A top-10 showdown between Broomfield and Erie highlights an exciting slate of football games in Class 4A for Week 4.

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(5A 7) Legend at (1) Ponderosa

In a huge rivalry game, Ponderosa gets a chance to prove its status as the top team in 4A as it takes on a ranked 5A team in Legend. Zach Stryker has been a solid dual-threat for the Mustangs. He has thrown for 410 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 328 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll face his biggest test in Legend and it should be a solid indicator of what’s in store for Pondo in 2022.

The Titans are 3-0 with their Week 1 win against Vista Ridge being their toughest challenge of the year. John Brookhart has been an efficient passer, throwing for 533 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. Running back Alex Martinez helps offensively as he averages 112 yards per game and has scored four touchdowns.

Smoky Hill at (2) Palmer Ridge

Orlando Aranda and Nathaniel Robinson have become quite the one-two punch as they each average over 80 rushing yards per game. Aranda has scored a team-high five touchdowns to help the Bears out to a 3-0 start on the year. They’ll take on a 5A challenge as they host Smoky Hill.

The Buffs are 2-1 with wins over Denver East and Overland already this season.

(10) Erie at (3) Broomfield

The Eagles have looked nothing short of dominant in 2022, winning their three games by a combined score of 167-27. Cole LaCrue is completing 65 percent of his passes for 615 yards and nine touchdowns. Ryland Boehmer averages 104 rushing yards per game and has found the end zone four times.

A 49-40 loss to Montrose moves the Tigers to 1-2 but that record is deceiving. Erie is still a very good football team and should give Broomfield a tough game on Friday. Quarterback Blake Barnett is throwing for 211 yards and running for over 82 yards per game. LaCrue vs. Barnett should be a fun battle for fans this week.

Thompson Valley at (5) Loveland

Since dropping its season opener to Fossil Ridge by a point, the Red Wolves have played sound football. They’ve won their last two games by a combined score of 97-8. Garrett Harstad leads a run-heavy attack with 466 yards and seven scores. If he remains efficient and helps Loveland control the clock, there is a good chance the team improves to 3-1.

(6) Denver South at Golden

The Ravens offense looks like all it is cracked up to be as they have scored at least 45 points in each of their three wins. Joseph Capra has thrown for 426 yards and eight touchdowns and also rushed for over 450 yards. Rashad Caldwell has hauled in 10 catches for 201 yards and five touchdowns.

Golden is coming off a loss to No. 1 Ponderosa and is trying to avoid dropping back-to-back games.

Palisade at (8) Montrose

The Red Hawks saw maybe the toughest two games to start the year of anyone else in the state. Losses to Palmer Ridge and Fruita Monument put them back on their heels and they responded with a big win over Erie to avoid dropping to 0-3 for the first time under head coach Brett Mertens.

Palisade comes into town looking to rebound from a loss to Delta.

(9) Dakota Ridge at Rampart

Noah Triplett ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns while Blake Palladino threw for four scores to give the Eagles their first win of the year as they topped Mesa Ridge last week.

They’ll try to make it two wins in a row as they head to Rampart where returning coach Rob Royer will face his biggest challenge to date this season.