Fruita Monument and Central are in the Class 4A football playoffs, and Palisade is back in the Class 3A playoffs, and one of the three is guaranteed to move on.

In a strange seeding decision, No. 7 Fruita Monument (8-2) and No. 10 Central (7-3) will face off in the 4A first round this week at Stocker Stadium.

The game is tentatively set for Friday at 7 p.m.


Fruita Monument ended the regular season ranked at No. 5 in the Ratings Percentage Index, which determines playoff teams and seeding.

The playoff seeding committee evaluates a number of factors including RPI, possible head-to-head matchups and avoiding having conference opponents face each other in the first round.

Central finished ranked No. 10 in the RPI, the same as its seeding spot. The Warriors finished second in the 4A Southern Conference and the Wildcats won the 4A Pioneer Conference.

Central defeated Fruita Monument 13-9 in Week 2.


The Wildcats' other loss was to Montrose on Sept. 27, a 24-12 setback.

Montrose (9-1) is headed to the 4A playoffs as the No. 6 seed. The Indians will have a home game against No. 11 Dakota Ridge (6-4).

The Indians' lone loss of the season was to Ponderosa, 21-9 on Oct. 27, to give the Mustangs the 4A Metro title.

Ponderosa (8-2) was ranked No. 7 in the RPI but was seeded at No. 5 and will face No. 12 Longmont (7-3).


Central opened the season with a 21-13 loss to Montrose, suffered a 19-14 loss to Palisade before being beat two weeks ago by the No. 1 seed Pine Creek (9-1).