ALAMOSA – Mile High Prep Report posted its preseason football rankings gradually over the past few weeks on its web site with five teams from the San Luis Valley appearing in their respective Top 20.
The highest ranked local teams are in Class 1A as Centauri is ranked eighth and Monte Vista is ninth.
The Falcons went 7-3 in 2023 and they won the South-Central League championship with a 5-0 record. They were defeated in the first round of the state playoffs by Wray, who is the preseason top-ranked team.
The Pirates had a 6-3 overall record in 2023 and they finished second in league play with a 4-1 record. They just barely missed going to the playoffs.
In addition to playing each other this season, both Centauri and Monte Vista have tough nonleague schedules. Both teams will play Pagosa Springs, the 11th-ranked team in Class 2A. Centauri will also face fifth-ranked Buena Vista, while Monte Vista will play Alamosa, the 13th-ranked team in Class 2A, 15th-ranked North Fork, and Rye which is listed as “other teams to watch.”
Alamosa overcame a slow start in 2023 and came back to post a 4-6 record. It was the league co-champs with a 4-1 record and advanced to the state playoffs where they was defeated by eventual state champion Delta, which is also the top-ranked team this year. The Mean Moose will play at Delta during the regular season.
Alamosa returns to the Intermountain League which has two additional ranked teams in eighth-ranked Gunnison and 11th-ranked Pagosa Springs. Montezuma-Cortez and Salida are mentioned as “other teams to watch.”
In eight-man football, Sanford is ranked 15th, and Sargent is listed as “other teams to watch.”
The Mustangs went 6-4 in 2023 and they were 2-2 in league play. They advanced to the state tournament where they were defeated by Byers which is third in the preseason rankings.
The Farmers had a 4-5 record and were 1-3 in league.
The league has two ranked teams in fifth-ranked Mancos and 10th-ranked Dove Creek.
Sanford will also face top-ranked Haxtun and ninth-ranked West Grand, along with Swink which is listed as “other teams to watch.”
Sargent will also see 12th-ranked Hoehne.
The eight-man Six County League, in which Sangre de Cristo will compete, has 12th-ranked Hoehne and 13th-ranked Crowley County. Fowler is mentioned as “other teams to watch.”
In six-man football, Sierra Grande is ranked 10th. The Panthers went 7-4 last year and they were 3-2 in league. They advanced to state and was the only SLV team to win a game with a victory over Arickaree. They lost in the quarterfinals to eventual state champion Stratton which is also the top-ranked team this year.
Two league teams are ranked as Branson/Kim is seventh and Primero is ninth. La Veta is mentioned as “other teams to watch.”
Sierra Grande will also face 15th-ranked Cheraw, as well as Deer Trail which is also a team to watch.
Class 2A
1.Delta
2.The Classical Academy
3.Kent Denver
4.Wellington
5.Resurrection Christian
6.Basalt
7.Brush
8.Gunnison
9.Eaton
10.Sterling
11.Pagosa Springs
12.Berthoud
13.Alamosa
14.Woodland Park
15.La Junta
16.D’Evelyn
17.University
18.Strasburg
19.Weld Central
20.Fort Lupton
Other teams to watch: Florence, Lamar, Montezuma-Cortez, Elizabeth, Salida, Banning Lewis Academy, Aspen, Valley, Coal Ridge, Bennett, Moffat County
Class 1A
1.Wray
2.Limon
3.Colorado Springs Christian
4.Wiggins
5.Buena Vista
6.Yuma
7.Platte Valley
8.Centauri
9.Monte Vista
10.Highland
11.Forge Christian
12.Holyoke
13.Cedaredge
14.Meeker
15.North Fork
16.Burlington
17.Peyton
18.Rye
19.Flatirons Academy
20.Grand Valley
Other teams to watch: Platte Canyon, Denver Christian, Estes Park, Jefferson, Ignacio
Eight-man
1.Haxtun
2.Simla
3.Byers
4.Merino
5.Mancos
6.McClave
7.Akron
8.Sedgwick County
9.West Grand
10.Dove Creek
11.Holly
12.Hoehne
13.Crowley County
14.Dayspring Christian
15.Sanford
16.Springfield
17.Elbert
18.Rangely
19.Lyons
20.Vail Christian
Other teams to watch: Sargent, Fowler, Belleview Christian, Rocky Ford, Front Range Christian, Palteau Valley, Swink, Hayden
Six-man
1.Stratton
2.Cheyenne Wells
3.Idalia
4.Otis
5.Eads
6.Arickaree
7.Branson/Kim
8.Granada
9.Primero
10.Sierra Grande
11.Peetz
12.Hanover
13.Briggsdale
14.Prairie
15.Cheraw
16.Fleming
Other teams to watch: Caliche, Genoa-Hugo, Kit Carson, North Park, Walsh, Kiowa, Deer Trail, Miami-Yoder, La Veta
