Cherokee Trail Faces Heritage in First Round

Cherokee Trail High School football has appeared in 21 state postseason tournaments since the 2005 season. The program has reached the semifinals four times and played in one championship game. Those deep runs occurred in 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2013. The 2012 season remains the peak of that era when the team reached the title game.

The team first entered the 3A classification in 2005 but lost to Eagle Valley 31-14 in the first round. In 2006, they moved to 4A and fell to Montrose 23-21. The 2007 season marked a turning point as Cherokee Trail advanced to the semifinals before losing to Monarch 6-0 in overtime. The program maintained its playoff presence through 2008 and 2009, reaching the second round in both years.

A four-year streak of semifinal appearances began in 2010. Cherokee Trail lost to Regis Jesuit 21-20 that year. In 2012, the team won five consecutive games to reach the championship, where Valor Christian defeated them 9-0. The following year in 2013, they again reached the semifinals, losing to Valor Christian 42-23. Valor Christian has been a recurring obstacle for the program in later rounds.

The 2020 season featured a reduced 8-team bracket. Cherokee Trail advanced to the quarterfinals before Valor Christian won 49-14. From 2021 through 2025, the team played in a 24-team field. In 2024, the team beat Castle View 25-7 but lost to Columbine 42-21 in the second round. The 2025 season ended in the first round with a 14-7 loss to Fountain-Fort Carson.

Cherokee Trail is scheduled to play Heritage in the first round of the 2026 tournament. The matchup is set for the 5A division with 24 teams participating. The specific date and time for the game have not yet been announced. This contest will determine if the team advances to the second round of the state playoffs.

The program has experienced fluctuating results in recent years. Wins over Fossil Ridge in 2021 and Poudre in 2018 showed competitive depth. However, losses to Chatfield in 2023 and Rock Canyon in 2022 ended those seasons in the opening round. The 2019 season saw a narrow 36-34 loss to Fairview in the second round.