Week nine football continues tonight and league races continue to heat up. We focus on league standings as teams that grab titles earn automatic bids to the playoffs. Here’s a quick primer on what the games tonight mean.
CLASS 5A
ThunderRidge at Valor Christian: Valor keeps at least a share of first place with Highlands Ranch with a win. Grizzlies are a game back and need a victory to stay alive.
Cherokee Trail at Cherry Creek: A Bruins win keeps them alone atop the Metro East standings but a win by the Cougars creates a likely three-way tie with Grandview heading into the final week.
Rocky Mountain at Horizon: Lobos need a victory to keep pace with Fairview who won on Thursday. Horizon is one game back and a win moves them very close to no worse than a second place finish.
Fountain Fort Carson at Regis: Raiders clinch the South crown with a win. The Trojans forge a three way tie for the top spot with Legend if they gain the upset.
CLASS 4A
Standley Lake at Vista Peak: Both teams are 2-0 in the Pioneer and the winner stays tied with Fruita Monument. The Wildcats downed Hinkley on Thursday.
Air Academy at Pueblo West: Rampart beat Coronado on Thursday so the winner of this one keeps pace with the Rams atop the South.
Grand Junction Central at Cheyenne Mountain: Pine Creek earned a forfeit over Palmer on Thursday so the Warriors must win to keep pace atop the Pikes Peak.
Wheat Ridge at Golden: The winner moves into a second place tie with Chatfield in the Jeffco. The Chargers fell to Dakota Ridge 34-23 on Thursday.
CLASS 3A
Durango at Pueblo South: Both clubs are 2-0 in the South Central so the winner sits alone in first. Both are also in the top five of RPI.
Denver North at Frederick / Holy Family at Mead: We group these two together since they both impact the North Metro race. Mead and Frederick are tied for first with the other two a game back at 1-1. Wins by the Mavericks and Warriors leave them alone in first. Wins by Denver North and Holy Family leave all four tied at 2-1.
Discovery Canyon at Lewis Palmer: The Thunder must win to keep pace with Palmer Ridge. The Bears moved to 3-0 in the Central by downing Thomas Jefferson on Thursday.
Evergreen at Green Mountain: Conifer knocked off Lincolon on Thursday so the Lobos are 3-0 in the Mt Metro. Evergreen can match that with a win. Green Mountain sits in third (1-1) but bumps to second with a victory.
Pueblo Central at Pueblo Centennial: Central is favored to end a three-game skid in the Bell Game. A win keeps them one game back of the Durango-Pueblo South winner in the South Central.
CLASS 2A
Pagosa Springs at Bayfield: The winner stands alone atop the Intermounain league with the Wolverines clinching the crown with a win. Pagosa Springs cannot clinch since they play third place Alamosa in the final week.
Rifle at Basalt: The Bears are alone atop the Western Slope and wrap up the championship with a win. A loss drops Basalt to third but a Longhorns win leaves them tied with Rifle and Delta in first.
Machebeuf at Englewood: The Pirates can clinch the championship with a win if Riverdale Ridge also beats Ridgeview Academy.
Brush at Weld Central: A Weld Central win keeps them alive for the Patriot East crown. They’re one game back of Sterling and have a game with the Tigers next week. A Brush win gives Sterling the title.
D’Evelyn at Bennett: D’Evelyn shares the Flatirons lead with Faith Christian and since the Eagles are favored to beat Middle Park, the Jags must win here to keep pace. Bennett is one game back and a loss drops them out of the title chase.
Classical Academy at La Junta: TCA has never beaten the Tigers but if they end that streak tonight, the Titans are the Tri Peaks champions.
CLASS 1A
Clear Creek at Manual: A Clear Creek win gives the Foothills title to Platte Canyon. Manual stays alive with a win as they face the Huskies in the final week.
Trinidad at Rocky Ford: The Meloneers grab the Santa Fe crown with a win over the 1-6 Miners.
Florence at Centauri: Non-conference game but huge impact on RPI numbers and post-season bracketing. Both teams in position to land a home game in round one. The Falcons also clinch the Southern Peaks title if Dolores knocks off Ignacio.
Colorado Springs Christian at St Marys / Rye at Buena Vista: Two games inside the Tri Peaks with CSCS needing a win to keep pace with Florence atop the standings. Even with a loss, their matchup will determine first and second in the race. The Rye-BV winner should end up third.
Limon at Wray / Wiggins at Holyoke: Limon and Holyoke are 3-0 and share the North Central lead and need wins to set up a winner-take-all game next week. Wray is tied with Yuma in third and a win keeps them in the title chase. The third league game between Yuma-Burlington is also important to the last few playoff spots.
Olathe at Meeker: Meeker secures a top two league finish with a win. The Cowboys are tied with Hotchkiss atop the standings and meet the Bulldogs next week. Hotchkiss is favored against Cedaredge.
EIGHT MAN
Springfield at Fowler: Fowler wraps up the Ark Valley championship with a win.
Pikes Peak Christian at Swink: The winner lands the Southern champoinship.
West Grand at Soroco: Vail Christian has clinched the Northwest crown and the winner of this one ends up second.
Del Norte at Sargent / Dove Creek at Sanford: Sanford is alone atop the rugged Mountain standings and stays there with a win. Dove Creek is tied with Mancos and Sargent in second as all three teams are one game back. Sargent also plays Sanford next week.
Sedgwick County at Caliche: The Cougars stay alone atop the Plains conference with a win. Caliche already has two league losses to Dayspring Christian and Merino so win or lose, it will be difficult for the Buffs to climb out of fourth.
SIX MAN
Stratton/Liberty at Flagler/Hi Plains: The East Central is the only conference yet to crown a champion. The winner of this one lands that crown and probably earns a top four playoff seed.
Cotopaxi at Prairie: A non-conference meeting of 6-2 clubs that could change the playoff bracket a bit.
