. 1 Cherry Creek (12-1)

When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday at Canvas Stadium, NFHS Network

Legend players to watch: Jaden Lawrence, sr., RB (Wyoming commit, 991 rushing yards, 18 TDs); Ryken Banks, jr., RB (824 rushing yards, 11 TDs); Nick Farley, sr., QB (1,155 yards, 11 TDs passing); Kellen Marchand, so., WR (17 catches, 339 yards, 4 TDs); John Niedringhaus, sr., DE (106 tackles, 19 TFLs); Aaron Olson, sr., LB (103 tackles); Tatum O’Donnell, sr., DE (98 tackles, 20 TFLs, 10.5 sacks); Payton Aukland, sr., S (3 INTs, 70 tackles).

Cherry Creek players to watch: Brady Vodicka, jr., QB (2,653 yards, 24 TDs passing); Jayden Fox, jr., RB (1,725 yards, 19 TDs rushing); Jeremiah Hoffman, sr., WR (Charlotte commit, 831 yards, 7 TDs receiving); Maxwell Lovett, jr., WR (601 yards, 7 TDs receiving); Aiden Knapke, sr., S (Washington State commit, 118 tackles, 2 INTs); Ashton Shepardson, sr., LB (66 tackles, 9 TFLs, 6 sacks, 3 INTs); Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais, jr., DL/OG (68 tackles, 8 TFLs); Soren Shinofield, sr., OT (Utah commit); Keegan Perea, sr., EDGE (Nevada commit, 69 tackles, 4 sacks); Ned Zilinskas, sr., C (Princeton commit).

The Titans are making their first title game appearance after knocking on the door of the big game the past few years. Legend features a run-heavy offense behind Lawrence, and as Bruins head coach Dave Logan noted, the Titans possess the size to stack up with Cherry Creek in the trenches. Legend’s playoff run nearly came to an end in the second round, when Arapahoe was up late and was poised to pull off an upset. But Farley and Lawrence led Legend on a game-winning drive, and the Titans haven’t looked back while putting up 35 points in both the quarterfinals (Ralston Valley) and semifinals (Fairview). Legend’s key to the upset is leaning on its stout defense to limit Cherry Creek’s time of possession. That, and a monster game from Lawrence.

Cherry Creek remains 5A’s juggernaut. The Bruins won four titles in a row before Columbine finally snapped their streak last year. Cherry Creek’s making its seventh straight title game trip and seeks its 14th title. The Bruins are deep and talented at every position, as evidenced by their 42-17 demolition of Valor Christian team in the semifinals. Three out-of-state games molded Cherry Creek for another title run; the only in-state team to play the Bruins close was Pine Creek in a 21-14 game on Sept. 27. There was no celebration after the Bruins beat Valor Christian last week. They very much remember last year’s loss to Columbine, so expect a focused and physical performance.

Class 4A

No. 5 Broomfield (12-1) vs. No. 2 Montrose (13-0)

When/where: 2 p.m. Saturday at Canvas Stadium, NFHS Network

Broomfield players to watch: Darien Jackson, sr., QB (1,648 passing yards, 20 TDs); Colin Torres, sr., RB/LB (1,123 rush yards, 16 TDs); Mikhail Benner, sr., WR/DB (Air Force commit, 551 receiving yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs); Ty LaCrue, sr., DL (five sacks); Grisham Lemley, sr., WR (374 receiving yards, 2 TDs); Brendan Fritch sr., LB (6.4 tackles per game); Mason Smiley, sr., DB (2 INTs).

Montrose players to watch: Cade Saunders, so., QB (filling in for injured senior Chris Mock); Elijah Womack, jr., RB (4 rushing TDs in quarterfinal vs. Mesa Ridge); Aidan Gonzalez, jr. RB (Red Hawks’ speedster).

The Red Hawks play bruising, control-the-clock football. Will that be enough to slow down a Broomfield team that played flawlessly in its 45-7 demolition of top-seeded Dakota Ridge last week? Montrose has won 10 of its 13 games by 21 points or more, but the Red Hawks are banged up as they enter the championship game. The Red Hawks are 76-18 (.808) since coach Brett Mertens took over in 2017, but it’s been 13 years since they made it to the title bout (49-14 loss to Pine Creek). Montrose’s only state championship came in a 20-7 win over Lakewood in 1950.

Broomfield won the 4A state title in 2022, but most of those players graduated. The Eagles are a run-first team, but they have thrown the ball with more effectiveness during the playoffs behind strong-armed senior quarterback Darien Jackson. Air Force-bound senior defensive back Mikhail Benner (who’s also emerged as a receiving threat) has 16 career interceptions, including a pick-six in the semifinals. Senior running back Colin Torres is a grinder and it will be up to the Montrose defense to limit his yards per carry. The Eagles’ defense enters Saturday’s game with 29.5 combined sacks and 17 interceptions.

Class 3A

No. 1 Thompson Valley (13-0) vs. No. 2 Mead (11-1)

When/where: 10 a.m. Saturday at Canvas Stadium, NFHS Network

Thompson Valley players to watch: Finley Lucas, fr., QB (971 total yards, 10 total TDs); Joseph Urrutia, sr., RB/CB (1,215 all-purpose yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs); Garet Hendrickson, sr., RB/DB (983 total yards, 8 TDs, 47 tackles); Wes Bebo, sr., RB (444 yards, 7 TDs); Colton James, sr., TE/OLB (27 catches, 324 yards, 65 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 4 forced fumbles); Landry Suarez, jr., ILB (84 tackles); Seth Kastl, sr., OL/DL (12.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks).

Mead players to watch: Christian Hiner, sr., QB (1,035 yards, 15 TDs passing); Ethan Elmore so., RB (876 total yards, 7 TDs); Noah Chapala, so., RB (666 yards, 9 TDs rushing); Ryan St. Aubin, jr., RB (632 total yards, 8 TDs); Noah Vroman, sr., WR (401 yards, 4 TDs receiving); Josh Gonsalves, jr., MLB (94 tackles, 4 sacks, INT); Carter Woods, jr., MLB (92 tackles, 4.5 sacks); Dresden Spendlove, sr., G/DE (64 tackles, 9 TFLs); Austin Ott, sr., CB (4 INTs, 33 tackles).

No matter who walks away with the trophy on Saturday, history will be made. For Mead, it would be the program’s first state football title since the high school reopened in 2009. The old Mead High School won the 6-man crown back in 1949. For Thompson Valley, it would be the Eagles’ first state football title in the 48-year history of the school.

The two programs got to Canvas Stadium in very similar ways, riding stifling defenses and rugged run-based offenses to double-digit-win seasons. Thompson Valley, which is in the title round for the first time in 35 years, has allowed just 75 total points over 13 games, including dominant wins over Discovery Canyon (30-7) and Green Mountain (31-3) in the last two rounds of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Mead has allowed just 10.3 points per game, but did have to survive a last-ditch rally from Pomona in last week’s semifinals to emerge with a 21-19 victory and second trip to the 3A championship in four years. Bottom line: Get ready for a slugfest.

* All stats taken from Maxpreps.com.

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