Colorado’s high school football season begins this week with a handful of Week 0 games, followed by play across the rest of the state next week. Here are eight storylines to keep an eye on:
Chasing the record books: Mountain Vista’s Austyn Modrzewski insists he doesn’t care about records, but the senior quarterback could set a pretty big one. Modrzewski entered the season with 8,504 passing yards and needs 3,015 to pass Fairview’s Aidan Atkinson and set the CHSAA career record. While that may sound like a lot — and it is — the South Dakota product has posted over 3,200 passing yards in each of the past two seasons. If he can lead the Eagles to a deep playoff run, it’s a no-brainer.
Return from Montbello: The Far Northeast Warriors are no more. The Montbello Warriors have returned. After Montbello High School reopened two years ago, the football program has followed suit, reviving a name that was once synonymous with winning in the late 1980s when Montbello played in three consecutive state championship games. There was some controversy a few years ago when Stanley Richardson was named head coach, ousting Tony Lindsay, who led Far Northeast to a spring state title in 2021. But the Warriors are back on the field and will compete in a fun 4A Denver Metro League that includes Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Denver North, Northfield and Aurora Central.
Jeffco League transforms: Speaking of DPS football programs, look at the new Jeffco League, now called the 5A Metro League. Lakewood (5A Metro North) and Pomona (now 3A) are out, Denver South and Denver East are in to face teams like Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine and Ralston Valley. All six of those programs made the playoffs last year (South in 4A) and have a combined record of 52-23. And that’s despite Chatfield losing a couple times. Yuck.
Ascending, Part I: Denver South isn’t the only 4A power suddenly swimming in 5A waters. Erie, which won last year’s 4A title with now-departed QB Blake Barnett, will join the Ravens along with Fruita Monument and Vista PEAK Prep. It’s safe to say South has the toughest mountain to climb given the depth of its league, but it’s undeniable that all four will face significantly more opposition this fall.
Ascending, Part II: In fact, there are several programs that find themselves in similar situations. Rifle, which reached the 2A title game last fall, is now in 3A. Frederick, which is resurgent under former Ralston Valley coach Matt Loyd, has moved up from 3A to 4A. The same goes for relative newcomers Northfield and Riverdale Ridge, which are coming off their breakout seasons in 3A, as well as a Denver North program that just got into the 3A playoffs. The Durango Demons, always the travel-weary travelers and a tough opponent in 3A, have moved up to 4A.
Move down: The other side of the coin? The notable programs that have dropped to a lower division. Perhaps the most important of these is Windsor, which reached the 4A quarterfinals last fall and is now the big star of 3A. Pomona, once a perennial 5A power under Jay Madden, has slipped to 3A after a 1-9 record last season. Highlands Ranch has slipped from 5A to 4A.
Who will challenge Cherry Creek?: A familiar refrain among top Class 5A programs not named Cherry Creek: Big shoes to fill at big positions. Columbine ended Creek’s streak of four consecutive state championships last fall with a 14-0 record, but let a whole lot of starters go. State championship semifinalists Ralston Valley and Chatfield were both dangerous late last year, but lost elite quarterbacks. The same goes for a perennial thorn in Creek’s side, Grandview. The only team to return virtually all of its talent, Mountain Vista, hasn’t won 10 games since 2006. Lots of questions. Soon we’ll have answers.
Frequent travelers: Cherry Creek isn’t just loaded with college talent. Now it has a college schedule. While it’s become common for top teams to travel out of state in search of high-level competition, the Bruins have taken it to a new level. In the first four weeks of the season, Creek will travel to Lehi, Utah (Skyridge, Aug. 30), Omaha, Nebraska (Millard North, Sept. 6) and Dallas (Highland Park, Sept. 20). In between those games? A date with Regis Jesuit. You have to give the Bruins credit: They don’t avoid anyone.
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