Conference races and playoff points on the minds of almost every team on our list of top football games for Friday night. Each game listed in 3A-4A-5A involves a possible conference championship or a pairing of teams needing wins to improve their RPI standing.
We’ll recap all games from the list and many more during the Friday Night Scoreboard Show. It airs from 9:30-11:00pm tonight on the Colorado Preps Radio Network. We’ll have results from almost every game in Colorado and visit with coaches who post important victories.
CLASS 5A
Fairview (6-1) at Mullen (3-4)
Cherry Creek (5-2) at Horizon (4-3)
Mountain Vista (3-4) at Pomona (5-2)
Valor Christian (7-0) at Highlands Ranch (-1)
Grandview (5-2) at Doherty (5-2)
The last two games on the list are for the outright lead in their respective conferences. Valor Christian and Highlands Ranch are both 2-0 inside the Lincoln and Grandview and Doherty have identical 2-0 marks atop the Massive conference. Fairview and Mullen are likely battling for the runner-up spot behind Columbine in the Cameron but the game is also important to the RPI standings; especially for Mullen. The Mustangs are 14th this week. Fairview is in good shape in 7th. Cherry Creek has a one game edge on Horizon in the Elbert division. The Hawks need a win to bounce back from last week’s loss to Mountain Range which dropped them to 19th in the RPI. Creek is 10th this week. Mountain Vista has already lost a conference game to Chaparral so another to Pomona likely ends their playoff chase. They would be two games back in the league race and they start the week 31st in RPI. Pomona needs a win to stay tied with Chaparral if the Wolverines get by Rock Canyon.
CLASS 4A
Coronado (3-4) at Montrose (4-3)
Littleton (2-5) at Vista Ridge (4-3)
Greeley West (4-3) at Brighton (5-2)
Pueblo West (6-1) at Mesa Ridge (5-2)
Fruita Monument (7-0) at Standley Lake (6-1)
With Rampart moving to 3-0 in the Pikes Peak with their Thursday win over Palmer, only the winners between Coronado-Montrose and Littleton-Vista Ridge will stay in title contention. All four teams are 1-1 in conference play entering tonight. Brighton must beat Greeley West to keep up with Loveland in the Longs Peak. The Indians won on Thursday and are 3-0 in conference play. Brighton is 2-0 and Greeley West is 1-1. Both teams are just outside the top 16 in RPI with Brighton 17th and Greeley West 18th. Pueblo West is coming off a hard-fought loss to Pine Creek last week so they’re one game back of the Eagles and Mesa Ridge in the Southern conference. The Cyclones though are in much better shape inside the RPI. They’re 5th this week to Mesa Ridge in 14th. A Grizzlies win keeps them with at least a share of the league lead. The Mountain conference lead goes to the winner of Fruita Monument-Standley Lake. And since no other conference member is above five hundred for the season, the winner should also end up with the championship and guaranteed playoff berth. Fruita is 4th in RPI points and Standley Lake 11th.
CLASS 3A
Palmer Ridge (7-0) at Thomas Jefferson (6-1)
Canon City (6-1) at Discovery Canyon (4-3)
Erie (7-0) at Roosevelt (5-2)
Frederick (5-2) at Berthoud (5-2)
Palmer Ridge easily took out Denver North last week in their first major game inside the East Metro and face another one against Thomas Jefferson this week. The winner stands alone atop the East Metro. The same can be said for Canon City and Discovery Canyon as that winner takes over the top spot in the Southern. Erie looks to keep their unbeaten mark intact as they head to Roosevelt. The Riders are 5-2 overall but 1-1 inside the rugged Tri Valley. Another loss should eliminate them from league title discussion. Frederick and Berthoud are in the same conference and are a combined 1-3 in conference play but both need a win concerning RPI. The Spartans 14th and Warriors 15th in the rankings this week.
