Week eight saw a few teams clinch league crowns and many others move very close to championships. Now many of those clubs can wrap up those crowns in week nine and we list the most important five games in each classification.
CLASS 5A
Rocky Mountain at Horizon
Cherokee Trail at Cherry Creek
ThunderRidge at Valor Christian
Columbine at Pomona
Fountain Fort Carson at Regis
NOTES: Rocky Mountain heads into week nine tied with Fairview for the Front Range lead but Horizon sits in third just one game back. The Hawks have already lost to Fairview so they must win to remain in the title chase. Cherry Creek has sole possession of the Metro East lead and must beat Cherokee Trail to stay there. The Cougars are tied with Grandview in second just one game back so a win creates a likely three-way tie for first entering the final week. ThunderRidge is third in the Metro South and one game back of Valor Christian and Highlands Ranch. Columbine looks to rebound from a tough loss to Ralston Valley by beating Pomona. The Panthers share the Metro West lead with Ralston. Regis can basically clinch the South title with a win over Fountain Fort Carson. The Trojans share second place with Legend and Regis already has a win over the Titans.
CLASS 4A
Chatfield at Dakota Ridge
Silver Creek at Loveland
Longmont at Brighton
Standley Lake at Vista Peak
Air Academy at Pueblo West
NOTES: Chatfield and Dakota Ridge are both 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the Jeffco so the winner of the long-time rivalry will be alone in first with two games remaining. Loveland has won their last five so the defending champs have a piece of the Longs Peak lead with Skyline. Silver Creek snapped a three-game skid with last week’s win over Greeley Central. They’re 1-1 and one game off the lead. Brighton and Broomfield share the Northern conference lead with Longmont falling back a game due to last week’s loss to Windsor. Standley Lake and Vista Peak are tied with Fruita Monument at 2-0 in the Pioneer so one team will lose their share of the conference lead. It’s the same scenario in the Southern as Pueblo West and Air Academy are tied with Rampart atop the division. Both the Cyclones and Kadets are 6-1 but West has played a much stronger schedule.
CLASS 3A
Palmer Ridge at Thomas Jefferson
Holy Family at Mead
Denver North at Frederick
Erie at Roosevelt
Durango at Pueblo South
NOTES: Palmer Ridge is 2-0 and shares the Central lead with Discovery Canyon. Thomas Jefferson is coming off a 37-7 loss to Discovery Canyon so they must win to remain in the league title discussion. Mead and Frederick share the North Metro lead and they each face a third place squad one game back in Holy Family and Denver North respectively. Wins by the Tigers and Vikings create a wild-four way for first. Erie shares the North Valley lead with Fort Morgan and Roosevelt (1-1) is one game back. The Riders only league loss came in overtime at Fort Morgan two weeks ago. Durango and Pueblo South are both ranked in the top 10 and 2-0 in the South Central. The winner becomes the favorite to win the league championship.
CLASS 2A
D’Evelyn at Bennett
Pagosa Springs at Bayfield
Rifle at Basalt
Resurrection Christian at Academy
Classical Academy at La Junta
NOTES: D’Evelyn shares the Flatirons lead with Faith Christian and the Jags set up another final week showdown with the Eagles for the title if they get past Bennett. The Tigers fell to Faith Christian last week but a win gets them back into the title picture and possibly a runner-up finish. Bayfield wraps up the Intermountain league crown with a win over Pagosa Springs. Both teams are 2-0 in the conference. The Pirates cannot clinch with a win as they have a final week game with Alamosa left on the schedule. Rifle wraps up the Western Slope crown with a win over Basalt. A win by the Longhorns creates a likely three-way tie for the title with Delta. Basalt lost to Delta last week and Rifle beat the Panthers the week before. After a thrilling win over Eaton last week, Resurrection Christian goes for another Patriot West crown by beating Academy. The Wildcats played well in a tough loss to Eaton and upset over the Cougars leaves all three teams tied in first. Academy is also 17th in RPI. Sitting in fourth in RPI and atop the Tri Peaks standings, Classical Academy is a lock for a playoff berth. La Junta is the defending state champion but the Tigers enter week nine just 15th in RPI. They can use a win to solidify another playoff berth.
CLASS 1A
Limon at Wray
Peyton at Crowley County
Burlington at Yuma
Olathe at Meeker
Florence at Centauri
NOTES: Limon shares first place with Holyoke in the North Central and will meet the Dragons next week. That game will determine the league champion if the Badgers get past Wray. Holyoke topped the Eagles last week (34-14). Peyton and Crowley County play for second behind Rocky Ford in the Santa Fe. It’s also very important to RPI as the Panthers are 17th and Chargers 20th entering the week. Yuma and Burlington are both in the lower half of the North Central standings but each has a chance to make the bracket. Yuma is 15th in RPI and Burlington 16th. Olathe must beat Meeker to stay in the Western Slope chase. The Pirates lost to Hotchkiss 19-6 last week and now sit a game back of the Bulldogs and Meeker. They’re also 19th in RPI. Meeker is 5th in the standings. The Southern Peaks and Tri Peaks divisions have just five league teams so each team has one non-conference game in the second half of the season and the matchup between Florence and Centauri is a big one. Florence is 4th in RPI and Centauri is 10th so the bracket will be impacted.
EIGHT MAN
McClave at Holly
Dove Creek at Sanford
West Grand at Soroco
Sedgwick County at Caliche
Pikes Peak Christian at Swink
NOTES: The winner between McClave and Holly should finish second behind Fowler in the Ark Valley. Both teams are 3-1 with their league loss coming to the league-leading Grizzlies. With four teams within one game of the lead, there are several scenarios remaining in the Mountain. Sanford is alone in first with Dove Creek, Mancos and Sargent all one game. The leaders still must face each other and it starts with the Sanford-Dove Creek game this week. Next week, Dove Creek meets Mancos and Sanford tangles with Sargent. West Grand and Soroco play for second in the Northwest. Vail Christian clinched the league title over the weekend while the Mustangs and Rams are both 3-1 with a loss to the Saints. Sedgwick County can clinch at least a tie for the Plains crown by beating Caliche. The Buffs have losses to Merino and Dayspring Christian so getting into the top three will be difficult. The Buffs though are 13th in RPI and very much alive for a playoff berth. Swink lost to Simla last week but the Lions can still win the Southern title with an upset of Pikes Peak Christian. The Eagles are 3-0 in league play and a win gives them a second straight crown.
SIX MAN
Flagler/Hi Plains at Stratton/Liberty
Cotopaxi at Prairie
North Park at Briggsdale
Granada at Walsh
Mountain Valley at Kim/Branson
NOTES: The first game on the list is by far the most important in the final week of six man action as the winner takes home the East Central trophy. RPI is also important as the Knighted Eagles are 3rd and the Thunder 7th overall. Cotopaxi and Prairie is an interesting non-league battle as it pits the league champion Pirates against the second place team in the North. Prairie is 6th in RPI and a win should keep them at home for the opening round of the playoffs. Cotopaxi would like to move higher than 13th to miss one of the five big powers in the division. North Park and Briggsdale battle for third behind Fleming and Prairie in the North. North Park is also close to hosting a first round game as they’re 8th in RPI. Briggsdale is 12th and will be on the road in round one. Granada can wrap up third in the Southeast by beating Walsh. The Bobcats are 9th in RPI and also close to hosting in round one. They’ll be watching the outcomes for Flagler/Hi Plains and North Park very close. Walsh is 14th and on the playoff bubble right now. Mountain Valley is 16th in RPI and battling Peetz, Cheraw and Otis for the final playoff berth. Their strength of schedule will get a boost as Kim/Branson is 2nd in RPI.
