The 5A State Playoff bracket has delivered exactly what Colorado fans wanted: the heavyweights have survived, the stars are shining, and championship-caliber programs are all converging on Semifinal Saturday.
Only four teams remain:
#1 Cherry Creek, #2 Ralston Valley, #3 Mountain Vista, and #5 Valor Christian.
Kickoff for both games is set for Saturday afternoon, with state championship dreams on the line.
SEMIFINAL 1: #1 Cherry Creek vs. #5 Valor Christian
📍 Stutler Bowl — Saturday, 1:00 PM
It doesn’t get bigger than this. Two of Colorado’s most dominant programs collide once again in a playoff setting, and both enter with elite-level numbers and next-level talent.
Cherry Creek brings big name recruits with the top defense and running game in the state behind it’s Jayden Fox & Offensive line — athletic, physical, and disciplined — while Valor enters with one of the most explosive offenses in 5A behind RB Chase Hanosh, WR Cash Spence, and QB Titus Huard.
This is a heavyweight fight in every sense.
📊 Team Stat Comparison
| Category | Cherry Creek | Valor Christian |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards/Game | 191.9 | 201.0 |
| Passing Yards/Game | 212.1 | 212.1 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | 211.0 | 212.1 |
| Total Yards/Game | 404.0 | 413.1 |
| Tackles/Game | 112.7 | 54.5 |
| Sacks/Game | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Points/Game | 14.6 | 42.6 |
Creek = Defensive dominance
Valor = Offensive firepower
This matchup is strength vs. strength — Creek forces you to win every inch, while Valor forces you to score with them.
Cherry Creek Leaders
- RB #1 Jayden Fox — 117.8 rushing YPG
- QB #13 Brady Vodicka — 205.2 passing YPG / 211.7 total YPG
- WR #6 Maxwell Lovett — 58.3 receiving YPG
- LB #8 Braylon Hodge — 11.1 tackles per game
- DE #19 Colton Heimlicher — 0.3 sacks per game
Cherry Creek’s identity hasn’t changed: elite line play, elite tackling, elite discipline. Game-changers all season.
Valor Christian Leaders
- RB #26 Chase Hanosh — 114.2 rushing YPG & 7.0 points per game
- QB #8 Titus Huard — 143.0 passing YPG / 149.0 total YPG
- WR #1 Cash Spence — 72.4 receiving YPG
- LB #44 Evan Ingalls — 9.3 tackles per game
- DL #87 Noah Pacheco — 0.4 sacks per game
Valor’s offensive balance has been the key all year: Hanosh on the ground, Spence in space, and Huard distributing efficiently.
SEMIFINAL 2: #2 Ralston Valley vs. #3 Mountain Vista
📍 NAAC — Saturday, 3:00 PM
A rematch between two of the most complete teams in the state. Mountain Vista features one of Colorado’s best QB–WR duos, while Ralston Valley brings the deepest and most disciplined roster in 5A.
Both teams have been dominant all season — the numbers are incredibly tight.
📊 Team Stat Comparison
| Category | Mountain Vista | Ralston Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards/Game | 143.1 | 175.5 |
| Passing Yards/Game | 275.3 | 239.4 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | 275.3 | 239.8 |
| Total Yards/Game | 418.4 | 414.9 |
| Tackles/Game | 58.3 | 67.7 |
| Sacks/Game | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Points/Game | 1.8 | 7.0 |
Vista = explosive passing attack
Ralston Valley = complete, physical, and efficient in all phases
Mountain Vista Leaders
- QB #15 Marquise Reese — 256.8 passing YPG / 291.8 total YPG
- WR #8 Brooklyn Bailey — 105.0 receiving YPG
- RB #10 Hudson Modrzewski — 44.2 rushing YPG
- LB #1 Quillan Gulick — 6.5 tackles per game
- DL #12 Adrian Lee — 0.8 sacks per game
- RB #46 Grayson Rooney — 2.5 points per game
Reese and Bailey have been one of the most unstoppable connections in Colorado — and they will need their best Saturday.
Ralston Valley Leaders
- RB #20 Colton Stratman — 77.0 rushing YPG
- QB #8 Zeke Andrews — 241.5 passing YPG / 310.7 total YPG
- WR #6 Ethan Shirazi — 81.2 receiving YPG
- LB #15 Tyler Schneider — 7.5 tackles per game
- DL #4 Jake Lester — 0.6 sacks per game
- RB #18 Landon Plichta — 3.5 points per game
Andrews is playing the best football of his career, and Ralston’s defense has carried them through every tough spot.
What’s at Stake
The winners advance to the 2025 CHSAA 5A State Championship at Empower Field at Mile High.
Two blue-blood programs on one side.
Two of the state’s hottest teams on the other.
Four semifinalists with real championship-level resumes.
Saturday is shaping up to be one of the best playoff weekends 5A football has seen in years.
Denver Sports Media 