Our football polls for week three involving Classes 3A, 4A and 5A.  Just three newcomers overall but the order in 3A and 4A are dramatically different than the previous week as seven clubs from last week’s rankings were knocked off in week three.
Also a quick reminder that the first RPI standings of the fall season are to be released on Tuesday.  Conference champions earn automatic playoff bids but the remaining positions are determined by the RPI standings at the end of the regular season.
 

CLASS 3A

#1 Mead (3-0)
#2 Holy Family (3-0)
#3 Silver Creek (3-0)
#4 Palmer Ridge (3-0)
#5 Discovery Canyon (2-1)
#6 Fort Morgan (2-1)
#7 Durango (3-1)
#8 Roosevelt (2-1)
#9 Erie (3-0)
#10 Longmont (1-2)
 
OTHERS:  Thomas Jefferson (3-0), Denver North (3-0), Harrison (3-0), Glenwood Springs (3-0), Canon City (3-0), Berthoud (3-0), Skyview (3-0), Rifle (2-1), Pueblo East (0-3), Palisade (2-2)
NOTES:  It was a crazy week inside the 3A polls as five teams suffered losses and those results caused major changes in the top 10.  The top three teams all picked up wins so they remain in the same order but Palmer Ridge moves up three spots to number four.  They handled Lewis Palmer while Longmont, Fort Morgan and Durango were all knocked off.  Fort Morgan and Durango each lost one spot as the Mustangs nearly knocked off #2 Holy Family on the road and the Demons fell to an out-of-state opponent.  Longmont though tumbled from four to tenth as they allowed 15 fourth quarter points in a loss to Roosevelt.  The Riders used that win to enter the rankings for the first time, joining Erie as a newcomer this week.  Longmont remains in the rankings because of a win over Pueblo East early and a tough schedule than the seven unbeaten clubs.
 

CLASS 4A

#1 Pine Creek (3-0)
#2 Ponderosa (3-0)
#3 Windsor (2-1)
#4 Chatfield (2-1)
#5 Fruita Monument (4-0)
#6 Pueblo West (3-0)
#7 Pueblo South (2-1)
#8 Loveland (3-0)
#9 Monarch (3-0)
#10 Vista Ridge (2-1)
 
OTHERS:  Rampart (3-1), Montrose (2-2), Brighton (2-1), Fort Collins (2-1), Greeley West (2-1), Skyline (3-0), Standley Lake (3-0), Widefield (3-0), Broomfield (1-2).
NOTES:  Pueblo West and their wild 55-54 double-overtime win over Pueblo South caused all the movement this week.  The Cyclones were ranked seventh last week and moved up one spot to sixth with the exhausting win.  The result also caused Pueblo South to drop from third to seventh.  Normally a one-point loss doesn’t cost a team four spots but head-to-head results mean they need to be placed behind the Cyclones.  The decision also allowed Windsor, Chatfield, and Fruita Monument to bump up one position.  Vista Ridge gets the nod over Rampart for the 10th spot.  Their resumes are very similar but we went with Vista Ridge as their loss came against a team ranked higher (Windsor) than the team that beat Rampart (Monarch).
 

CLASS 5A

#1 Valor Christian (3-0)
#2 Pomona (3-0)
#3 Eaglecrest (3-0)
#4 Columbine (3-0)
#5 Grandview (2-10
#6 Mullen (2-2)
#7 Regis (2-1)
#8 Cherry Creek (2-1)
#9 Highlands Ranch (3-0)
#10 Doherty (2-1)
 
OTHERS:  Poudre (4-0), Legacy (2-1), Fairview (3-0), Northglenn (3-0), Horizon (2-1), Rock Canyon (3-0), Cherokee Trail (2-1), Chaparral (1-2), Lakewood (3-0), Legend (2-1), Arvada West (2-1)
NOTES:  Grandview was the lone 5A team to come up short in week three but since their loss came against Eaglecrest by just seven points, the changes in the rankings are minimal.  Grandview slides two spots to fifth with Eaglecrest and Columbine both improving by one slot.  Rankings will likely undergo major changes following the next round of games which includes Valor Christian at Pomona, Grandview at Cherry Creek, Chatfield at Columbine, Regis at Highlands Ranch and Cherokee Trail at Eaglecrest.