CLASS 5A
No. 6 Ralston Valley (1-0) vs. No. 9 Grandview (0-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Ralston Valley 30, vs. Grandview 15, Sept. 8, 2023
The Wolves meet a ranked opponent for the second straight week, with Grandview heading east six days after losing to Legend, 21-14, in a down-to-the-wire slugfest. This much is clear about Ralston Valley after last week’s 48-38 win over Erie: The Mustangs can put up points in a hurry with new quarterback Zeke Andrews (320 yards, 3 TDs) taking snaps. Can Grandview keep up?
No. 4 Columbine (1-0) vs. No. 3 Legend (2-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at EchoPark Stadium
Last meeting: Columbine 21, vs. Legend 3, Nov. 17, 2023
Legend is looking to score its second top-10 win in as many weeks, while also avenging last November’s season-ending loss to Columbine in the 5A quarterfinals. The Titans wore down Grandview en route to a 21-14 win last week that saw them pile up 163 yards on 33 rushing attempts. That’s exactly the sort of game Andy Lowry’s ground-and-pound Rebels thrive in. After rolling past ThunderRidge, 40-15, in Week 1, the defending 5A champions face their first big test.
No. 2 Mountain Vista (2-0) vs. Erie (1-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
Two of the state’s most explosive offenses meet with the Golden Eagles heading north to face an Erie team that just traded haymakers with Ralston Valley in a 48-38 loss. Mountain Vista has scored 118 points through two games, with senior QB Austyn Modrzewski throwing for 627 yards and 10 TDs. More impressive? The MV defense has allowed just six points total. Erie enters the weekend averaging 41.5 points/game. More of that will be required to keep pace with the Golden Eagles.
Fairview (1-0) vs. No. 8 Arvada West (2-0)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: Fairview 55, at Arvada West 21, Nov. 10, 2017
How dangerous is A-West? The first big clue comes this week when the Wildcats host perennial 5A power Fairview, which is fresh off a 34-7 rout of Legacy. A-West outscored its first two opponents 99-17, piling up 1,120 yards of offense with junior RBs Adrian Symalla and Jaiden Green averaging 14.7 yards/carry. Fairview has long made its bones through the air under head coach Tom McCartney, but this year’s version just rolled for 406 rushing yards against Legacy.
Arapahoe (0-1) vs. 4A No. 4 Heritage (1-0)
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at LPS Stadium
Last meeting: Arapahoe 28, vs. Heritage 7, Sept. 1, 2023
The Milk Jug game will be played on a Saturday this year with Heritage looking to beat Arapahoe for the first time since 2018. The Warriors have dominated this rivalry of late, winning eight of 10 and four straight. But Heritage looked awfully good rolling out to a 28-point lead over Severance in last week’s 40-21 win, while Arapahoe was shut out by Mountain Vista. Could this be the year the Eagles finally retake the Jug?
CLASS 4A
No. 8 Dakota Ridge (0-1) vs. 3A No. 3 Green Mountain (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium
Last meeting: Dakota Ridge 47, at Green Mountain 7, Oct. 16, 2015
Former league rivals meet in a cross-classification clash featuring two new head coaches. While Anthony Rankin got his first win with the Rams in a gritty 19-13 takedown of Windsor last week, Jeremiah Behrendsen is still looking for victory No. 1 after D-Ridge fell to 5A Chatfield, 38-23. The Eagles trailed by one score entering the fourth quarter of that game — a strong showing that indicates the Eagles will be a tough out in 4A. If Rankin’s Rams score another upset here, the rest of 3A is on notice.
3A No. 9 Pomona (1-0) vs. No. 6 Pueblo West (2-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Pueblo West
Last meeting: N/A
A Pomona program that went 3-17 in its last two seasons in 5A appears to have regained its footing with a drop to 3A. Just how steady these Panthers are will be put to the test on Friday with a trip down south. Pueblo West has yet to allow a single point through two games, beating Loveland and Pueblo County by a combined score of 83-0. Dual-threat QB Gavin Lockett (383 total yards) has been his normal productive self, but the Cyclones are far from a one-man show.
CLASS 3A
No. 2 Holy Family (1-0) vs. No. 4 Roosevelt (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Roosevelt
Last meeting: Roosevelt 34, vs. Holy Family 26, Sept. 22, 2023
The last two 3A champions meet in what’s fast become one of the top annual showdowns in the classification. Holy Family and Roosevelt have faced each other 10 times since 2014 and four times since 2021, with the Rough Riders winning each of the last four meetings and 7 of 10. That included last year’s back-and-forth affair — a 34-26 Roosevelt triumph that ended up being Holy Family’s only loss of the season en route to the 3A title. Needless to say, this game has been circled for a while in Broomfield.
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