This is when Class 4A football squads fire out of the locker rooms for the second phase of 2018: Five games in seven new leagues until the transition into postseason.
Through the now completed non-league schedules, the on-field trends hint that the Metro and Northern leagues are the strongest with three current Top 10 teams and a fourth that might get heard in the next five weeks. The Pikes Peak and Jeffco leagues could be entertaining because of balanced strength that polls are unable to indicate. The Southern, Pioneer, and Longs Peak leagues seem to have a clear leader with one notable follower. But the games provide the definitive proof!
As league races begin, here are match-ups for the Week Seven marquee:
 
Friday, October 5: #3 Montrose Indians at #5 Heritage Eagles (METRO)
The communications staff for the new Metro League might call it, Red Dawn. This is how to open up league play among a fresh mix that has shaped up to be one of the two strongest leagues in the state. Shake ya poms now: “We got scarlet ver-sus red! Top 10 teams go head-to-head!”
3rd-ranked Montrose (5-0, 0-0) has perfectly run la mesa out West — including quality victories in the past two weeks over Palisade and Fruita Monument. Now the Indians bus it over to the Front Range for a battle with their third consecutive ranked opponent.
After delivering notable season-opening statements with wins at Air Academy and in the Brookridge Trophy game over Arapahoe, 5th-ranked Heritage (5-0, 0-0) has outscored their last three opponents by a combined total of 129-20. Overall, the Eagles are the second highest scoring team in 4A. Yet they will be returning to hard-earning in this league opener.
The most recent meeting between these two programs was a 2009 quarterfinal won by a Heritage team that would go on to capture the first and only football championship in school history.
 
Friday, October 5: #6 Longmont Trojans at #8 Greeley West Spartans (NORTHERN)                                 
The scholar scratches his head wondering why the latest shuffle didn’t group Long-Mont in this version of the Longs Peak League with two other valid 4A programs in the same town. However, the media guy assumes some cosmic influence by the football elders who demand a pairing of these two pedigree programs as league rivals. It’s okay — because we get this no-brainer scene set.
Since getting jumped early and often by Pueblo East, 6th-ranked Longmont (4-1, 0-0) has scored 40.25 points per game en route to four consecutive victories — two of those wins against those in-town rivals, Skyline and Silver Creek. The Trojans defense has collected 10 turnovers through five games.
8th-ranked Greeley West (4-1, 0-0) enters this contest undefeated against anybody West of the Florida Everglades. Most recent wins include a thriller in overtime over Chatfield and a dominant outing against Greeley Central. The seventh week of polling results has now given the Spartans a Top 10 welcome for the first time in 2018.
Longmont owned a seven-game win streak in the series until falling last season to Greeley West.
 
Friday, October 5: Vista PEAK Bison at Hinkley Thunderbirds (PIONEER)
Yes. We are very aware that the fun bubbles popped last week as each of these programs suffered their first losses of 2018. But c’mon, let’s pan the spotlight to this one in Aurora while the timing is good.
After two seasons of suffering in a league with four south suburban schools and the 2017 Class 5A Champions, the Thunderbirds are more respectfully classified and enjoying some success. Hinkley (4-1, 0-0) has two shutouts and yielded only six touchdowns in five games — three during their loss this past Saturday to George Washington. The program is 8-19 this decade versus Aurora teams but could go 2-0 in 2018 with a victory over their youngest East side neighbor.
Vista PEAK (4-1, 0-0) is already 2-0 for their in-town slate after wins over Aurora Central and Gateway. While the Bison have banked an average of 33.0 points per game, they have recorded two shutouts and yielded an average of 10 points per contest.
These teams have met twice previously — 2012 and 2013. This will be their first-ever meeting during league play.
 
Other games with good reasons:
Friday, October 5: Chatfield Chargers at Wheat Ridge Farmers (JEFFCO)
Friday, October 5: Air Academy Kadets at Coronado Cougars (PIKES PEAK)
Friday, October 5: #4 Broomfield Eagles at Windsor Wizards (NORTHERN) 
Friday, October 5: #1 Loveland Indians at Monarch Coyotes (LONGS PEAK)
Friday, October 5: Grand Junction Central Warriors at Vista Ridge Wolves (SOUTHERN)
Saturday, October 6: #7 Ponderosa Mustangs at Denver South Rebels (METRO)
Saturday, October 6: #9 Fruita Monument Wildcats at Centaurus Warriors (PIONEER)