Class 3A Football State First Round capsules

Paul Willis, Special to the News

Published November 9, 2006 at midnight

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Harrison (6-4) at No. 1 Alamosa (10-0)

• Game plan: The thrill of nabbing 3A's lone wild-card spot probably didn't last too long for Harrison. The Panthers were walloped 59-0 by Alamosa on Sept. 29 but recently have begun to play better. Record-setting Mean Moose quarterback Clay Garcia has thrown 34 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions, and receivers Jason Espinoza (992 yards) and Dustin Bolt (950) are near cinches for 1,000-yard seasons. Harrison running back Demetrius Gilmore is coming off a 123-yard effort against Woodland Park and averages nearly 9 yards a carry.

• Extra point: For all the talk about the Alamosa offense, the Mean Moose defense is pretty good, too. It has shut out six opponents, allowing only 50 points all season.

Elizabeth (5-5) at No. 8 Rifle (7-3)

• Game plan: With an unfamiliar designation, will Rifle be able to do it again? The Bears advanced to the championship game the past two seasons as the Western Slope League's No. 4 seed. The Bears are the league's second seed this season and will not be taken lightly, especially with running back Tyler Thompson leading the way. Elizabeth started slowly but won its final three behind dynamic running back Mitch Johnson, who has rushed for 1,527 yards this season. The Cardinals also received a forfeit win from Conifer.

• Extra point: This will be a tall task for Elizabeth, considering Rifle is playoff tested and characteristically plays its best football in the postseason.

No. 5 Florence (8-2) at No. 2 Berthoud (10-0)

• Game plan: Elite Northern League teams haven't fared well in the postseason in recent years, but Berthoud will try to change that. A stout, fly-to-the-ball defense has keyed several victories, as has the vigorous running of tailback Derek Good. This is a brutal draw for defending champion Florence, but the Huskies are a never-back-down team that relies on the leadership of two-way players Bryce Buderus and Frank Morelli. The Huskies' only losses are to Pueblo County and Alamosa.

• Extra point: What a shame this game had to come early in the postseason. This is a semifinal-caliber matchup. Florence has played for the title in three of the past four seasons.

Palisade (7-3) at Centaurus (5-5)

• Game plan: Centaurus experienced a wacky regular season in which it spent only one week above .500. The Warriors have played a number of tight games, which could prove beneficial in a close one, and have a potential game breaker in running back-returner Josh Sipes. Palisade's three losses were by a combined 16 points, and the Bulldogs generally blow out teams when they win. Running backs Aaron Wagler and Adam Swanson have carried the load, and Blake Richards leads the defense.

• Extra point: This could be one of those games that serves as an example of the power of the Western Slope League.

Fort Lupton (6-4) at No. 4 Steamboat Springs (9-1)

• Game plan: Steamboat Springs has the star power in quarterback Tanner Stillwell, running back Jay Hanley (1,118 yards) and linebacker Westin Cofer, all of whom performed admirably during the regular season. In addition, the Sailors limited six opponents to single-figure scoring outputs this season. Interestingly, the Sailors' one loss was to Eagle Valley, which finished 3-7. Fort Lupton, which has struggled in recent years, put together a five-game winning streak near the end of the season, then played Berthoud tough in Week 10 before losing 20-7.

• Extra point: It is hard to see the Blue Devils pulling an upset here, but it isn't out of the question to believe they could make things difficult for Steamboat Springs.

No. 6 Pueblo County (8-2) at No. 3 Sterling (9-1)

• Game plan: Call this the renaissance game, because the term aptly describes each team's season. Pueblo County went 1-9 last season, but it had a magical season that included a 7-6 defeat of Florence and a 21-20 loss to Alamosa, which routed every other opponent. Led by running back Zach Martinez, the Hornets are rolling. Sterling went 4-6 last year after reaching the state final in 2004, but the Tigers are a formidable team, guided by do-it-all quarterback Jordan Hall. The Tigers' lone loss was a 28-27 overtime heartbreaker at Berthoud.

• Extra point: Like the Berthoud-Florence game, this game should be played deeper in the postseason.

No. 10 Frederick (7-3) at No. 9 Englewood (8-2)

• Game plan: Englewood's smooth-sailing season rudely was interrupted in Week 4 by a 57-0 pasting by Alamosa. The Pirates since have recovered and have developed an effective ground game from the hard-nosed style of Bryce Penn (1,276 yards). The Pirates won't wow opponents with their creativity, but they will hit them hard up front. Frederick started 5-0, then battled through a brutal second-half schedule and survived with a playoff berth. Receiver Justyn Genchi-Martinez is a top deep threat.

• Extra point: After seasons of futility, Frederick doesn't care it wasn't picked to be here. The Warriors might make up for playoff inexperience with a nothing-to-lose approach.

Moffat Co. (5-5) at No. 7 Summit (10-0)

• Game plan: Summit ran the table, but now comes the true test. The Tigers know they played in the classification's weakest league, but they want to prove their lofty mark is more a product of being a solid team. Running back/linebacker Drew Crangle leads the way. Moffat County looked alternately playoff worthy and unworthy throughout the season. After making it, the Bulldogs are looking for consistency. Running back Nick Navratil (1,188 yards, 13 touchdowns) will have to be at peak form.

• Extra point: It will be interesting to see how Summit reacts to a team that spends its season toiling in the smashmouth Western Slope League.

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