The 4A State Playoffs are down to four, and this year’s semifinal slate delivers everything Colorado football fans could ask for — powerhouse offenses, big-time recruits, elite quarterback play, and two matchups loaded with revenge, momentum, and state-title expectations.
All games kick off Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
• Dakota Ridge vs. Heritage — Jeffco Stadium
• Montrose vs. Palmer Ridge — Montrose High School
Below is everything you need to know heading into the biggest Saturday of the 4A season.
Semifinal 1: #1 Dakota Ridge vs. #5 Heritage (Jeffco Stadium — 1 PM)
The top-seeded Dakota Ridge Eagles continue their dominant postseason run behind one of the state’s most balanced offenses — powered by Washington State commit Landon Kalsbeck and breakout quarterback Kellen Behrendsen — but Heritage rolls in with the most explosive rushing attack in 4A.
📊 Team Stat Comparison
| Category | Heritage | Dakota Ridge |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards/Game | 288.4 | 131.6 |
| Passing Yards/Game | 173.3 | 256.3 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | 169.5 | 256.3 |
| Total Yards/Game | 461.8 | 387.9 |
| Tackles/Game | 51.8 | 48.9 |
| Sacks/Game | 0.8 | 2.6 |
| Points/Game | 28.1 | 5.8 |
Heritage leans on a physical, run-heavy identity, while Dakota Ridge spreads you out and attacks vertically. It’s the most contrasting semifinal matchup of the 4A bracket.
Player Spotlight: Heritage
- RB Mo Thenell — 147.6 rushing YPG (Top RB in 4A)
- QB Jamison Seese — 163.5 passing YPG / 238.5 total yards per game
- WR Parker Terch — 53.5 receiving YPG
- LB Tanner Guthrie — 5.7 tackles per game
Thenell’s ability to control the tempo will decide whether Heritage can keep Dakota Ridge’s explosive offense on the sideline.
Player Spotlight: Dakota Ridge
- RB/LB Landon Kalsbeck — 63.3 rushing YPG & 7.6 tackles per game
- QB Kellen Behrendsen — 244.1 passing YPG / 273.5 total yards per game
- WR Nathan Rodriguez — 85.8 receiving YPG
- DL Marcus Weston — 0.7 sacks per game
Behrendsen has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in Colorado this season, and when Dakota Ridge is clicking, their passing game is nearly impossible to slow down.
Semifinal 2: #2 Montrose vs. #3 Palmer Ridge (Montrose HS — 1 PM)
A matchup loaded with history — Montrose’s physical, tradition-heavy football versus Palmer Ridge’s precision offense led by one of the best QB-WR tandems in the bracket.
Palmer Ridge carries an elite statistical profile into the semifinals, while Montrose has relied on its trademark ground-and-pound identity and disciplined defense.
📊 Team Stat Comparison
(Montrose season stats not fully provided — Palmer Ridge listed below)
| Category | Montrose | Palmer Ridge |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards/Game | — | 189.0 |
| Passing Yards/Game | — | 189.8 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | — | 189.8 |
| Total Yards/Game | — | 378.8 |
| Tackles/Game | — | 45.9 |
| Sacks/Game | — | 2.0 |
| Points/Game | — | 0.5 |
Palmer Ridge enters as one of the most balanced teams remaining in the playoffs.
Player Spotlight: Palmer Ridge
- RB Jackson Mabe — 93.5 rushing YPG
- QB Knox Tinlin — 140.0 passing YPG / 179.8 total yards per game
- WR Zak Crisler — 69.2 receiving YPG & team-leading 0.5 points per game
- LB Drew Japp — 6.3 tackles per game
- DL Owen Twesme — 0.4 sacks per game
Tinlin to Crisler has been one of the most consistent combinations in 4A this season.
What Montrose Brings
Even without full stat reporting, Montrose remains:
- One of the best coached programs in the state
- Elite in the trenches
- Physical, disciplined, and built for playoff football
- Tested against one of 4A’s toughest schedules
Their run game and line play will test Palmer Ridge in ways many teams haven’t this season.
What’s at Stake
The winners will meet at Canvas Stadium for the 4A State Championship.
Both matchups feature elite coaching, next-level talent, and two very different paths to a title. Saturday is shaping up to be one of the best semifinal slates in recent Colorado high school football history.
Denver Sports Media 