Palmer Ridge’s battle for 4A perfection is one game away.

The Bears head to Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium for their 1:30 p.m. Saturday showdown with top-seeded Dakota Ridge and both teams are at 13-0 heading into the championship game.

Palmer Ridge, the No. 3 seed, looks to decorate its school’s trophy case with a 4A championship to accompany the three 3A titles the Bears won from 2017-19.  

But they’ll need to push past the Eagles, who hope to earn the school’s first football championship.

Here are a few stats and notes regarding Saturday’s championship teams.

Palmer Ridge leaders

Passing: Cole Harris, 117-183, 1,820 yards, 22 touchdowns, 3 interceptions

Rushing: Jackson Mabe, 172 carries, 1,003 yards, 17 touchdowns

Receiving: Zak Crisler, 58 receptions, 895 yards, 6 touchdowns

Total tackles: Drew Japp, 73 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

Palmer Ridge game results (13-0)

Aug. 29: 42-14 win vs. Ponderosa

Sept. 4: 49-0 win at Doherty

Sept. 12: 61-15 win vs. Lewis-Palmer

Sept. 19: 48-7 win vs. Longmont

Sept. 26: 35-7 win at Mesa Ridge

Oct. 3: 42-0 win at Air Academy

Oct. 10: 21-7 win vs. Durango

Oct. 17: 41-7 win at Vista Ridge

Oct. 24: 51-6 win vs. Rampart

Oct. 30: 58-7 win at Liberty

Nov. 14: 19-16 win vs. Mesa Ridge

Nov. 22: 45-27 win vs. Broomfield

Nov. 29: 31-29 win at Montrose

Dec. 6: vs. Dakota Ridge, TBD

Notes

Palmer Ridge has outscored opponents 543-142.

The Bears have scored 21 or more in 12 of 13 games and have reached double figures in 25 consecutive contests. The Bears last scored 10 or fewer in the 2023 4A state title game, a 20-6 loss to Erie.

Palmer Ridge will play for its second undefeated season in school history. The Bears’ first 14-0 season occurred in 2017 when Palmer Ridge won its first of three consecutive 3A titles.

Prior to last week’s victory to run their win streak to 13, the Bears started 12-0 three previous times: 2017, 2022, 2023.

Defense

Brody Elliott leads the team in tackles for loss (10.5) and eight players have three or more. Carter Charron leads the team with four sacks and nine players have at least one.

Offense

The Bears average 397 yards per game and have reached at least 108 passing yards in all 13 matchups. Palmer Ridge has tallied at least 200 yards of total offense in 29 consecutive games. The Bears’ last game below 200 yards was Oct. 27, 2023, in a 51-0 win against Vista Ridge where they totaled 176.

Dakota Ridge leaders

Passing: Kellen Behrendsen, 221-270, 3,104 yards, 38 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

Rushing: Landon Kalsbeck, 102 carries, 967 yards, 15 touchdowns

Receiving: Nathan Rodriguez, 61 receptions, 1,076 yards, 11 touchdowns

Total tackles: Landon Kalsbeck, 96 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 2 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries, 5 forced fumbles.

Dakota Ridge game results (13-0)

Aug. 29: 23-12 win vs. Chatfield

Sept. 5: 38-7 win at Winter Springs (Fla.)

Sept. 13: 27-0 win at Mesa Ridge

Sept. 19: 45-14 win vs. Pomona

Sept. 26: 38-21 win at Cherokee Trail

Oct. 2: 40-7 win vs. Ponderosa

Oct. 10: 49-21 win at Heritage

Oct. 16: 48-13 win at Highlands Ranch

Oct. 24: 48-10 win at Golden

Oct. 31: 49-14 win at Bear Creek

Nov. 14: 49-7 win vs. Golden

Nov. 21: 42-14 win vs. Pueblo West

Nov. 29: 31-14 win vs. Heritage

Dec. 6: ??? vs. Palmer Ridge

Notes

Dakota Ridge will seek its 13th title, regardless of sport, in school history. This is the Eagles’ first state championship football game since 2004 when Dakota Ridge lost 35-29 to ThunderRidge in the 4A title match.

The Eagles have outscored their opponents 527-154 in 13 games and average 40.5 per contest.

Defense

The Eagles have 65 tackles for loss and 13 interceptions. Seth Gregory leads the pack with four picks and six passes defensed.

Offense

In 485 recorded attempts, Behrendsen has eight career interceptions and, this season, owns a .819 completion percentage. No one in the nation’s top 50 for passing yards eclipsed .800.

Tom Bean (Tex.) High School’s Donnie Hooten has a completion percentage of .799 at 278-for-348 passing.

Stats compiled from MaxPreps