Is the Class 5A football proverbial glass half full or half empty?

At the midway point of the 2018 season, big-schoolers have gone through nonleague play and are staring into Week 6, the beginning of league play in, of course, new leagues.

Following two years of the waterfall system, Class 5A has returned to more traditional conferences but the playoffs have been expanded from 16 to 24 qualifiers.

As it is this season and next, say hello to the new groups — Front Range, Metro East, Metro South, South, Metro West and Metro 10. If you look hard enough, you can see remnants of the Centennial, Front Range and Jefferson County leagues amid other attempts at unifying the south-metropolitan Denver area as well as bringing together the schools that historically have struggled and clearly need to compete on lower levels.

Fairview coach Tom McCartney, now the dean of big-school coaches at one school — and the son of former University of Colorado coach Bill McCartney — is in his 26th year heading the Knights and takes the high road when assessing yet another format.

“Obviously, we’re just focused on one game at a time and Legacy has always been a great battle,” he said of his team’s matchup this week with the Lightning. “But as far as league play, there should be great matchups, great leagues and exciting football down the stretch.”

Now officially into fall, the following matchups of the week have been labeled for your viewing pleasure:

Best bets …

Ralston Valley (4-1) vs. Arvada West (4-1), Thursday, 7 p.m., NAAC

It’s a Metro West matchup and one of these two will be sitting pretty well at 5-1 at game’s end. … The visiting Mustangs are fresh from a 49-0 wipeout of Fossil Ridge. It came a week after RV suffered its lone loss, 21-17 to 4A Loveland. … Mustangs QBs A.J. Jergensen, a senior, and Walker Brickle, a junior, have nearly identical statistics, as in Jergensen’s 311 passing yards to Brickle’s 299 and Brickle’s five touchdown tosses to Jegensen’s four. …  RV has motored to 17 rushing TDs, seven by senior Brad Roberts. … Remember when RV was built and it ate heavily into Arvada West’s enrollment?  … The Wildcats had been rolling along nicely before last week’s 50-14 pasting to Eaglecrest. They were hit for six rushing TDs. … Oddity — three different ‘Cats had at least five completions last week

Legacy (0-5) vs. Fairview (4-1), Thursday, 7 p.m., Recht Field

A Front Range matchup. … The visiting Lightning has had issues since longtime head coach Wayne Voorhees suddenly departed before the start of the season. … Legacy’s 199 points allowed ranks it 39th among 40 big-school teams. … Last week and for the third time in five games. Knights junior QB Aidan Atkinson threw for five TDs in the first half. He has 23 so far. Atkinson did it in Week 5 against Rock Canyon in a 49-7 victory. … The Knights’ 207 points put them second in 5A. … Eleven Knights have caught a pass, headed by senior Bryce DesJardins (30 catches, 394 yards, eight TDs).

Mullen (3-2) vs. Columbine (5-0), Friday, 4 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium

It’s a matchup in the Metro West. … Columbine has won six of the previous nine meetings. … Mullen is coming off a 56-3 waxing to Grandview that included two interceptions being returned for TDs. … Four of the Mustangs’ first five games were at home. Their next five will contain four on the road. … As is the case with most teams at midseason, the Mustangs are getting thin through injuries. … Columbine has round numbers, having outscored its opposition by a combined 200-50. …. The Rebels, who blew out Olathe North, Kan. 48-12 last week, also welcomed back senior QB Logan DeArment, who was sidelined for a couple of games, but turned in 100 yards rushing and two TDs, and 49 yards passing. Anthony Armata and Adam Harrington each added two rushing TDs.

Valor Christian (5-0) vs. Castle View (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m., Douglas County Stadium

It’s a Metro South matchup. … Valor blanked Menlo-Atherton, Calif., last week and is tops in fewest points allowed in 5A, 19. … Senior QB Luke McCaffrey was 9-of-20 for 136 yards and a TD, and the Eagles were delighted by the return of RB Joshia Davis, sidelined with injury since opening week. He was held to seven carries for 8 yards, but scored a TD. … There have been five meetings between the two and Valor has won all by blowout. … The SaberCats have struggled since joining 5A, but their play through five weeks has bene uplifting. One more victory will give them their best mark since 2011 (when they were 11-2 in 4A). … Cole Oster heads Catsle View with 666 yards rushing and 10 TDs. Junior Jordan Jackson has eight TDs.

Cherokee Trail (5-0) vs. Arapahoe (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m., Littleton Public Schools Stadium

It’s a Metro East matchup. … Just 4-6 a year ago as head coach Joe Johnson made the surprising switch from ThunderRidge, the Cougars have turned effective in 2018 and looked good doing it, averaging 37 points per outing. … QB Grant Ciccarone has thrown for 1,065 yards and 12 TDs, and Malik Sparrow has rushed for 591 yards and nine TDs. … New-look Arapahoe, with former Valor head man Rod Sherman in command, has twice put up 50-plus points as well as defeated Rock Canyon by 7-3. … The Warriors’ lone setback came to longtime rival Heritage, 28-24 in Week 3.

Eaglecrest (5-0) vs. Grandview (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m., Legacy Stadium

It’s in the Metro East. … They are two of the seven teams that entered Week 6 undefeated. … Eaglecrest remains at the top of 5A scoring (233 points) and continues its regular-season streak, having won its past 25 games before playoffs. … The numbers are piling up for the Raptors’ Dylan James. The senior RB has 750 yards rushing and 13 TDs, … Grandview also has been notable, particularly with its offensive play. The Wolves stand third with 206 points. … Plus, the historically strong-on-defense Wolves have allowed doubles figures in points only once — they beat Highlands Ranch 28-21 in Week 2, and also stand third in points permitted (44). … Jordan Billingsley remains one of 5A’s top rushers with the numbers to back it. He has compiled 723 yards and eight TDs.

Also keep an eye on …

Denver East (4-1) vs. Westminster (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m., District 50 Stadium

Another in the Metro 10 as the Angels (QB Myles Patterson, 1,082 yards passing, eight TDs) and Warriors should make for an even matchup.

Poudre (1-4) vs. Rocky Mountain (1-4), Friday, 7 p.m., French Field

Forget the records. It’s a Fort Collins game between city foes, the Impalas and Lobos. Fort Collins folks have interest.

Legend (3-2) vs. Fountain-Fort Carson (2-3), Friday, 7 p.m., Guy Barickman Stadium

In the South, the Titans (junior RB Blake Rarog, 492 yards rushing, six TDs) will head south to the southern-most 5A group, the Trojans, whose 180 points permitted are fourth from the bottom of the class.

Boulder (2-3) vs. Smoky Hill (5-0), Saturday, 1 p.m., Stutler Bowl

It’s a Metro 10 matchup with additional ramifications — one more victory and the host Buffaloes (junior RB Obasanjo Sanni, 1,015 yards, 10 TDs) can assure themselves of their first winning season since 1990 and erase the longest-active streak in 5A.