Colorado High School Football Playoffs Open Friday With Undefeated Contenders
Class 2A action begins this week, featuring Denver Christian and Elizabeth as top seeds, while Palmer Ridge dominates Class 3A.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
The 2026 Colorado high school football postseason launches Friday with opening-round games in Class 2A, while the remaining classes begin their brackets next week. The schedule pits undefeated programs against the rest of the state, with several teams entering the tournament as heavy favorites. Statistics cited in this report are current as of the start of Friday's games.
Denver Christian enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Class 1A. Head coach Bret McGatlin took over a program that was 2-7 the year prior to his arrival. Last season, the Thunder finished 4-5. This year, the team has not lost. Denver Christian has an average margin of victory of 37.25 points. Senior running back and middle linebacker Quinn Barkema leads the offense.
Elizabeth competes in Class 2A as the top favorite. The Cardinals are undefeated. They improved upon last year's season, in which they lost 35-0 to Wellington in the title game. Elizabeth finished the regular season with a 27-17 victory over The Classical Academy. Head coach Michael Zoesch is in his 12th year. The Cardinals received a bye in the first week. Defensive ends Cash Buron and Tyler Hanak anchor the defense.
Palmer Ridge is the dominant force in Class 3A. The Bears dropped down from Class 4A for this two-year cycle after losing last year's 4A title to Dakota Ridge. Palmer Ridge has a 28.4-point average margin of victory. Their closest game came on Aug. 28 against La Cueva in New Mexico, which they won 29-14.
The Class 4A title race is open. Broomfield and Ponderosa are undefeated. Roosevelt is 8-1 and has not lost since its first game, holding the No. 1 rank according to the CHSAA. Montrose is 7-2. The Red Hawks lost to Mountain Vista in 5A and Palmer Ridge in 3A, but have performed well in their 4A games. Monarch, Loveland, Pueblo West, Golden, Douglas County, and Columbine are also capable contenders.
Cherry Creek remains the favorite in its division despite a bumpy start. The Bruins forfeited their season-opening win over Chatfield due to an ineligible player, which ended a 27-game win streak. They won in overtime against Legend in September and came from behind to beat Valor Christian the following week. Valor Christian or Mountain Vista are the most likely teams to defeat Cherry Creek in the bracket.
Individual defensive performance is leading the state. Senior Arath Carrazco of Wiggins and junior Turner Oldach of Prospect Ridge Academy are tied for the most interceptions with seven. Carrazco also plays baseball, basketball, and track. Oldach helps lead a Prospect Ridge team on a four-game winning streak. Three other players have six interceptions, and 10 have five.
Holy Family aims to challenge Palmer Ridge in Class 3A. Junior tailback Gage Gunderson leads the state in rushing touchdowns with 27. He is second in rushing yardage with 1,718 and averages 9.04 yards per carry. Junior linebacker Adam Moore and junior wide receiver Nick Leopardi are also key contributors. Holy Family won a championship in 2023.
Sand Creek is on the bubble for the playoffs, a first for the program in the MaxPreps Era since 2004, excluding the 2020 spring season. The Scorpions are currently ranked No. 22. Last season, they went 9-1 but missed the playoffs because their rebuilding league only sent its champion. Senior tailback, slot receiver, and safety Ethan Mangrum is the team's star.
Class 5A is defined by two senior quarterbacks. Fairview's Ki Ellison leads the state in passing yards with 3,180. In his last game, Ellison threw for 633 yards and seven touchdowns as Fairview scored 84 points to beat Legacy, breaking a single-game scoring record. He is committed to play at St. Thomas. Mountain Vista's Marquise Reese is second in passing yards with 2,832 and has a 67.8% completion rate. He is committed to Colorado State University.
Valor Christian relies on wide receiver Jackson Coleman for deep threats in the 5A playoffs. The Notre Dame commit has 46 catches for 950 yards, averaging 20.7 yards per reception, with 12 touchdowns. If Valor Christian faces Mountain Vista in the semifinals, Coleman will face Brooklyn Bailey, a San Diego State pledge who plays corner and wideout.
