The theme heading into Week 4 for Class 5A, 4A and 3A football teams is a simple phrase – Expect the Unexpected.

Week 3 had a couple of crazy results and topping the list was the Cannon Game between Pueblo East and Pueblo East.

With 10,000-plus spectators in the stands at Dutch Clark Stadium the improbable happened.

East took a 21-7 advantage with 7:56 remaining in the fourth quarter after a 63-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dolphka Lewis. South answered with a 42-yard TD pass from QB Caeden Herrera to Landen Cordova at the 6:10 mark.

The Eagles took control from there and had a chance to put the game away with the ball inside the Colts’ 5-yard line. However, a couple of penalties East went for it on fourth down and failed to make it into the end zone getting stopped at the 2-yard line.

That’s when the magic began and Herrera got on a heater and marched the Colts down the field with seven seconds left. That’s when East was called for pass interference, setting the stage for one more play for the Colts and they were 12 yards away from the end zone.

Herrera scrambled around and lofteda pass between two East defenders in the end zone and the ball was snared out of the air by Cordova, who made an electric one-handed grab for the score with no time left.

Trailing 21-20, veteran South state championship-winning coach Ryan Goddard didn’t hesitate. He went for the 2-point conversion and Herrera found Namon Robinson for a quick out to the right in the end zone for the conversion.

Robinson had caught zero passes before the 2-point conversion. The Eagles were stunned, and the Colts were celebrating the return of the coveted Cannon to their hallways.

In 3A, there was another stunner. Timnath, with a 1-1 record, blanked reigning 3A state champion Thompson Valley 24-0. No one saw this coming, especially TV, which was ranked No. 1 in the ColoradoPreps.com poll before the game.

These outcomes prove anything is possible in prep football. With that in mind, let’s see what unfolds this week.

Class 5A

Rock Canyon (3-0) at No. 8 Grandview (2-2), 6 p.m., Saturday

Rock Canyon is rolling this season, outscoring its opponents 130-42. Last Friday, RC hammered Douglas County 42-21.

The Jaguars are led by quarterback Evan Diebold. The senior has thrown for 480 yards and five TDs. Fellow senior RB Noah Jadd has added 400 yards rushing and five scores.

Grandview got back on track last week with a 44-10 drubbing of Legacy.

The Wolves QB Blitz McCarty has thrown for 670 yards and eight TDs. He threw for a pair of touchdown passes against Legacy and ran in for a score.

RB Chris Banks has run for 384 yards and five TDs. This will be a good test for both teams, and the winner will stay in the rankings mix.

Class 4A

No. 1 3A Pomona (3-0) at No. 3 Dakota Ridge (3-0), 7 p.m., Friday

The Panthers have been dominant this season scoring wins over Kennedy (49-0), Pueblo West (17-7) and Green Mountain (49-6) and they are now No. 1 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll.

Pomona QB Tucker Ingersoll (488 yards and 2 TDs) and receivers Luis Santana (125 yards and 3 TDs) and Emmitt Munson (12 catches for 145 yards and three scores).

This will be a huge test for Pomona and if the Panthers go to 4-0 it could be a very special season moving forward.

Dakota Ridge is No. 3 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll. As good as Pomona has been this season, the DK defense has been stellar giving up 19 points in three games, including a shutout of Mesa Ridge last week.

The Eagles offense QB Kellen Behrendsen. The senior has thrown for 598 yards and four scores. RB Landon Kalsbeck has rushed for 315 yards and two TDs.

In this big-time match-up, which team plays the most fundamentally sound will come away the victor.

Class 3A


Durango (2-1) (Class 4A) vs. No. 10 (Class 3A) Palisade (2-1), 4 p.m., Thursday

Durango is coming off a bye and has won two games in a row. The Demons began the season with a 35-14 loss to Montrose, No. 2 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll.

Durango is fueled by QB Grady Feeney (438 yards and two TDs). Gus Halls (251 yards rushing and 2 TDs) and Feeney (226 yards, 2 TDs) power Durango’s ground game.

Palisade, after losing to Montrose (37-20) in Week 2, regrouped with a 24-7 victory over Resurrection Christian last weekend.

The Bulldogs are paced by a ground and pound attack with Dylon Larson (190 yards, 2 TDs), Branson Springer (157 yards, 2 TDs) and Cade Carter (155 yards, 2 TDs).

This will certainly be a game to watch.