So a few 4A football teams clicked the kickstand and warmed us up around the cul-de-sac. This week, daddy says, “Ride!” Looking over the full slate of Week Two games involving Class 4A teams, I have cherry-picked a four-pack of fun for the stadium marquee.
 
 
Thursday, August 30                    #3 Broomfield Eagles at #2 Loveland Indians
285 days ago. That was last football game played by Loveland — a contest that finished with a one point overtime loss. It was the Indians one defeat in 2017. That loss was delivered by Broomfield.
And here they are again.
3RD-ranked Broomfield (1-0, 0-0) enjoyed a successful debut last week with a 55-14 win in the annual in-town opener against Legacy. Eagles RB Dylan Torres ran for over 150 yards and 4 TDs in that contest.
Sean Boylan (LB) and the veteran linebacker corps of 2nd-ranked Loveland (0-0, 0-0) will try to wrap up Torres, all-state QB Steven Croell, and that offense of #3 Broomfield that just dropped fiddy-plus on their Class 5A neighbors.
Ryan Capasso (LB) and Troy Finnegan (DB) lead an Eagles defense that draw the challenging task of tracking and tackling Indians all-state ball-carrier, Zach Weinmaster (RB).
 
 
Thursday, August 30                    #9 Longmont Trojans at #3 Pueblo East Eagles (3A)
A pair of programs separated by 150 miles rendezvous for a fifth consecutive season. This one is also a cross-classification meeting now that the Trojans have been reassigned back to Class 4A.
9th-ranked Longmont (0-0, 0-0) returns a notable number of seasoned skills players like Oakley Dehning (QB), Drake Engelking (RB), and Jaydon Elkins (WR). That offense makes its 2018 debut on the road near the tracks at historic Dutch Clark Stadium.
The Trojans defense — which will reveal a lot of first-time starters — will have to handle a Pueblo East crew (1-0, 0-0) that posted 420 yards and 47 points on a hard-nosed Roosevelt program last week.
By the way, these two split the previous four games.
             
 
Friday, August 31                          #8 Vista Ridge Wolves at #4 Windsor Wizards
For the third consecutive year, these two programs will travel the I-25 vertical pathway to kick off their football campaigns against each other. (Windsor won the previous two meetings.)
Noah Montague (RB) returns as a primary hand-off option for the 4th-ranked Windsor (0-0, 0-0) run game that will be driving into what is projected to be a very athletic and physical defense for #8 Vista Ridge (0-0, 0-0) — which includes Carter Bussone (LB) and DeOnte Washington (DE).
When possessions change, notable returning Wizards like Beau Little (LB), Kellen Kappel (LB), and Avery Westphal (DL) will be pushing to disrupt the Wolves’ new passing connection of transfer Joe Fox (QB) and playmaker Micah Hilts (WR).
The BUT in the hype: As of Wednesday, reports have been posted in public by Lindsey Smith of The Gazette/Colorado Springs and KKTV-11/Colorado Springs that “multiple” Vista Ridge players have been suspended because of team conduct violations. Which players and how much impact on this game are yet to be revealed.
 
 
Saturday, September 1                #5 Chatfield Chargers at #7 Rampart Rams
A pair of Top 10s each arriving with week one victories (and some tangible 2018 game film).
Hunter Barnes (RB) trotted around for 277 yards and 4 TDs for 5th-ranked Chatfield (1-0, 0-0) during a blowout victory last week. Can the Chargers offensive line now spring Barnes past all-state stud Marshal Ehlrin (DL) and a strong defensive front for #7 Rampart (1-0, 0-0)?
The Rams rushing attack recorded 359 yards and 7 TDs during their road win last Friday over Chatfield’s closest Jeffco neighbor, Dakota Ridge. Sophomore Cale Cormaney (QB), Colin Phillips (RB), and junior Chris Yoo (RB) will now attempt to run a good show for the home folks at D20 stadium in Colorado Springs.