Just two weeks are left in the condensed regular season and the top games for week five will again help determine which teams will remain in the playoff chase. The rundown this week includes eight games featuring unbeaten clubs squaring off. PHOTO BY LANCE WENDT
Colorado Preps will preview all these games and others more in-depth during our weekly classification reports. They are published each Tuesday through Thursday. We then culminate the week with our Friday Night Scoreboard Show each Friday from 9:30-11:00pm on the Colorado Preps Radio Network.
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CLASS 5A
Columbine (4-0) at Ralston Valley (3-1)
Grandview (2-2) at Cherokee Trail (2-2)
Pine Creek (2-0) at Legend (4-0)
Castle View (2-1) at Highlands Ranch (3-1)
NOTES: Playoff qualifying and positioning on the line when Columbine and Ralston Vallely renew their Jeffco rivalry. In the Colorado Preps consensus rankings released last week, the Rebels were 8th and Ralston Valley 10th so both clubs are on the bubble for the eight-team playoff bracket. Because of an earlier loss to Pomona, Ralston Valley may not be able to afford a second setback but a win could also move them ahead of the Rebels in the discussion. Columbine also meets Pomona in week six so the Rebels control their own playoff future. Two wins and they’re in and maybe a top four seed. Grandview was 7th in last week’s consensus rankings so their win over Smoky Hill helped their cause. Another over Cherokee Trail will as well. The Cougars though were #11 in the consensus rankings so they still have strong playoff hopes as well. Legend was #5 in the consensus rankings but are not guaranteed a berth yet. A win over Pine Creek though should get them in. Castle View and Highlands Ranch may be playing for pride at this point as both are probable longshots for a post-season berth.
CLASS 4A
Broomfield (4-0) at Windsor (4-0) – Thursday)
Fountain Fort Carson (4-0) at Rampart (3-1) – Thursday
Montrose (3-1) at Ponderosa (4-0)
Pueblo West (3-1) at Vista Ridge (3-1)
NOTES: Nine unbeaten teams remain in the division. The list was reduced by two last week and at least one more will fall off the chart when Broomfield heads to Windsor on Thursday. Broomfield was #7 and Windsor #10 in the consensus rankings last week so the outcome is very important to the last few playoff spots. Windsor also has a week six battle with Brighton so they seem to control their own hopes. Fountain Fort Carson took a big step to the bracket by beating Pueblo West last Friday. No rest for the Trojans as Rampart could be a tough out. Montrose gave up a 14-0 lead in a loss to Palmer Ridge last week but must quickly recover for a trip back to the Metro against Ponderosa. They likely need a win to make the playoff bracket. Ponderosa likely secures a bid with a win and in that scenario, they could play for a top four seed in the final week. Pueblo West and Vista Ridge is a likely playoff elimination game. West is coming off the loss to Fountain Fort Carson while the Wolves have won two straight since they fell to the Trojans.
CLASS 3A
Holy Family (4-0) at Lutheran (4-0)
Evergreen (2-2) at Green Mountain (3-1)
Fort Morgan (3-1) at Roosevelt (4-0)
Pueblo South (2-0) at Canon City (2-0)
Palisade (3-1) at Conifer (3-1) – Saturday
NOTES: The highly anticipated matchup between Holy Family and Lutheran is finally up this week. Neither has been pushed much this season but it seems the Lions have played a more difficult schedule; especially the win at Palisade in week three. The winner should secure a playoff berth and be in line for a top two or three seed. The loser remains in good shape to land a spot in the bracket. Evergreen played well in a tough loss at Durango but may be reduced to the role of spoiler when they visit Green Mountain on Friday. The Rams are also coming off a loss at Palisade and need a win to remain in contention. Fort Morgan’s lone loss is against Mead (35-0) and faces a Roosevelt team that edged the Mavericks (21-20) in overtime. The Mustangs probably need a win to remain a strong post-season contender. The Pueblo South game for Canon City will be the second battle in five days for the Tigers who also meet Pueblo Central on Monday night. South will play just four games in the regular season and may need wins in all four to get in. Palisade was #8 in the consensus rankings before Friday’s win over Green Mountain. That win boosted their playoff chances and a win over Conifer may get them in. Conifer has plenty of play for. They were #11 in the consensus poll and remain a playoff candidate as well.
CLASS 2A
D’Evelyn (2-2) at University (2-2)
Eaton (3-1) at Severance (3-1)
Delta (4-0) at Moffat County (2-1)
Resurrection Christian (4-0) at Berthoud (2-1)
NOTES: This may be a division where one or possibly two teams with two losses get into the post-season. That’s why the D’Evelyn-University game is listed as the winner remains a contender. University is coming off a lopsided loss to Resurrection Christian; the Jags have won their last two over Arvada and Alameda. Severance remain in the chase by downing Berthoud on Saturday but staying their will be difficult as they close with Eaton this week and Resurrection Christian next. But a win in either could make them a playoff team. Eaton must avoid looking ahead to the big rivalry game with Platte Vallely in week six. Moffat County’s upset of Woodland Park last week moved them into the playoff chase and another win over Delta could be enough to get the Bulldogs in. The question for Delta is the health of QB Nolan Bynum. He missed the entire second half against Englewood but the Panthers still scored a 28-10 win. Resurrection Christian still hasn’t given up a point all season. The Cougars will seek a fifth straight shutout when they head to Berthoud. The Spartans had momentum with their overtime win over Brush last Tuesday but lost most of it with Saturday’s loss to Severance.
CLASS 1A
Wray (4-0) at Limon (4-0)
Colorado Springs Christian (3-1) at Florence (4-0)
Centauri (4-0) at Woodland Park (2-2)
Ignacio (2-1) at Monte Vista (3-1)
NOTES: It’s a very important week for the division as results from the first two games will have a major impact on the playoff setup. It seems Wray and Limon have already done enough to qualify but the winner should gain a top two seed. Wray is coming off a solid 27-7 win over Holyoke on Saturday; Limon has beaten four teams by a combined 140 points. The Colorado Springs Christian-Florence winner is the Tri Peaks champ and should lock up a playoff berth. Florence may already be there but the Lions are considered a bubble team right now due to the Limon loss in week three. They were #9 in the consensus rankings before last week’s win over Rocky Ford. Florence was #5. Woodland Park is a nice pickup for Centauri who badly needs a strong opponent to help RPI. The Falcons were slated to face Center but the Vikings are out with COVID issues. Centauri has outscored four opponents 262-0 this season. Ignacio and Monte Vista could be playing for second place behind Centauri in the Southern Peaks. Monte Vista is favored and a win keeps them in the title chase as they challenge Centauri in week six.
EIGHT MAN
Holly (2-0) at Sedgwick County (3-0) – Monday
Sedgwick County (3-0) at Merino (3-0)
Fowler (4-0) at Crowley County (2-0)
Dove Creek (3-1) at Mancos (3-0)
Pikes Peak Christian (3-1) at Swink (3-1)
Vail Christian (2-1) at Rangely (4-0)
NOTES: Not sure this is happened before as one team is listed for playing two “big games” in one week. That’s the challenge ahead for Sedgwick County. The five-time defending state champions pick up a game with Holly on Monday as it will replace the matchup with Caliche lost to COVID from last Friday. Then four days later, the Cougars face long-time rival Merino for the Plains championship. Both teams are important and outcomes of both will impact the list of playoff qualifiers. Obviously, the Cougars are favored in both. Fowler and Crowley County is also important as both teams enter the week unbeaten. Crowley will be playing their second game of the week as they also have Springfield on Monday. It will be their first action since October 16th. Dove Creek is coming off a loss to Sanford and must beat Mancos to have any chance at the Southern Peaks crown. Mancos likely clinches a playoff berth with a win and they close with Sanford. Pikes Peak Christian’s playoff chances took a major hit with the unexpected loss to Dolores Huerta last week. The Eagles were #1 in RPI and #5 in the consensus rankings before the loss. Vail Christian, because of their strong showing in Packard, was 12th in the consensus poll last week so they remain in post-season contention. A win over unbeaten Rangely keeps them in the discussion. Rangely was #8 in the consensus rankings so they’re a bubble team as well despite their 4-0 start.
SIX MAN
Fleming (4-0) at Briggsdale (2-1)
Cheyenne Wells (4-0) at Eads (3-1)
Cotopaxi (1-3) at Mountain Valley (2-0)
Kit Carson (2-1) at Stratton/Liberty (4-0)
NOTES: Fleming needs a win over Briggsdale to officially clinch the North championship and their spot in the playoff bracket. The Wildcats will be favored. They have a 32-8 win over Prairie while the Falcons lost to the Mustangs 35-32. Briggsdale will remain a playoff contender regardless of result. They were #8 in consensus rankings before last week. Their game with Idalia was cancelled so they will be well rested. Cheyenne Wells begins a brutal closing stretch as they head to Eads this week before meeting Stratton/Liberty in week six. Wins in both likely give them a top two seed in the bracket. Eads was #6 in the consensus rankings and solidified their spot by taking out Cotopaxi last week. Cotopaxi fell to 1-3 with that loss and is out of the playoff picture but they can spoil the chances of Mountain Valley. The Indians have played just two games but wins in both make them a contender. They were #5 in both RPI and Packard polls last week which would have been enough support to make the post-season field. Kit Carson did not have enough healthy players to line up against Eads last week and so their trip to Stratton/Liberty may not happen. The Knighted Eagles also face Hi Plains on Monday in a game that might need to be on our list.
