As we’ve done each Friday following the Scoreboard Show, we again will break down what results mean to league championships and overall conference standings.  Our network focuses heavily on conference titles since those teams earn automatic bids to the playoffs.
Regular season play concludes for Classes 5A, 2A, 1A, 8man and 6man this week with playoff pairings released on Sunday.

CLASS 5A

  • FRONT RANGE:  Fairview finished the season 9-1 with a 57-7 win over Rocky Mountain.  The Knights had clinched the division before the game opened.  Legacy finished second with their come from behind win over Horizon.
  • METRO 10:  Smoky Hill claimed the conference championship with their win over Westminster.  The Buffs earn an automatic but only one other team from the league can make the bracket and that will come down to a decision to the committee which chooses the 24th and last team into the field.
  • METRO EAST:  With Grandview’s double-overtime win over Cherry Creek, the two teams tied with Eaglecrest atop the league standings.  All three teams ended up 4-1 but Grandview will get the automatic nod as league champion based on a point-system tiebreaker.  All three teams could be in line for a top eight and first round playoff bye.
  • METRO SOUTH:  Valor Christian had already clinched the league championship before this week but stayed in contention for the top overall playoff seed with their win over Highlands Ranch.  ThunderRidge took home second with their win over Castle View.  The Sabercats finished the regular season at 7-3 and will be playoff bound after winning just one game in 2017.
  • METRO WEST:  Columbine had already clinched the title before this week but the Rebels are also in the running for the number one playoff seed.  Their win over Arvada West on Thursday capped a 10-0 regular season.  Ralston Valley topped Pomona for second place and the Mustangs could also get a first round bye.
  • SOUTH:  Regis had wrapped up the league crown before this week but the Raider’s win over Douglas County gave them a perfect 5-0 league mark.  Doherty grabbed second place with their win over Fountain Fort Carson.

CLASS 4A

  • JEFFCO:  Dakota Ridge beat Wheat Ridge on Friday to move into a three-way tie with Chatfield and Bear Creek for the conference lead.  Bear Creek and Chatfield play next week while Dakota Ridge tangles with Golden.  Dakota Ridge is the champion with a win and Bear Creek loss.  Chatfield wins the title with a win and Dakota Ridge loss.  Bear Creek is the league champion with a win regardless of what else happens.
  • LONGS PEAK:  Loveland and Skyline both won this week so they meet for the league championship next week.  The loser ends up second
  • METRO:  The most important game is tomorrow (Saturday) between Montrose and Ponderosa.  Montrose clinches with a win but Ponderosa must beat the Indians and Heritage next week to claim the crown.
  • NORTHERN:  Greeley West is the only 4A team to have clinched a league title.  Broomfield also beat Brighton and they sit tied with Longmont in second place.  The Eagles and Trojans clash next week with the winner ending up second and the loser third.
  • PIONEER:  Fruita Monument took over the conference lead by beating Standley Lake but did not wrap up the championship.  They must also beat Vista Peak next week for the crown.  Vista Peak and Standley Lake are tied for second with the Gators winning that head-to-head battle.
  • SOUTHERN 1:  Another key on Saturday between Pine Creek and Grand Junction Central.  They share the lead and GJ Central is the champion with a win.  Pine Creek must beat the Warriors this week and Vista Ridge next week for the championship.
  • SOUTHERN 2:  Pueblo West and Rampart were both easy winners on Friday and will collide next week for the championship.  The loser places second.

CLASS 3A

  • CENTRAL:  Palmer Ridge kept sole possession of first place in the Central with their 42-point win over Lewis Palmer.  The Bears face Discovery Canyon next week and the winner is the league champion and the loser is second.
  • MT METRO:  Green Mountain became the first 3A team to land a league championship as they clinched by beating Kennedy.  Evergreen clinched second place by winning the Mountain Bowl over Conifer.  The Lobos face George Washington next week with the winner likely ending up third.
  • NORTH METRO:  Mead blew past Denver North on Friday to remain tied for the conference lead with Frederick.  Both teams are 4-0 and have clinched a top two league finish.  They collide next week to determine the champion.
  • NORTH VALLEY:  Erie downed Thompson Valley and will meet Fort Morgan for the league championship next week.  The Mustangs also improved to 4-0 in the conference with their Thursday win over Niwot.
  • SOUTH CENTRAL:  Durango needed a win over Pueblo County to stay in the league championship race and did so with ease.  The Demons are tied with Pueblo South (3-1) in second place but they earn a share of the league crown by beating Pueblo East next week.  East (4-0) is alone atop the standings and can clinch the title outright with a win over the Demons.
  • SOUTHERN:  Harrison improved to 4-0 in league play with their Thursday win over Sand Creek. The Panthers become league champions if Canon City beats Mitchell on Saturday.  If not, the Panthers still clinch with a win over Mitchell in week 11.
  • WESTERN SLOPE:  Palisade and Glenwood Springs locked up spots one and two with wins on Friday.

CLASS 2A

  • COLORADO:  Kent Denver became league champion with their win over Machebeuf.  The Buffs dropped to third with Englewood claiming second.
  • FLATIRONS:  Faith Christian won the league championship by holding off D’Evelyn 21-7.  The Jaguars finished second.
  • INTERMOUNTAIN:  Bayfield trailed Salida 14-0 at halftime but scored three second half touchdowns to score the win and league title.  Salida suffered their first loss and dropped to second in the standings.
  • PATRIOT EAST:  Platte Valley’s win over Brush handed the Broncos another league championship.  Sterling ended up second by beating Weld Central on Thursday and Brush dropped into third.
  • PATRIOT WEST:  Resurrection Christian had already earned the league title before their 35-0 win over Prospect Ridge.  Second place remains up for grabs as Berthoud rallied past Eaton.  Those two teams are 3-2 and University can join them with a win over Academy on Saturday.  If University falls short, then Berthoud is the second place team and Eaton is third.
  • TRI PEAKS:  La Junta had wrapped up the title before the week started.  Lamar’s win over Elizabeth also created a three-way tie for second with the Cardinals and Classical Academy.
  • WESTERN SLOPE:  Rifle and Basalt both picked up quality wins on Friday to end the conference season tied at 4-1.  The Bears are the league champions based on their head-to-head win over the Longhorns just last week.  Delta moves past Aspen for third since they beat the Skiers earlier this season.  All four teams could be invited to the playoffs.

CLASS 1A

  • FOOTHILLS:  Platte Canyon is the league champion if they beat Manual on Saturday.  If the Thunderbolts earn the win, they create a three-way tie for the championship with the Huskies and Clear Creek.  Clear Creek stayed alive with their win over Jefferson.
  • NORTH CENTRAL:  Limon held off Holyoke 19-13 to win the league championship.  Burlington moved into second with their win over Wiggins and Holyoke settled for third.  Wray won the Harvest Cup over Yuma to take home fourth but both clubs remain in playoff contention.
  • NORTHERN:  Strasburg is the league champion if they beat Cornerstone Christian tomorrow.  If that happens, then Highland is also second.  A Cornerstone Christian win leaves the three teams sharing first place.
  • SANTA FE:  Peyton won the championship with their week nine win over Crowley County.  The Chargers are second with Saturday’s winner of Rocky Ford-John Mall ending up third.
  • SOUTHERN PEAKS:  Centauri and Monte Vista had already locked down the top two spots with the Falcons gaining the title and automatic playoff bid.  Center nabbed third place with their win over Dolores.
  • TRI PEAKS:  Colorado Springs Christian picked up the championship with their 31-point shutout of Florence.  The Huskies will settle for second with Buena Vist in third.
  • WESTERN SLOPE:  Meeker was already the league champion before tonight but Paonia clinched second and Olathe third with their wins this week

EIGHT MAN

  • All league champions had been crowned going into the weekend with Hoehne, Front Range Christian, Mancos, West Grand, Sedgwick County and Pikes Peak Christian all earning hardware.  Holly took over second in the Ark Valley beating Springfield and that also left Fowler in third.  Dayspring Christian downed Akron to earn third place in the Plains.  Merino also gained some valuable RPI points with their upset to #1 Sedgwick County and that result probably means West Grand is the number one playoff seed on Sunday.

SIX MAN

  • Conference wise, there was nothing left to decide entering the final week.  But of course the big win went to Kit Carson as they beat #1 Stratton/Liberty 28-22.  The win likely also lifted the Wildcats to the highest spot in the playoff bracket.