As the weather begins to cool down, the play on the gridiron is heating up.
In Class 5A, this is a game both these schools have circled on their schedule. At 6 p.m., Friday, Columbine (7-0), No. 3 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll, will clash with No. 7 Ralston Valley (6-1) at Jeffco Stadium.
Columbine will be putting its 21-game winning streak on the line when it takes on the Mustangs. Ralston Valley is the last team to beat Columbine and has a 4-3 record against the Rebels since 2018.
The Rebels’ have a a stout 1-2 punch running attack with senior James Basinger (1,279 yards, 17 TDs, 7 100-yard games) and junior Mark Snyder (920 yards, 13 TDs and 6 100-yard games). Columbine’s defense has given up 15 points or less in six of seven games.
Ralston Valley counters with junior QB Zeke Andrews (1,627 yards and 13 TDs passing and 353 yards rushing and 3 TDs); junior receiver Nico Benallo has been Andrews’ favorite target with 505 yards receiving and four TDs.
This game should provide high drama as both teams begin to position themselves for state championship runs.
MEETING THE MOMENT: Last week, Pueblo West (7-0) faced one of its stiffest tests when it took on No. 5 Mesa Ridge (5-2).
The Cyclones lived up to the pressure and claimed a narrow 31-28 victory snapping MR’s three game winning streak.
There was no doubt who was the star was for West. Quarterback Gavin Ray Lockett ran for 206 yards and four scores. Lockett has 786 yards rushing this season and has scored 13 TDs.
There’s nothing fancy about West’s ground and pound attack. Zach Duran added 94 yards in the win and Lockett and Duran will try and keep things rolling at Widefield (0-7) at 7 p.m., Thursday.
Class 5A
No. 2 Cherry Creek (6-1) vs. Eaglecrest (5-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Legacy Stadium
The perennial power that is Cherry Creek is riding a six-game winning streak, after dropping its season opener out of state to Skyridge (24-14).
Junior QB Brady Vodicka has provided the fuel for the Bruins’ offense throwing for 1,526 yards and 10 TDs. He also has rushed for 127 yards and six more touchdowns.
Fellow junior Jayden Fox has been the focal point in Creek’s running game gashing defenses for 828 yards and nine TDs. Defensively, senior safety Aiden Knapke leads the team with 58 tackles, including three for a loss.
Eaglecrest was rolling along on three-game winning streak before getting upended last week by Cherokee Trail (14-13). The Raptors will try and keep pace with Creek with their offense led by senior QB Joe Steiner (1,040 yards passing and 12 TDs and 515 yards rushing and 8 TDs). Steiner will look to bounce back after being held to 126 yards passing and 63 yards rushing against Cherokee Trail.
A year ago, Creek blanked Eaglecrest 21-0.
Class 4A
No. 2 Montrose (7-0) at No. 5 Mesa Ridge (5-2), 6 p.m., Friday, CA Foster Stadium
Montrose is a team that likes to punch its opponents in the mouth with its physical approach.
The Red Hawks have scored 50 or more points in three of their last four games, including 56 points the last two weeks in wins over Falcon and Doherty. Aidan Grijalva sparked the Hawks’ offense last week, scoring their first three touchdowns of the night.
This week opposing their will might be a little tougher against a very talented Mesa Ridge squad. The battle-tested Grizzlies have played a slew of ranked teams this year with their two losses coming at Dakota Ridge (19-14, Sept. 13) and last week to ColoradoPreps.com’s No. 1 4A team in Pueblo West.
MR QB Bryce Riehl has been outstanding passing for 1,464 yards and 18 TDs and rushing for another 440 yards and five TDs. RB Trevon Salas has contributed 619 yards on the ground and nine TDs.
The Grizzlies would love to get some revenge against Montrose after the Red Hawks hammered them 43-12 last year.
This will certainly be a true test for both teams and a preview for a couple of squads that will be playing in the postseason.
Class 3A
No. 6 Pueblo Central (5-1) vs. No. Pueblo East (4-2), 7 p.m., Friday, Dutch Clark Stadium
Central has had a memorable 2024 season so far with its only loss coming against Moorpark out of California (27-3).
The Wildcats power offensive attack is paced by seniors RB Amari Brown (743 yards rushing, 8 TDs) and QB Genaro Pino (1,008 total yards, 8 TDs). Pueblo East, which won three state football titles from 2014-16, has proved to be a stout squad this year.
The Eagles’ top performers are QB Dolpha Lewis (649 yards passing and 7 TDs and 622 yards rushing and 11 scores) and RB Justus Freeman (622 yards rushing and 6 TDs). After a tough 28-27 loss to Northfield, East has reeled off two big wins over Holy Family (63-42) and Sierra (56-0).
There is no question both these teams can score points and it will likely come down to which defense can step up with timely stops to determine the winner.
