As our regular readers know, we spend the week previewing in-depth all classes of football by looking at the top games. If you have taken the time to review those articles, we’re providing a quick hitter on the top games in each class and what results of the games will mean to the playoff picture.
We also invite you to join us for the Scoreboard Show tonight where we’ll again recap the results from across the state and then visit with coaches who post important wins.
Also track the games on our Daily Scoreboard which can be seen on the website or easily at games through our new mobile app.
Sierra Grande at Cotopaxi: The Pirates are bringing in lights to help celebrate homecoming and a win gives them the Southwest league championship. Sierra Grande already has a league loss to Mountain Valley so a win does not give them the outright title.
Dayspring Christian at Sedgwick County: Both teams are unbeaten and the winner keeps at least a share of the Plains league lead. The winner also stays in line with several other clubs for the top overall playoff seed.
Caliche at Merino: The second half of two crucial games inside the Plains as Merino needs a win to keep pace with the Dayspring-Sedgwick survivor atop the league standings. Caliche has a previous loss to Dayspring Christian so another loss likely takes them out of the league title chase. A win though leaves the Sedgwick-Dayspring winner alone in first.
Hoehne at Holly: Both teams have losing records overall (2-3) and each has a league loss to Fowler on the resume, but this winner more than likely ends up as the second place team in the Ark Valley.
Sanford at Mancos: A key game inside the Mountain as the two are unbeaten in the conference and share first place with Dove Creek. Dove Creek is off this week so they’ll stay in first with this winner.
Elbert at Front Range Christian: This winner should end up with the Central championship as both teams already have a win over third place Denver Christian. Both teams are unbeaten in the conference.
Peyton at John Mall: Peyton can clinch a second straight Santa Fe title by beating John Mall and Rocky Ford this week and next. All three teams are unbeaten in early league play. A league title is extremely important here as the RPI may prevent the runner-up from getting into the bracket.
Holyoke at Burlington: The Cougars have made the playoffs for 33 consecutive years but that streak may be in doubt if they fall in this one. They were blanked by Wray 14-0 last week. Holyoke is the only North Central team unbeaten overall and is coming off a league win over Yuma.
Highland at Strasburg: The two clubs have finished 1-2 in the North conference each of the past two years and this game has been the decider. Strasburg has won all three previous matchups and has never lost a conference game since moving to Class 1A.
Elizabeth at La Junta: A couple of week one winners in the 2A Tri Peaks so one will fall out of first place. Elizabeth scored 61 points against Manitou Springs but face a La Junta defense that pitched a shutout in beating Woodland Park last week.
Aspen at Moffat County: Both teams suffered losses in league openers last week so the loser probably falls out of 2A West Slope contention. The game may also be more important to Aspen as they’re RPI is well outside the Top 16. Moffat County meantime is third in the same rankings.
Delta at Rifle: Maybe the most attractive matchup statewide as Rifle is ranked #2 in Class 2A and Delta #2. The winner remains in first and likely tied with fellow unbeaten Basalt atop the Western Slope standings.
Lutheran at Palmer Ridge: A top ten battle to start conference play inside the 3A Central. It’s important to get a win early as the league features four teams at 4-1 and another at 3-2.
Pueblo South at Pueblo East: A great rivalry down in Pueblo with South heavily favored in this one. They sit at 4-1 while East is only 1-4. Both have played extremely difficult schedules thus far so neither will be intimidated.
Roosevelt at Fort Morgan: The North Valley race is a bit wide open and both of these clubs have enough to challenge. Morgan has the slightly better record (3-2) with Roosevelt checking in at 2-3.
Northridge at Erie: Surprising Northridge has the best non-conference record in the North Valley (4-1) while Erie is the two-time defending league champions. They’re just 2-3 but the program played in the 2017 state final and made the semifinals a year ago.
Green Mountain at Conifer: It’s only the league opener but the winner should end up with the Mt Metro crown. Both teams are in the top five of RPI so the game is also important to playoff bracketing in Class 3A. They have a combined record of 9-1 while no other league team has more than two wins.
Silver Creek at Skyline: Both teams 3-2 as they open 4A Longs Peak conference play but they enter with different momentum. The Raptors opened 3-0 but have dropped two straight while the Falcons have won their last two following a 1-2 opening stretch.
Grand Junction at Golden: A game a bit under the radar but are over five hundred as they embark on the 4A Jeffco slate. The winner keeps pace with Chatfield who beat Wheat Ridge last night and the winner between Dakota Ridge-Bear Creek.
Hinkley at Vista Peak: Don’t think anyone thought both teams would be unbeaten at this stage of the season so this has turned into a very important game in the Pioneer. Fruita Monument (2-3) is the returning league champion and may still be favored but this winner becomes their top challenger.
Heritage at Montrose: The only two teams from the 4A Metro with winning records collide in the league opener. Ponderosa (2-3) could also impact the race and Montrose gets both clubs at home out west. Heritage has just one loss and that came against 5A Arapahoe.
Ralston Valley at Mullen: Columbine and Pomona both moved to 2-0 in the Metro West with Thursday night wins so Ralston must win to stay tied with the Rebels and Panthers. The Mustangs are favored. They’re 6-0 overall while Mullen is 2-4 against a tough schedule. They lost their league opener to Columbine last week.
Cherokee Trail at Grandview: Cherry Creek moved to 2-0 in the Metro East by beating Arapahoe last night so Grandview must win to keep pace. A Cherokee Trail win leaves the Bruins alone in first and four other teams at 1-1. The Cougars lost to Arapahoe last week while the Bruins edged Eaglecrest.
Denver East at Smoky Hill: The Buffs can all but clinch another Metro 10 title with a win. A victory gets Smoky Hill to 6-0 in conference play and a two game lead on all other clubs. And their remaining schedule has games with Adams City (1-5) and Mountain Range (2-4). Denver East is in second place at 4-1 so a win by the Angels creates a two-way tie for the top spot and brights at least three other teams (Westminster, Far Northeast & Prairie View) into the title discussion.
Regis at Legend: Probably the biggest game in 5A this week as both clubs are unbeaten on the season (6-0) and the winner should land the South championship. The Raiders are 6th in RPI and Legend 9th so a first round playoff bye could also be on the line.
Horizon at Fairview: Two of the first week winners in the Front Range clash this week so only one will keep a share of first place. Rocky Mountain is the third 1-0 team and they square off with Fossil Ridge. Fairview (5-1) has three more wins than the Hawks (2-4) on the season.
