With our first taste of football weather in some parts of the state, week three opens tonight across Colorado and six games of note can be found on the slate. Five of the six will play a role in various playoff chases and the sixth involves a tradition rich program finally getting on the field. PHOTO BY LANCE WENDT.
Colorado Preps will track all the games tonight and through the weekend on our Daily Scoreboard. Updates can be sent to us via text at 970.380.7737, email to [email protected] or by clicking on the report score button below each game on the scoreboard.
Grandview at Cherry Creek: Little need to talk about the importance of this one because serious football fans always realize this game plays into the 5A seeding process. Both are inside the top six programs in Class 5A each year and this year appears no different. Cherry Creek has won 16 straight overall games since losing to Valor Christian in the 2018 state championship game. Grandview, coming off a late and tough one point loss to Eaglecrest, is the last team to beat the Bruins in the regular season (2018). A loss drops the Wolves to 1-2 but still very much alive in the playoff picture because of tradition and strength. A win creates a tie with the Bruins at 2-1 and both would be one game back of Eaglecrest going into Friday.
Fairview at Fossil Ridge: Both clubs are 2-0 so this is a very important game inside the Front Range conference. Highly doubtful that the league will get more than one playoff bid, if any, so the winner stays alive while the loser faces an uphill climb to reach the eight team bracket. The Knights are know for throwing the football but with new coach Jeff Fulton at Fossil Ridge, so are the Sabercats. Tyler Kubat has 501 yards and seven TDs in the passing game in their first two wins. Fairview is allowing just 3.5 points per game in beating Poudre and Rocky Mountain.
Standley Lake at Dakota Ridge: Both clubs are 2-0 in the early going but Dakota Ridge is heavily favored as they’re ranked #1 in Class 4A and Standley Lake has not cracked the top 10. A Standley Lake win will change both those facts. The Gators defense has allowed just 96 yards rushing in wins over Grand Junction and Golden but face an explosive Eagles offense that’s scored 113 points in blowing past Grand Junction Central and Bear Creek.
Pueblo South at Pueblo Centennial: This game makes our list because we finally get to the see the 2020 version of Pueblo South. The Colts made it all the way to the state finals a year ago and traditionally make a strong playoff push. Expectations are the same this year as they opened the season number one in Class 3A. Now ranked third, the Colts were forced to cancel their first two games due to positive COVID tests on their football team. Centennial is 0-2 and coming off a loss to Pueblo Central in last week’s Bell Game. UPDATE: This game has been moved to Saturday.
Severance at University: Two weeks into the season, both clubs remain as strong playoff contenders in Class 2A. The Silver Knights are playing just their third varsity game in school history and face a stiffer test tonight after wins over Arvada and Alameda. The Bulldogs (1-1) fell at then #1 Delta on the road last week (31-21). The winner moves forward as the number one challenger to top ranked Resurrection Christian in the Patriot West.
Florence at Peyton: Combined the two teams have attempted just 26 passes in two games so we expect a physical game tonight as each club wants to run the football and rely on a very good defense. Florence has allowed 14 points and rushed for 572 yards in wins over Gunnison and Rocky Ford. Peyton’s defense has not allowed a point in wins over Center and Rye and the offense totaled 338 yards rushing in beating Rye. The winner still must get through fellow top 10 rival Colorado Springs Christian before claiming the best record in a very good Tri Peaks league.
