For the first time in 2018, every classification will feature conference games this week as the 4A and 3A divisions finally join in on the fun.  Because of all the league action, our list of important contests is expanded this week and we divide into big schools (3A-4A-5A) and small schools.  Below is our list for best matchups in the largest three classes.
Colorado Preps will expand on the importance of these games with our weekly classification reports that are published each Tuesday through Thursday.
 

CLASS 5A

Pomona at Arvada West (Metro West)
Mullen at Ralston Valley (Metro West)
Fairview at Horizon (Front Range)
Smoky Hill at Denver East (Metro 10)
Grandview at Cherokee Trail (Metro East)
ThunderRidge at Highlands Ranch (Metro South)
Legend at Regis (South)
NOTES:  Pomona and Ralston Valley look to gain some separation in the Metro West with wins this week.  The Panthers and Mustangs won league openers while Arvada West and Mullen came up short.  Fairview is the only team with more than two wins on the season inside the Front Range and are favored to land the championship.  Horizon is one of three teams at 2-4 overall and the Hawks could represent the toughest challenge to the Knights.  Smoky Hill and Denver East are a combined 11-1 on the season and they share first place in the Metro 10.  The winner takes over sole possession of the league lead and since East has already beaten third place Westminster, they will take complete control of the division with a win.  Grandview looks to rebound from the stinging loss to Eaglecrest from last Friday and they need a win over unbeaten Cherokee Trail to stay in the Metro East championship race.  Cherokee Trail is one of three unbeaten teams in the conference and Grandview is 5-1.  ThunderRidge and Highlands Ranch both won league openers last week and their winner steps forward as the top threat to Valor Christian in the Metro South.  No team in the Southern division is above five hundred for the season so the league race is wide open.  Regis was a week one winner along with Doherty and Fountain Fort Carson.
 

CLASS 4A

Montrose at Heritage (Metro)
Ponderosa at Denver South (Metro)
Chatfield at Wheat Ridge (Jeffco)
Loveland at Monarch (Longs Peak)
Broomfield at Windsor (Northern)
Longmont at Greeley West (Northern)
Vista Peak at Hinkley (Pioneer)
NOTES:  League play finally opens in this division and several first-week encounters will have championship implications.  The headliner pits Montrose on the road to Heritage and both teams enter that game unbeaten at 5-0.  The winner must still tangle with a red-hot Ponderosa but that team gains a major win in conference play.  The Mustangs meet perennial playoff member Denver South this week but the Rebels are just 2-3 on the season.  The Jeffco 1 race has many contenders and two of them face off this week as Chatfield battles Wheat Ridge.  Loveland is favored to land the Longs Peak chase and a future meeting with Skyline could determine the race but first up for the Indians is a physical pairing with Monarch.  Four of the six teams in the Northern conference enter league play with winning records and two of them meet this week.  Longmont and Greeley West are both 4-1.  Broomfield is also 4-1 and they face a tradition rich Windsor program that dropped below five hundred with a loss to Bear Creek last week.  Fruita Monument and Standley Lake could battle for the Pioneer crown but Vista Peak and Hinkley have the best overall records in non-league play.  Both were unbeaten before losses in week five.
 

CLASS 3A

Thomas Jefferson at Lewis Palmer (Central)
Conifer at Green Mountain (Mt Metro)
George Washington at Evergreen (Mt Metro)
Skyview at Mead (North Valley)
Fort Morgan at Roosevelt (North Valley)
Pueblo East at Pueblo South (South Central)
Pueblo Central at Pueblo County (South Central)
NOTES:  One of the better league races in Class 3A could be the Central where Thomas Jefferson and Discovery Canyon open league play ranked in the top five and unbeaten at 5-0.  Lewis Palmer and defending state champion Palmer Ridge also posted winning records in non-league play (3-2).  The Rangers host TJ on Friday in the most important opener.  The six teams in the Mt Metro finished with either 3-2 or 2-3 marks in the first half of the season so it shapes up to be another good race.  Conifer and Green Mountain both finished 3-2 while George Washington (3-2) could be the underdog against Evergreen (2-3) as the Cougars nearly upset Palisade last week (21-20).  Skyview and Mead are both playoff teams from a year ago but only the winner climbs back to 500.  Both clubs are 2-3 going in.  Fort Morgan has three more wins than Roosevelt but don’t be surprised if it’s a tight game due to the Riders difficult pre-season schedule.  Holy Family and Denver North are both 4-1 and the remaining two members of the North Valley but the Tigers are heavily favored despite the identical records.  Rivalry games in Pueblo will dominate the South Central schedule as all five 3A clubs from the city are the in the conference.  Two of them take place as East goes to South and Central visits County this week.