11/26/2025
For the second straight year the title of Colorado High School Activities Association Class 1A 8-Man State Football Champion will be decided by a contest on the Friday after Thanksgiving in Pueblo between the programs from Akron and Haxtun.
Haxtun (11-1) will be looking to repeat as champions, after defeating the Rams in the title game last year. A Bulldogs victory would give the program their 10th state football champion trophy, and they'd become just the sixth program in Colorado history to have double digit football titles (Limon 22, Cherry Creek 14, Fort Collins 12, Burlington 11, Revere 11).
Akron (12-0) is after their first state football title since 2008. The Rams have won a total of six state football championships.
It will be the second meeting of the year between the two squads. Akron beat Haxtun 28-24 back in early October.
Since surrendering the four touchdowns to the Rams in the October defeat the Bulldogs defense has played at an elite level. Haxtun has only given up four scores since, holding opponents to an average of 5.6 points a game.
Haxtun has dominated their side of the playoff bracket this postseason. In their three round wins the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 136-14.
Following that league victory of the Bulldogs, Akron squeaked by their next two opponents, beating Dayspring Christian Academy 14-8, and Sedgwick County 26-20. The Rams offense returned to form the final week of the regular season in their 54-14 win over Merino.
Akron also advanced through their side of the bracket in impressive fashion. In their three round wins the Rams outscored their opponents 143-56.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Friday inside the Colorado State University Pueblo Thunderbowl.
๐ธ - Haxtun Bulldogs Football Facebook
๐ธ - Steven Marshall