Not Legendary performance but outstanding: The powerhouse Class 5A team that is Pine Creek was steamrolling the competition, posting a 7-0 record – then the Eagles, who were No. 2 in the Colorado Preps rankings, met Legend (5-2) fresh off a 29-28 loss to Fountain-Fort Carson. The Titans played smashmouth football – rushing for 235 yards on 41 carries to claim the massive 28-16 upset.

And just like that the Eagles will remember the Titans.

Things don’t get any easier for Legend, which rocketed to the No. 10 spot in the latest Colorado Preps poll. The Titans entertain a talented Regis Jesuit (4-4) squad at 7 p.m. Thursday. Junior Jaden Lawrence leads the Titans in rushing with 814 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Call it a Comeback: Facing a seemingly insurmountable 28-7 deficit in the third quarter against highly ranked Class 4A Golden, Dakota Ridge could have wilted and accepted defeat. The Eagles, however, did nothing of the sort.

The Eagles came storming back and claimed the improbable 29-28 victory to improve to 5-3 on the season.
Quarterback Blake Palladino led the way for Dakota Ridge gaining 72 yards rushing and scoring two touchdowns. The senior threw for another 122 yards and one score.

Dakota Ridge will try and run its winning streak to three games when it plays host to Grand Junction (2-6) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Keep on streaking: Riverdale Ridge (6-1) is No. 8 in the Colorado Preps poll, thanks to running its winning streak to four games with its narrow 21-20 victory over Frederick last week.

Ravens junior QB Isaiah Medina only completed five passes, but the completions amassed 192 yards and two touchdowns – one on a 73-yard score to McKinley Jones. Senior RB Jordan Clarvoe added 86 yards rushing and one score in the Riverdale Ridge victory.

The Ravens will try and make it five in a row when they travel to play George Washington (4-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Class 5A

No. 3 Arapahoe (7-1) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (8-0), (Fri., 7 p.m.)

The marquee matchup in 5A comes at the top of the Colorado Preps poll as Arapahoe will try and knock off Creek from atop of the throne. The Warriors come into this titanic game against the Bruins after crushing Cherokee Trail 56-7 last week. Arapahoe has the two-headed rushing attack of sophomore Trajan Fraiser (624 yards and 11 scores) and senior Carter Nealy (522 yards and three scores). Frasier scored five times against Cherokee Trail and he and Nealy, along with QB Michael Moynihan are all going to have to bring their ‘A’ games to upset the Bruins. Creek will counter with sophomore QB Brady Vodicka (1,256 yards passing and 14 TDs) and senior running back Jordan Herron (737 yards rushing and 12 scores). Herron had two TDs rushing last week in Creek’s 21-0 win over Eaglecrest. Since beating Regis Jesuit 47-28 Sept, 22, Creek’s defense has pitched three consecutive shutouts against Cherokee Trail, Smoky Hill and Eaglecrest.

Class 4A

No. 6 Mesa Ridge (6-2) at No. 3 Montrose (6-2), (Fri., 6 p.m.)

Mesa Ridge started the season 1-2, but the resilient Grizzlies have kept battling and run off five wins in a row, including a 47-21 win over Rampart last week. Mesa Ridge will get a huge test on its progress report when it travels to the Western Slope to clash with Montrose.

The Grizzlies’ growl is fueled by senior RB Isaiah Jones (787 yards rushing and 11 TDs) and junior QB Bryce Riehl (1,061 yards passing and 10 TDs).

Since losing to Erie 38-28 on Sept. 8, Montrose has been rolling while capturing five wins in a row. The Red Hawks scored 56 and 57 points in their most recent wins over Falcon and Coronado. The big question is whether the Red Hawks can keep their victory train moving past Mesa Ridge.

Class 3A

No. 5 Lutheran (5-2) at No. 7 Northfield (5-2), (Fri., 7 p.m.)

With the regular season coming down the homestretch, this is a key 3A bout between a pair of teams in the Colorado Preps latest poll. Lutheran hammered Lincoln 68-0 last week. The Lions got well against Lincoln after dropping consecutive games to Montrose (36-14) and Holy Family (35-28).

Lutheran’s offense is powered by senior QB Ryken Daugaard (1,337 yards passing and 19 TDs) and junior RB Sawyer Wald (674 yards rushing and six TDs). Daugaard had 126 yards passing for three scores against Lincoln.

Northfield is looking to rebound after falling to Holy Family 23-9 last week. Senior Dean Stickel had 80 yards rushing in the loss. Senior QB Christian Love has a team-best 582 yards passing and 373 yards rushing for nine scores. The stage is set now it is just a matter of who will step up.