We’ve already advanced to week three of the football season and the list below involves our picks for the top four games in each division tonight.  We call it our Friday Football Game Prep and each week we provide our selections for the most competitive games statewide.
Of course, many of the games will be featured during our Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show.  We’re scheduled to interview the winning coaches of games listed in bold during the program.  It airs from 9:30-11:00pm on the Colorado Preps Radio Network
The Scoreboard Show is again presented by Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance and airs from 9:30-11:00pm on radio affiliates across the state.  A complete list can be seen here.
You may also follow along with our Daily Scoreboard as we will provide in-progress updates of nearly every game in Colorado.
Enjoy the games tonight and then catch our statewide recap on the way home.
 

SIX-MAN

  1. Fleming at Peetz
  2. Prairie at Briggsdale
  3. Genoa Hugo at Otis
  4. Kit Carson at Arickaree/Woodlin

NOTES:  Two of the games listed above are conference games as outcomes between Prairie-Briggsdale and Fleming-Peetz will help determine a top-heavy Northern conference.  Prairie is the defending league champion but Peetz is the returning state champion.  Kit Carson and Arickaree/Woodlin are both coming off wins and the winner gets a head start on better playoff positioning.  Genoa Hugo looks to spring the upset of Otis and to do so, must slow down running back Bryce Miracle who has picked up over 300 yards in each of his first two games.

EIGHT MAN

  • Dayspring Christian at Hoehne
  • Sargent at Springfield
  • Akron at Fowler
  • Sanford at Swink

NOTES:  All eight teams have eyes on playoff berths later this season so winners gain a nice advantage in head-to-head wins and gain valuable RPI points.  Dayspring Christian and Hoehne both came up short in season openers so the loser of their game will fall to an unexpected 0-2.  Sargent outscored Fowler last week and looks for a 2-0 start against a good Ark Valley conference.  Akron won just three games last year but a win at Fowler gives them an 2-0 start.  Fowler looks to play better defense and avoid turnovers in bouncing back from the Sargent loss.  Sanford and Swink have missed the post-season in recent but the winner is 2-0.

CLASS 1A

  • Pagosa Springs at Centauri
  • Cedaredge at Buena Vista
  • Paonia at Monte Vista
  • Coal Ridge at Hotchkiss

NOTES:  A game between Strasburg-Bennett is not listed there but we include in the 2A breakdown since the Tigers are now in that division.  Cedaredge and Buena Vista both have state titles in the last decade and both are trying for a return to that prominence.  The winner is 2-0.  Pagosa Springs is 0-2 but coming off a strong effort in a near upset of La Junta.  Centauri did not allow a point in cruising past traditional power Paonia in week two.  Paonia and Monte Vista are both looking for their first win and first points of the season.  Both were shutout in openers.  Hotchkiss can get to 2-0 by downing 2A rival Coal Ridge.

CLASS 2A

  • Delta at Salida
  • Strasburg at Bennett
  • Kent Denver at Faith Christian
  • La Junta at Alamosa

NOTES:  Delta and Salida are a combined 3-0 and a win puts both in early contention for a playoff berth.  Strasburg and Bennett split two meetings last year with the Indians grabbing the all-important post-season win on their way to a second consecutive 1A state title.  Kent Denver has won the last nine against Faith Christian and only three of those wins are by less than 10 points.  La Junta looks to build on last week’s second half performance where they avoided the upset bid of Pagosa Springs.  Alamosa trounced local rival Monte Vista in their opener but has not had much luck against La Junta in recent years.

CLASS 3A

  • Basalt at Battle Mountain
  • Frederick at Erie
  • Pueblo East at Palmer Ridge
  • Montrose at Durango

NOTES:  One of the premiere games statewide occurs in 3A as #2 Palmer Ridge is challenged by #3 Pueblo East.  Palmer Ridge is the defending state champion but East won the prior three titles.  Both teams have likely all-state quarterbacks in Ty Evans (Palmer Ridge) and Luc Andrada (Pueblo East) and each should play on Saturday’s next year.  Frederick and Erie is one of the best rivalries in the state and Erie currently holds that trophy.  Basalt and Battle Mountain are both unbeaten going into their local rivalry.  And Durango continues through an emotional stretch of games against former conference members or local rivals.  The Demons lost to Palisade last week and have Bayfield on the slate in week four.  Montrose is already 2-0.

CLASS 4A

  • Chatfield at Brighton
  • Grand Junction Central at Grand Junction
  • Rampart at Monarch
  • Fort Collins at Longmont

NOTES:  Rampart and Monarch is the lone top 10 battle in 4A this week. The Coyotes haven’t played since scoring a win in Florida back in week one.  Rampart is coming off a wild 52-42 loss to Chatfield last week.  The Chargers take on surprising Brighton who is 2-0 after wins over Prairie View and Wheat Ridge.  Grand Junction Central looks for the 4A title out west as they visit Grand Junction tonight.  The Warriors bested Fruita Monument last week.  Longmont needs a win over Fort Collins to avoid an unexpected 0-2 start.

CLASS 5A

  • Arapahoe at Heritage
  • Columbine at Fountain Fort Carson
  • Mullen at Cherry Creek
  • Pomona at Valor Christian

NOTES:  No better rivalries statewide than three of the games listed here.  Arapahoe and Heritage conduct their annual battle for the Milk Can while Mullen and Cherry Creek are two of the most storied programs in Colorado history.  All Pomona and Valor Christian has done is win the last three big school state championships.  Tonight marks their sixth meeting in the past four years.  Pomona has topped Valor Christian three straight times in the regular season but the Eagles topped the Panthers in two consecutive state finals (2015-16).
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