With the regular season wrapped up across the fall sports scene, the volleyball regional and football playoff brackets show the pathways for several local teams to vie for state titles.
In football, Montezuma-Cortez (7-2) returns to the postseason for the second time in three years after their historic IML title. The Panthers head into the postseason as the No. 11 seed, a billing that they hope portends well for another run – M-CHS was the 11-seed when they made their 2022 state semifinal run.
The Panthers open at No. 6 Berthoud (7-2), with the winner to face either No. 3 The Classical Academy or No. 14 Pagosa Springs in the state quarterfinals.
The defending 8-man state champions Mancos enter the 16-team field as the No. 4 seed, and will host the opening round (as well as quarterfinal round should they win). The Jays (8-1) play host to No. 13 seed Plateau Valley (7-2) in the Round of 16 in the first meeting between the two programs since 2019.
The winner of Mancos-Plateau Valley will take on either No. 5 Byers or No. 12 Merino in the quarterfinals. A potential state title game rematch could be in the works in the semifinals if Mancos and No. 1 seed Haxtun both advance through the opening two rounds.
Dove Creek, meanwhile, is on the other side of the bracket, entering the field as the No. 10 seed. The Bulldogs (7-2) have their own intriguing matchup, meeting up with No. 7 Simla (7-2) in a rematch of the 2022 state final. Dove Creek will look to advance past the opening round of the postseason for the fifth straight year, but will have to do it on the road. Their clash with the Cubs is set for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m., with the winner moving on the face either No. 2 McClave or No. 15 Dayspring Christian.
The Dove Creek and Mancos volleyball teams also learned of their path back to the Denver Coliseum and the state tournament.
It’ll be a battle of the Bulldogs in the Region 7 match in the 1A field, as Dove Creek (22-1) earned the No. 7 seed, and will face off with No. 18 Primero (20-3) in their win-or-go-home matchup at DCHS. Dove Creek will aim to extend their state qualification streak to four consecutive years.
For the Bluejays, their path will take them through Region 2, where the No. 23 seeded Bluejays (16-7) will meet No. 2 Sedgwick County (19-4) and No. 35 Telluride (14-9). The team with the best results from their three matches will advance to the 2A state tournament, where the Jays hope to make a return visit.
