The Class 5A, 4A and 3A football playoffs are winding down and now the semifinals are on tap with chances to play for respective state titles.

Here’s a look at the matchups on tap this weekend.

Class 5A

No. 5 Ralston Valley (10-2) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (12-0) (Sat., 1 p.m.)

Ralston Valley comes into this game rolling after upsetting Pine Creek, handily 28-3 last week in the quarterfinals – on the road no less.

Senior RB Brady Weldon led the charge for the Mustangs, carrying the ball 13 times for 128 yards and scoring three times. QB Logan Madden also was solid in the victory in which RV scored 28 unanswered points, completing 20-of-24 passes for 208 yards and a TD toss to Wyatt Morwood.

Weldon has 995 yards rushing this season and scored 13 TDs. Madden, meanwhile, has thrown for 2,551 yards and 22 TDs and only five interceptions.

After such a great game last week, the question is whether the Mustangs can keep their momentum going again on the road.

Creek presents a plethora of challenges for RV, starting with an abundance of talent. The Bruins jumped out to a 21-0 lead against Mountain Vista on the way to a 51-24 victory.

Senior RB Jordan Herron had three TDs, and sophomore QB Brady Vodicka launched two scoring passes to Tyson Mauck and one to Jadyn Irving.

Vodicka (24 passing TDs) and Herron (16 TDs) are the fuel for the Bruins offense that no team has been able to stop in 2023. Now, its Creek’s turn to keep this season going into a state title clash.

The winner of this game plays the victor between Columbine and Chatfield for 5A supremacy.

No. 14 Chatfield (8-5) vs. No. 2 Columbine (12-0) (Fri., 6 p.m.)

The upset darling of the 5A playoffs has been Chatfield. The Chargers knocked off Cherokee Trail (42-7) and then scored huge wins over No. 3-seeded Arapahoe (28-21); No. 11 seed Grandview (37-28).

Chatfield senior QB Jake Jones was as good as advertised against Grandview – throwing for three scores and running in two more. Jones threw for 165 yards and those three scores and added 179 yards rushing and two more scores. Landon Mueller also gave the team a huge boost with 109 yards rushing and one TD.

Jones is one of the top QBs in the state and he has the numbers to prove it. He has thrown for 2,261 yards and 23 TDs. He also has 825 yards rushing and scored 16 more times.

Chatfield will try and get a measure of revenge this weekend since Columbine dealt the Chargers a 35-14 drubbing on Oct. 27.

Columbine is not flashy, but the Rebels are perfect – at least record-wise. This is Columbine’s first appearance in the state semifinals in four years. The Rebels got there, thanks to two rushing TDs by Mason Moreno and one from James Cillessen in Columbine’s 21-3 win over Legend last week.

Moreno leads the team with nearly 1,100 yards rushing and 15 TDs. Can Chatfield change the tempo of the game to a boat race and get the Rebels uncomfortable or will it be a ground and pound affair for the Rebels. The story will unfold Friday night under the lights.

Class 4A

No. 4 Broomfield (10-2) vs. Palmer Ridge (12-0), (Sat. 1, 1 p.m.)

Broomfield took care of business last week, zooming past Mesa Ridge (38-6). The Eagles’ defense was spearheaded by Mason Smiley who had two interceptions, including one he returned for a TD. CT Worley added two short scoring plunges.

Broomfield has won eight games in a row, and its only two losses were to Holy Family (30-29) and Erie (30-7).

The Eagles have soared this season with not gaudy stats but strong play as a team. Team is the operative word because all the Broomfield players will have to be working as one to knock off perennial power Palmer Ridge.

The Bears have an unblemished record and a slew of skilled players. Senior QB Derek Hester has thrown for 1,484 yards and 21 TDs to ignite the offense.

Palmer Ridge’s rushing attack has amassed 2,747 yards and 41 TDs. The balanced attack includes Hester (822 yards on the ground and 14 TDs) and Avier Elvira (799 yards rushing, 7 TDs).

Palmer Ridge knows how to win big games like this – it will be up to Broomfield to write its own victory narrative.

No. 3 Montrose (10-2) at No. 2 Erie (11-1), (Sat., 1 p.m.)

Montrose returns to the semifinal round for the second time in three years.

After losing two of its first three games to start the season to top-ranked Palmer Ridge (28-27, Aug. 24) and to Erie (38-28, Sept. 8), Montrose has mowed through its competition, including a 26-7 decision over Windsor last week. Standout RB Blake Griffin scored three times for the Red Hawks and their defense was stout in the second half against the Wizards.

Now, let’s see how much Montrose learned from its first meeting with Erie in September. Will the Red Hawks spring the upset or be taken to school by the Tigers.

Everything Erie does on offense is set up by all-state QB Blake Barnett, who is bound for Kansas State next year.

Barnett’s motor was running on all cylinders in Erie’s 35-7 victory over Dakota Ridge last week. He threw one TD each to Donovan O’Brien and Josh Levine and had TD runs himself from 1 and 24 yards.

In the first meeting against Montrose, Barnett was a difference maker passing for 246 yards and three scores and rushing for 74 more yards.

If the Red Hawks can’t contain Barnett and make someone else beat them their season will come to and end. It’s that simple.

Class 3A

No. 5 Lutheran (10-2) vs. No. 1 Green Mountain (12-0), (Sat., 1 p.m.)

Lutheran turned some heads last week when it upended Durango on the road 39-30. The key for the Lions was the play of QB Ryken Daugaard. The senior rushed for two TDs and fired a scoring pass to Ben Herbek. Daugaard has passed for 2,047 yards and 29 TDs. He also has rushed for 515 yards and four more scores.

As a team, Lutheran has rushed for 2,377 yards and 22 TDs. The Lions top receiver is Herbek who has over 1,000 yards receiving. Can the Lions keep roaring against unbeaten Green Mountain is the question.

Green Mountain comes into the semis after a huge 40-21 win over defending 3A state champ Roosevelt last week. The same team the Rams lost in the semifinals a year ago. Green Mountain is aiming for its first state crown since 1999.

QB Blake Weslin provided the punch to Green Mountain’s offense last week running in for two scores. The Rams trailed early in the third quarter 21-18 and rallied with 22 straight points for the victory.

This season, Weslin has thrown for 969 yards and 17 TDs. He also has 573 yards rushing and two more TDs. RB Nowell Dacres also has chipped in 496 yards on the ground and six TDs. Seniors Max Choboian (13 catches) and Dalton Poulignot (12 catches) also are threats.

There’s no doubt Green Mountain’s offense has been strong also season, but the Rams defense has been next level, posting six shutouts. If that side of the ball continues to dominate it will be on to the state championship game.

No. 3 Thompson Valley (10-2) at No. 2 Holy Family (11-1), (Sat., 1 p.m.)

Thompson Valley survived a scare from Northfield last week, winning 31-24. The key cog for the Eagles is quarterback Riley Suarez. The 6-foot, 180-pound senior had a huge game against Northfield rushing for 247 yards and three scores.

Great numbers have been commonplace for Suarez this season. He has 1,468 yards passing and thrown 17 TDs and he’s added 1,219 yards on the ground and 18 TDs. If Suarez steps into the spotlight again, he could end Holy Family’s season abruptly.

Holy Family has other ideas. The Broomfield-based school hammered Lewis-Palmer 42-17 last week. It took a team effort to win, but QB Rylan Cooney helped supply plenty of roar for the Tigers. He completed 11-of-15 passes for 193 yards and three scores. For good measure, he rushed for 70 yards and another score.

Senior Dominic Gabriel also was a force on the ground, totaling 207 yards on 33 carries and reaching the end zone twice.

Cooney has been solid all season, throwing for 2,409 yards and 22 TDs. He also has rushed for 716 yards and 21 TDs. Gabriel, meanwhile, has 1,290 yards on the ground and 12 scores.

Thompson Valley needs to contain this potent duo, or the Eagles season will be grounded.