Starting to get into the stretch drive of the regular season as many teams are still in the chase for a league championship and high playoff seed. We look at the best five contests in each classification coming up for week eight.
CLASS 5A
Ralston Valley at Columbine
Rocky Mountain at Legacy
Far Northeast at Denver East
Eaglecrest at Cherry Creek
Arapahoe at Grandview
NOTES: The Ralston Valley-Columbine meeting is a huge one across the board and could be the best game statewide this week. Both are 7-0 on the season and the winner stays tied with Pomona atop the Metro West. The Rebels are 4th in the RPI with the Mustangs 6th. Rocky Mountain needs a win over Legacy to remain tied with Fairview for the Front Range league. Far Northeast and Denver East could be playing for second behind Smoky Hill in the Metro 10. That league is only guaranteed one playoff berth but the committee can take a second team so the winner here stays in contention. East is 17th in RPI and Far Northeast 25th. The last two on the list are important ones inside the talented Metro East. Cherry Creek is alone atop the standings with Eaglecrest, Arapahoe and Grandview all one game back.
CLASS 4A
Golden at Chatfield
Loveland at Fort Collins
Ponderosa at Gateway
Mesa Ridge at Pine Creek
Standley Lake at Hinkley
NOTES: The first four games on the list all feature week one winners in conference play. Winners this week will have at least a share of first in their respective division. Golden and Chatfield are both 5-1 overall so playoff bracketing is also involved there. They share first place in the Jeffco with Dakota Ridge. Loveland can get to 5-2 on the season with a win over Fort Collins. Those two along with Skyline sit atop the Longs Peak. Ponderosa and Gateway joined unbeaten Montrose as first week winners in the Metro. Mesa Ridge (4-2) is the only other Southern league team with a winning record other than Pine Creek. Hinkley is coming off their first loss of the season to Vista Peak but needs a quick rebound against Standley Lake to keep playoff hopes very solid. They’re 9th in RPI.
CLASS 3A
Thomas Jefferson at Discovery Canyon
Kennedy at Conifer
Holy Family at Frederick
Pueblo Central at Durango
Harrison at Canon City
NOTES: In each case, both teams grabbed opening wins in conference play last week so winners will move to 2-0 in league action. The TJ-Discovery Canyon winner likely becomes the top challenger to Palmer Ridge in the rugged Central. Conifer hopes to avoid a letdown after a huge win over Green Mountain last week. The survivor of Frederick-Holy Family likely keeps pace with 2nd ranked Mead in the North Metro. Frederick is unbeaten overall and a Holy Family win gets them above five hundred. Pueblo Central sits at 5-1 and Durango 4-2 with the winner moving forward to challenge 3rd ranked Pueblo South in the South Central. Harrison (5-1) has the same amount of wins overall as the rest of the Southern conference but Canon City could be their top challenger based on strength of schedule. A similar game not on the list is found out west between Palisade and Glenwood Springs. Palisade is heavily favored to land the league title with Glenwood Springs, despite the 1-5 record overall, likely their toughest game.
CLASS 2A
Sterling at Platte Valley
Eaton at Resurrection Christian
Bennett at Faith Christian
Elizabeth at Classical Academy
Basalt at Delta
NOTES: Sterling-Platte Valley are likely playing for the Patriot East championship and a higher post-season seed. Both teams are 5-1 overall and neither has been pushed in posting two early league wins. It’s the same scenario in the Patriot West as Eaton and Resurrection Christian collide with identical 2-0 league marks. Both teams have already beaten likely third place winner University as well. Bennett and Faith Christian are 2-0 in the Colorado and tied with D’Evelyn in first. The game is also important to RPI as Faith Christian is 12th and Bennett 17th. Elizabeth and Classical Academy share the Tri Peaks lead after two weeks so the winner will grab sole possession of first. The loser fall into a second place tie with the winner of the Whistle Game between Lamar and La Junta. Basalt joins Rifle atop the Western Slope standings as both are 2-0. Delta fell short to Rifle last week so the Panthers must win to stay in the championship chase. Basalt, which is 2nd in the RPI this week, is also in the discussion for top overall seed. Delta slid to 11th with the loss to Rifle.
CLASS 1A
Holyoke at Wray
Flatirons Academy at Highland
Rocky Ford at Peyton
Rye at Colorado Springs Christian
Olathe at Hotchkiss
NOTES: Holyoke and Wray have a combined record of 11-1 and have won 11 straight between them. They’re also both 2-0 in the rugged North Central so the winner will be tied with Limon; provided the Badgers also get by Burlington. Highland lost to Strasburg last week but a win over Flatirons Academy should get them to no worse than second in the North. A win for Flatirons Academy sets up a championship showdown with Strasburg later in the season. Rocky Ford and Peyton battle in what could be the Santa Fe conference championship game. Both teams are 2-0 and Rocky Ford has already beaten Crowley County. RPI is also important, especially for the losing team as the conference could get just one bid. Peyton is 13th and Rocky Ford 18th. Rye lost their league opener to Florence a couple of weeks ago so they need to upset Colorado Springs Christian to stay in that title race. The Lions share first place with Florence after moving past Buena Vista. Olathe’s last rally to stun Paonia last week kept the Pirates right in the thick of the Western Slope chase. They’re 2-0 and tied with Hotchkiss and Meeker in first.
EIGHT MAN
Fowler at McClave
Sargent at Dove Creek
Soroco at Rangely
Dayspring Christian at Merino
Simla at Swink
NOTES: Fowler and McClave are the last two unbeatens in the Ark Valley (3-0) so the winner takes over first place. Fowler is in better shape since they’ve already beaten Hoehne and Holly while the Cardinals have yet to face either third place club. Dove Creek is tied with Sanford atop a very good Mountain division. Sargent has a league loss to Mancos but can stay in the race with a win; since they’ve yet to face Sanford. Vail Christian has virtually locked up the Northwest but the Soroco-Rangely game is important to league positioning and RPI. The Rams are tied with West Grand in second with Rangely one game back in fourth. Despite the lower place in the standings, Rangely is far better in RPI (9th) compared to the Rams (17th). Merino must beat Dayspring Christian to keep pace with Sedgwick County atop the Plains. The Rams and Cougars collide in the final week and that game becomes for the league title if Merino wins this week. Swink needs a win over Simla to stay in a first place tie with Pikes Peak Christian in the Southern. The Lions are 15th and Simla 19th in RPI so a late wildcard berth is also a factor.
SIX MAN
Briggsdale at Fleming
Peetz at Prairie
Kit Carson at Granada
Cripple Creek at Mountain Valley
Eads at Hanover
NOTES: It was a bit difficult to get to five important games in the division as many league crowns have basically been decided. Fleming clinches the North title with a win over Briggsdale. A Falcons win though could leave three teams in the top spot if Prairie also beats Peetz. Peetz is only 2-5 on the season but they’re currently 17th in RPI and battling the likes of Arickaree/Woodlin, Idalia and Mountain Valley for the final couple of post-season berths. Mountain Valley gets to second in the Southwest by beating Cripple Creek. Cotopaxi has already clinched the title but the Indians as mentioned are in position for a playoff bid. Kit Carson locks up the Southeast crown by beating Granada. The opposite result leaves the clubs tied with Cheyenne Wells in first place. Eads is favored against Hanover and a win should wrap up a post-season offer as the Eagles are 11th in RPI.
