Before state postseason brackets are released in a few weeks, another rigid test looms for several top-ranked teams across the state: the Class 3A/2A Metro League.

Coming into the week, the conference touted the top four teams in 3A and seven of its top 10, as well as No. 4 and 6 in 2A.

We’re halfway through league play this season … and absolutely nothing is clear.

Class 3A No. 1 Colorado Academy (5-2-3, 2-0-3) is undefeated through five league games but has more draws than wins. No. 7 Peak to Peak (4-0-5, 1-0-3) is in a similar position. And both are statistically behind No. 3 Eagle Ridge Academy (7-1-1, 3-1-1) and No. 4 The Academy (7-2-2, 3-1-1), though those two teams have league losses.

Stay with us.

On Thursday, 2024 3A runner-up Jefferson Academy (5-2-3, 0-1-3) played to a scoreless draw against Peak to Peak, remaining winless in league play. The Jaguars are currently ninth out of 10 Metro League teams. Eighth is 2A No. 6 Denver Christian (5-4, 1-3), while tied for sixth are 3A No. 2 Stargate School (7-1-2, 1-1-2) and 2A No. 4 Forge Christian (5-2-3, 1-1-2).

This week … Monday, ERA beat The Academy 2-0 to move atop the standings. But it could be a short stay if Colorado Academy beats the Warriors on Thursday.

In this week’s games to watch, let’s look at crucial league games across the classifications.

Class 5A

No. 5 Legacy at No. 8 Fairview; Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Legacy and Fairview are both ranked inside 5A’s top 10 as they kick off play in the 5A Granite Peaks League.

Legacy (7-0-1) has outscored teams 12-0 since drawing with No. 2 Northfield on Sept. 4. Among those wins were against No. 9 Boulder (1-0 on Sept. 20) and 4A No. 2 Silver Creek (2-0 on Sept. 29).

Fairview (6-3-1), meanwhile, had won four straight before it lost to Boulder (4-3 on Sept. 30) and drew with Silver Creek 1-1 on Oct. 4).

Class 4A

5A No. 13 Pine Creek at 4A No. 11 Pueblo West; Tuesday at 7 p.m.

If there was a measuring stick for Pueblo West (6-0-2, 1-0-1) to see what the Cyclones’ undefeated start to the fall really means, they can find out a lot in Tuesday’s 5A/4A Colorado Springs Metro League game against the Eagles (4-2-3, 2-0).

The Cyclones have been outscored 16-0 in this series over the last three seasons, including last year’s 8-0 loss. But through eight games in 2025, they’ve yet to lose behind 10 goals apiece from Kale Perry and Ethan Wagner.

Class 3A

No. 3 Eagle Ridge Academy at No. 1 Colorado Academy; Thursday at 4 p.m.

The result will dictate who’ll be in the driver’s seat in the Metro League standings, and could even decide who would be the top seed in the 3A classification.

The top-ranked Mustangs began league play with three consecutive scoreless draws — vs. No. 10 Kent Denver, at No. 7 Peak to Peak, vs. No. 2 Stargate School. Since then, however, they beat JA by four goals (6-2 on Sept. 25) and 2A No. 6 Denver Christian by three (3-0 on Sept. 30).

ERA followed up a one-goal loss to Kent Denver (2-1 on Sept. 30) with wins over Prospect Ridge Academy (4-0 on Oct. 2) and The Academy (2-0 on Monday).

Class 2A

No. 4 Forge Christian at 3A No. 2 Stargate School; Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Forge Christian (5-2-3, 1-1-2) drew with 3A No. 6 JA and No. 7 P2P before losing to 2A No. 6 Denver Christian on Thursday.

Either the Fury or Stargate School (7-1-2, 1-1-2) could move from the middle of the standings to near the top of the Metro League with a win.

Forge Christian is 6-0-1 against SS since 2018.