Can you believe it?
By Friday night, we’ll be one full month into the 2019 Class 5A season.
And for the record, through three weeks we also have tremendous symmetry – 11 teams are 3-0, 10 are 2-1, 10 are 1-2 and nine are 0-3.
In other words, we haven’t experienced that much, including regular powers such as Cherry Creek, Columbine and Grandview being undefeated, although the likes of Lakewood and Legend also are 3-0 and Rocky Mountain is off to a 2-1 start.
On the other side, Legacy may be a surprising 0-3 and Pomona is an unlikely 1-2 as is ThunderRidge.
In another round in which there are no Saturday games – what a concept! – Week 4 comes with the following notable offerings for your viewing pleasure:
Best bets …
Valor Christian (2-1) vs. Pine Creek (2-0), Thursday, 6 p.m., District 20 Stadium
They have played three times since 2010 with Valor winning all three, including last season’s 28-7 home victory and the record-setting blowout in 2011, when Valor set a title-game mark in a 66-10 waxing for the 4A crown. … Valor hung on to beat Pomona 17-13 last week, a round after falling to Cedar Grove, Ga. … Sophomore RB Gavin Sawchuck is off to a strong start with 304 yards rushing and three TDs. … Senior Roger Rosengarten (6-foot-7, 275 pounds) has committed to the University of Colorado. … Since going 4-6 in 2012, Pine Creek is a sparkling 74-9. … Senior QB Gavin Herberg has 13 completions for 358 yards and nine TDs.
Denver East (2-1) vs. Boulder (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m., Recht Field
It’s a Metro 10 League game. … East is 1-0 and Boulder 2-0. … Angels sophomore QB Dylan Wigglesworth (awesome name for the position) is 33-of-45 for 415 yards and two TDs. … Another sophomore, Isaiah Davis, leads the team in rushing with 195 yards. … Ryan Bishop, in his second season, is Boulder’s fourth coach this decade. … The Panthers are coming off a 21-0 whipping of Mountain Range in league. … Panthers senior QB Hale Chargois is 36-of-63 for 420 yards and two TDs. … Boulder hasn’t been .500 since 2015.
Douglas County (2-1) vs. Castle View (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m., Douglas County Stadium
It’s the crosstown rivalry of Castle Rock. … Castle View owns a 4-3 edge in the series, winning the past four matchups. … Operating under new coach Eric Rice, the visiting Huskies are coming off a 23-22 victory over Denver South. … Sophomore A.J. Jackson heads DC with 141 yards rushing. … The SaberCats, one of the top turn-around stories among big schools under second-year coach Todd Casebier. They have won 11 of their past 15 games following six consecutive losing seasons. … Castle View has rolled to 823 yards rushing, 288 by junior Ian Peirce.
Pomona (1-2) vs. Cherry Creek (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
It has been one of the great series among big schools since the 1980s. … Sure, Pomona has just the one victory in three outings, but it fell in its opener to an emerging Regis Jesuit and went down against Valor last week. … Jack Pospisil and Chase Lopez have combined for 28 of the Panthers’ receptions, 17 by Pospisil for 237 yards. Both have three scoring catches. … The Bruins are fresh from a 35-0 pasting of Mullen in which junior QB Julian Hammond threw for five TDs. He has 10 on the season. … Cherry Creek and junior Arden Walker (team-leading five tackles for loss) stand second in big-school points permitted, 16.
Mullen (2-1) vs. Regis Jesuit (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
A former Parochial League rivalry that goes back for decades. … Mullen has won five of the nine previous meetings in the 2010s, including 28-21 the past season. … The Mustangs were held to 130 yards last week against Cherry Creek, just 2 yards rushing. … Eight different Mustangs caught a pass last week in their first home shutout loss since the 2013 season opener (43-0 against Ralston Valley). … Junior David Doty heads Raiders rushing with 202 yards, but the larger story has been the quick, expected start by sophomore QB Nicco Marchiol. Now 6-2, 205, he is 46-of-67 passing for 766 yards and five TDs (with just one interception) and recorded 127 yards rushing and three TDs (tops on the team). … Senior receiver Jackson Connelly has 15 catches for 325 yards and three TDs.
Also keep an eye on …
Highlands Ranch (0-3) vs. Columbine (3-0), Thursday, 7 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium
The host Rebels and senior Tanner Hollens (362 yards, five TDs) have outscored the opposition by an aggregate 147-3; both figures head 5A.
Rocky Mountain (2-1) vs. Mountain Vista (0-3), Thursday, 7 p.m., Shea Stadium
The Lobos and longtime coach Mark Brook can be 3-1 for the first time since 2015.
Lakewood (3-0) vs. Chaparral (0-3), Friday, 7 p.m., EchoPark Stadium
Credit Tigers coach Jeff Braun – Lakewood has won its three games by a combined 21 points.
ThunderRidge (1-2) vs. Horizon (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m., Adams 12 North Stadium
Visiting Grizzlies looking to pick it up – another loss will match last year’s total.
Loveland (1-1) vs. Ralston Valley (3-0), Thursday, 7 p.m., NAAC
Host Mustangs stand third in 5A scoring (132 points).
Grandview (3-0) vs. Fountain-Fort Carson (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m., Guy Barickman Stradium
The Wolves and QB Jacob Burr (541 yards rushing and passing for eight TDs) have beaten the Trojans three straight times, including 49-7 last year.
Cherokee Trail (3-0) vs. Poudre (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m., French Field
Under third-year coach Joe Johnson, the Cougars have won eight consecutive nonleague games and 10-of-13.
