Class 5A
1. Cherry Creek (1-1) won at Millard North (Neb.), 42-10. After the Bruins opened their season with a defeat to Skyridge in Utah, they had another out-of-state test in Nebraska and passed with flying colors. The Bruins raced to a 21-0 halftime lead and then junior QB Brady Vodicka tossed another TD midway through the third quarter to spark the rout. Next week: vs. No. 10 Regis Jesuit, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
2. Mountain Vista (3-0) won at Erie, 55-12. In their pursuit of a first state title, the Golden Eagles have been unstoppable in the early part of the season. QB Austyn Modrzewski repeatedly toasted the Tigers’ secondary as MVHS jumped out to a 28-0 lead after one quarter. Gavin Lusk’s rushing TD finally got Erie on the board in the second quarter, but Mountain Vista’s offense could not be stopped. It was 48-6 at halftime. Next week: at Cherokee Trail, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
3. Legend (2-1) lost vs. No. 4 Columbine, 16-14. A rematch of last year’s Class 5A quarterfinal, won by the Rebels, the Titans played Columbine close the whole way and proved they are on the same level of physicality. Next week: vs. Prairie View, 1 p.m. Sept. 14.
4. Columbine (2-0) won at No. 3 Legend, 16-14. The defending state champion Rebels faced a tough test, but edged the Titans at EchoPark Stadium thanks to the game-winning, 35-yard field goal by Brennan Goodwin with eight seconds left. Columbine hasn’t lost since the final game of the 2022 season, racking up 16 wins in a row. Next week: vs. Fossil Ridge, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
5. Valor Christian (2-0) Bye: The Eagles got a break after beating Pine Creek and Regis Jesuit in back-to-back weeks. Next week: at Salt Lake City East, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
6. Ralston Valley (2-0) won at No. 9 Grandview, 10-9: Zeke Andrews connected with Levi Rillos for a TD pass early in the fourth quarter and Cole Pfeifer drilled the game-winning field goal from 40 yards out late as the Mustangs escaped with a dramatic win that also saw the defense notch seven sacks and four takeaways. Next week: vs. Mullen, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13.
7. Chatfield (2-0) won at Horizon, 34-12: Senior Brock Narva piled up 182 yards of offense (112 rushing, 70 receiving) and three TDs on 20 touches to lead the Chargers in a blowout. Sophomore QB Cash Williams finished with 180 yards and two TDs on 12-of-27 passing. Next week: vs. Eaglecrest, 4 p.m. Sept. 13.
8. Arvada West (2-1) lost vs. Fairview, 35-30. In a back-and-forth game at the NAAC, Fairview struck first late in the opening quarter via Brock Kolstad’s rushing TD. Toray Davis also had a rushing TD and a receiving TD in the first half, while the Wildcats kept it close with a pair of Logan Duhachek passing scores. It was 21-21 at half. Jordan Rechel’s fourth-quarter rushing TD was the deciding score. Next week: at Smoky Hill, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
9. Grandview (0-2) lost vs. No. 6 Ralston Valley, 10-9: Senior receiver Xay Neto caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, and Quinn Reynolds hit a go-ahead 19-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but four turnovers ultimately doomed the Wolves’ upset bid. Next week: at Legacy, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
10. Regis Jesuit (0-2) lost at Brophy College Prep (Ariz.), 44-0. The Raiders traveled to play the Phoenix powerhouse, a week after falling to Valor Christian in the season opener. It didn’t go well as the RJHS offense was shutout, and the defense got gassed after the Raiders were only down 7-0 at half. Next week: at No. 1 Cherry Creek, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Class 4A
1. Palmer Ridge (2-0) won vs. Doherty, 42-0: Senior QB Carson Campbell completed 11 of 17 passes for 179 yards and two TDs, sophomore Zak Crisler hauled in five passes for 98 yards and a score, and Jackson Mabe ran in two TDs as the Bears rolled. Next week: at Lewis-Palmer, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
2. Broomfield (2-0) won vs. Monarch, 46-0. Broomfield jumped out to a 19-0 halftime lead and didn’t look back against the overmatched Coyotes. Next week: at Rocky Mountain, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
3. Mesa Ridge (2-0) won vs. Northfield, 50-47: The Grizzlies survived a shootout against 4A newbie Northfield to start 2-0 for the first time in 13 years. Next week: at No. 8 Dakota Ridge, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13.
4. Heritage (1-1) lost vs. Arapahoe, 42-28: The Warriors outscored Heritage 28-7 over the first two quarters en route to winning the battle for the Brookridge Trophy, a.k.a. the Milk Jug game, for the fifth straight time. Next week: vs. Northfield, 6 p.m. Sept. 12.
5. Montrose (3-0) won vs. Palisade, 35-14. The Red Hawks continue to look the part of a Western Slope power. They were up 21-0 by the end of the first quarter, and then a pair of Elijah Womack rushing TDs pushed the score to 35-0 at half. The Bulldogs never really had a chance in this one. Next week: Bye.
6. Pueblo West (3-0) won vs. 3A No. 9 Pomona, 21-17. After a scoreless first quarter, Pomona finally took a lead late in the second quarter with a field goal. Then a pair of passing TDs by QB Gavin Lockett put the Cyclones up 14-3 at half. Pomona responded with two TDs in the third quarter before a rushing TD swung the lead back to PWHS early in the fourth. Next week: vs. 3A No. 1 Lutheran, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
7. Vista Ridge (2-0) won at Evanston (Wyo.), 28-7. The Wolves traveled north of the border and took care of business. It was 28-7 at half, and that’s where the score stayed as Vista Ridge’s defense flexed. Next week: vs. Denver South, 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
8. Dakota Ridge (1-1) won 37-20 at 3A No. 3 Green Mountain. The Eagles won the first game of head coach Jeremiah Behrendsen’s tenure. The DRHS defense had four takeaways, while running back Landon Kalsbeck ran for three TDs. Next week: vs. No. 3 Mesa Ridge, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13.
9. Rampart (2-1) lost 24-14 vs. No. 10 Ponderosa. The Rams began the year by blasting Falcon and then edging Lewis-Palmer by a point last week, but their offense was unable to get much of anything going against senior middle linebacker De’Alcapon Veazy and the Ponderosa defense. Next week: at Discovery Canyon, noon Sept. 14.
10. Ponderosa (1-1) won 24-14 at No. 9 Rampart. After getting blasted by Palmer Ridge to open the season, the Mustangs responded. It was 17-7 at half and then Bryson Tidwell’s punt return for a touchdown cemented the win with seven minutes to go. Next week: vs. 3A No. 4 Roosevelt, 7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Class 3A
1. Lutheran (2-0) won vs. Fort Morgan, 56-20. Next week: at 4A No. 6 Pueblo West.
2. Holy Family (1-1) lost at No. 4 Roosevelt, 38-21. Next week: Bye.
3. Green Mountain (1-1) lost vs 4A No. 8 Dakota Ridge, 37-20. Next week: at No. 9 Pomona.
4. Roosevelt (2-0) won vs. No. 2 Holy Family, 38-21. Next week: at 4A No. 10 Ponderosa.
5. Windsor (1-1) won at Longmont, 34-9. Next week: vs. Montbello.
6. Mead (2-0) won vs. Frederick, 16-14. Next week: Bye.
7. Thompson Valley (2-0) won vs. Greeley Central, 43-0. Next week: at Timnath.
8. Pueblo Central (2-0) won at Eaton, 32-7. Next week: vs. Alamosa.
9. Pomona (1-1) lost at 4A No. 6 Pueblo West, 21-17. Next week: vs. Green Mountain.
10. Pueblo East (1-1) lost at Discovery Canyon, 32-14. Next week: at Pueblo South.
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