There’s a battle set to happen in the Steel City of Pueblo Friday night.
Pueblo West (6-0), the No. 1-ranked Class 4A team in ColoradoPreps.com, will entertain No. 4 Mesa Ridge (5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Cyclone Stadium.
West is powered by talented QB Gavin Lockett. The senior had thrown for 633 yards and seven TDs; and rushed for a team-high 580 yards and scored nine more times.
Junior Zach Duran has added 490 yards rushing and three TDs.
Senior Brock Keck has hauled in 19 receptions for 355 yards and 3 TDs.
Mesa Ridge will counter with star QB Bryce Riehl. The senior has thrown for 1,253 yards through the air and 16 TDs. Junior Trevon Salas (481 yards, 7 TDs) and Riehl (404 yards, 5 TDs) lead the Grizzlies’ attack.
MR has won three games in a row – defeating Heritage (40-28), Palmer Ridge (31-28) and rival Widefield (62-14).
The last time these two teams met last September Mesa Ridge won a thriller 36-34.
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: The clash between Mountain Vista and Valor Christian last week was supposed to be an epic battle.
MV had other ideas. Mountain Vista crushed perennial power Valor 62-21. MV QB Austyn Modrzewski lived up to his billing completing 22-of-25 passes for 425 yards and 5 TDs. Fellow senior Jack Bilas added 107 yards and two scores in the blowout win.
The Golden Eagles improved to 6-0 and thanks to that stellar showing moved into the No. 1 spot in the ColoradoPreps.com 5A poll. They should keep rolling at 7 p.m. Friday when they entertain winless ThunderRidge (0-6).
MONTROSE LURKING IN THE WINGS: As good as Pueblo West has been this season, Montrose is nipping at the Cyclones heels. QB Chris Mock ran in two touchdowns and threw for another as the Red Hawks hammered Falcon 56-6 last week. Up next is Doherty, at 6 p.m., Friday.
Montrose has two huge games in the coming weeks at Mesa Ridge on Oct. 18 and then the Red Hawks host Pueblo West on Nov. 1.
Class 5A
No. 3 Columbine (6-0) at Arvada West (5-1), 4 p.m. Friday
The streak is at 20 wins in a row and counting for the reigning 5A state champion Rebels.
The straw that stirs the offensive drink for Columbine is running back James Basinger. The senior has 1,116 yards rushing and scored 14 TDs. Junior Mark Snyder has provided a potent 1-2 punch as he has 746 yards rushing and scored 10 times.
A-West counters with junior QB Logan Duhachek who has thrown for 1,442 yards and 15 TDs. Juniors Adrian Symalla (539 yards, 8 TDs) and Jaiden Green (532 yards, 7 TDs) fuel the Wildcats’ ground attack.
If A-West wants to prove its talent to the rest of the state, there’s no better time than Friday afternoon than to step into the spotlight.
Class 5A
No. 5 Palmer Ridge (5-1) at No. 8 Durango (4-2), 6 p.m., Friday
Palmer Ridge is still smarting over its stunning defeat – 31-28 to Mesa Ridge on Sept. 27. The Bears rebounded to thump Air Academy (46-14) last week and will try and keep things rolling when they take a long road trip to Durango.
The Bears are led by RB Avier Elvira who has 497 yards rushing and 7 TDs. Junior Sebastian Tripp leads the Demons with 19 catches for 328 yards and four TDs.
This game will take some determination from the Bears as they go on the road for this tough test from the Demons.
Class 5A
No. 7 Pomona (3-2) vs. No. 5 Roosevelt (4-1), 7 p.m., Thursday
Yes, that is former 5A power Pomona that is now competing in the Class 3A ranks. The Panthers have losses against Pueblo West (21-17) and Dakota Ridge (34-12). They most recently rocked Wheat Ridge (49-13) last Friday. Connor Craver and Emmitt Munson have 519 yards each on the ground. Roosevelt is coming off a 34-10 loss to Windsor and now will try and bounce back against a stingy Pomona squad.
Roosevelt is directed by QB Jasiah Ramirez (540 yards and 5 TDs). RB Luc Vigil has 575 yards and three TDs. Noah Lucero has 18 receptions for 375 yards and four TDs.
