The photo for the Palmer Ridge football group chat is the score of last year’s quarterfinal loss to Broomfield. 

32-23, the scoreboard reads in bright orange lights.  

That loss to the eventual 4A state champions has stuck with the No. 3 Bears since, and now they get a chance at revenge Saturday in a quarterfinal rematch against No. 6 Broomfield, this time at Don Breese Stadium. 

“I remember losing and having that feeling that I never want to feel again,” senior linebacker Brody Elliott said. “It wasn’t a great feeling.”

Palmer Ridge (11-0) is undefeated, similar to last year when it had just one loss, to Mesa Ridge, entering the quarterfinal matchup. This year, for the Bears, the key Saturday is focusing on themselves and executing in all facets of the game. 

“Broomfield is a great program, which everyone in the state knows,” Palmer Ridge head coach Zach Carlton said. “They do a lot of good things in all phases of football. Preparation-wise, we are focusing on us at the end of the day, executing, how we are running plays and things like that.”

Coming off a bye week, the Bears had to overcome some of their own mistakes to earn a 19-16 win over Mesa Ridge in the second round playoff game on Nov. 14. Being able to overcome adversity off a bye gives Carlton confidence this weekend. 

“In the bye week, we struggled picking it back up, but the guys are more engaged this week. It feels like everyone is a bit more dialed in,” Carlton said. “Last week taught us we can play in a close ball game. It’s nice to see guys facing adversity and being able to handle that adversity and coming out on top.” 

A challenge for the Bears in last year’s quarterfinals was being undersized compared to a big Eagles team. In the offseason, Palmer Ridge has worked on getting stronger physically to be prepared for opponents like Broomfield (9-2). 

“They have some big kids, but it’s all about us,” Elliott said. “We are a week-by-week team. We are ready.”

Besides getting stronger physically, the team has also focused on creating a stronger bond than in previous years. And the brotherhood it has developed has contributed to Palmer Ridge’s success. 

“It’s all about us at the end of the day; we are just playing for each other,” Elliott said. “We all want to make a run.  We went to the title game two years ago and seeing those seniors’ faces before the game and loss after. … We want to go and get it done and hold the trophy up at the end of the day.”

Carlton, who led the Bears to the title game in his first year as head coach in 2023, is not yet thinking about what a state title would mean to him and the program. He is just focused on earning another week. 

The homefield advantage is certainly a plus, but the team has to execute no matter where they are, Carlton said. Most of all, Palmer Ridge will need to stick to its mantra for Saturday:

‘Don’t be afraid. Go in there and beat them.’