The focus of our top games list for week six involves league play as teams in 5A, 2A and 1A start their conference schedules.  Eight and six man teams continue working their schedule while Classes 3A and 4A have one more week of non-league play on tap.
 

CLASS 5A

Pomona at Lakewood
Columbine at Mullen
Grandview at Eaglecrest
Arapahoe at Cherokee Trail
Castle View at Valor Christian
NOTES:  They’re named differently these days but the old Centennial and Jeffco leagues continue to be the strongest of the big school conferences.  The Metro East (Centennial) won 26 of 30 non-conference games and the Metro West (Jeffco) finished at 18-12.  Those two leagues will always be included in our top games and there are two contests from each listed this week.  Columbine is the lone unbeaten team from the Metro West but they could get tested at Mullen while Lakewood looks to rebound from their first loss (Cherokee Trail) by beating a Pomona club much better than their record (2-3).  In the Metro East, Grandview and Eaglecrest is battle of 5-0 clubs while Arapahoe and Cherokee Trail are each 4-1 on the season.  Castle View fell short to Legend last week and will battle Valor Christian coming off their first loss of the season.
 

CLASS 4A

Holy Family at Skyline
Dakota Ridge at Vista Peak
Fruita Monument at Montrose
Longmont at Silver Creek
Greeley Central at Greeley West
NOTES:  Dakota Ridge and Vista Peak square off in a battle of unbeatens.  Both are ranked in the top 10 again this week and the winner gains plenty of momentum for league play which opens next week.  Montrose is 4-0 and goes for a sweep of all Western Slope rivals this week.  They’ve already beaten Durango, Palisade, Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central.  Fruita is coming off their fifth straight win over Grand Junction last week.  Longmont and Silver Creek are both coming off losses last week.  The Trojans were slammed by Skyline while Silver Creek was surprised by Mountain View.  Holy Family (3A) could be hitting stride at the right moment.  They’ll look for a second straight win after beating Roosevelt last week.  Skyline is also hot after blasting Longmont.
 

CLASS 3A

Pine Creek at Palmer Ridge
Mead at Erie
Pueblo South at Lewis Palmer
Pueblo County at Harrison
Pueblo Central at Sand Creek
NOTES:  Pine Creek and Palmer Ridge is arguably the best matchup on paper this week as each continues to be ranked number one in their respective class.  The series could heat up even more next year as the Bears are scheduled for a bump to Class 4A in the next cycle.  Mead and Erie both look for momentum entering what will be a difficult conference schedule.  Mead must battle the likes of Frederick and Holy Family while Erie must get by Fort Morgan and Roosevelt.  Pueblo South and Lewis Palmer are both 3-1 but South is favored as they’ve played the more difficult schedule.  The Colts are coming off a hard fought loss to Palmer Ridge.  Lewis Palmer has lost three straight since an opening loss to Mead.  Pueblo County could be the last challenge for Harrison.  The Panthers are again expected to roll through their league schedule.  Pueblo Central (3-1) and Sand Creek (2-2) are both improved this year and each wants a win to keep playoff hopes alive.
 

CLASS 2A

Bayfield at Alamosa
Moffat County at Basalt
Delta at Aspen
Lamar at Classical Academy
University at Eaton
NOTES:  Both teams are coming off disappointing losses last week but each must rebound quickly as the Bayfield-Alamosa game could easily decide the IML title.  The remaining three league teams have just two combined wins so Friday’s winner becomes the immediate favorite.  Alamosa lost at Lamar last week and Bayfield was blown out by Durango.  The Western Slope features four unbeaten teams and two of them collide when Moffat County goes to Basalt.  Both have wins over Pagosa Springs and Battle Mountain with Basalt having the edge in both concerning margin of victory.  Winners of three straight, Lamar is red hot.  A win over Classical Academy this week could set the stage for a very fun Whistle game with La Junta later this season.  TCA has finished second to La Junta in the Tri Peaks basis on a regular basis.  University and Eaton will compete with Resurrection Christian and possibly Academy for the Patriot West crown.
 

CLASS 1A

Florence at Rye
Paonia at Hotchkiss
Burlington at Wray
Rocky Ford at Crowley County
Estes Park at Flatirons Academy
NOTES:  Florence and Rye get what should be a fantastic Tri Peaks race off and running.  They’re both 4-0 and well rested.  Rye is coming off a bye while Florence barely played a quarter before Trinidad forfeited their contest.  The two will battle Colorado Springs Christian and Buena Vista (both 3-1) for the league title.  Meeker is favored to land the Western Slope title but the Paonia-Hotchkiss winner is in good shape for a top two finish.  The conference could receive only two bids so the game, although early in the race, is very important.  The Santa Fe league could be a one bid league as Peyton (2-2) has the best record.  The Panthers might be favored right now but the Rocky Ford-Crowley County winner should contend.  The Burlington-Wray matchup could be for third place in the rugged North Central.  And that would likely be good enough for a playoff berth along with Limon and Holyoke.  The fourth place team will also get consideration.  Strasburg and Highland have finished 1-2 in the Northern league each of the past three years so the Flatirons-Estes Park winner is in good position for no worse than third.  That team will also get post-season consideration.
 

EIGHT MAN

Fowler at Hoehne
Rangely at West Grand
Pikes Peak Christian at Simla
Elbert at Front Range Christian
Pikes Peak Christian at Simla
NOTES:  The Ark Valley has combined for 10 wins this season with Fowler (4-0) and Hoehne (2-2) totaling six.  Their game on Friday should determine the league champion with the loser in good position to end up second.  Both teams are likely playoff bound but the survivor likely earns the right to play at home in round one.  Rangely and West Grand have both lost to Vail Christian so their outcome could determine the runner-up spot in the Northwest conference.  Both have spent time in the top 10 this week.  The Pikes Peak Christian-Simla contest was expected to determine the Southern conference.  Some of the luster was lost when Simla was upset by Calhan but the outcome will still impact the top of the league standings.  Elbert and Front Range Christian are the last two unbeatens in the Central so the winner will stand alone in first.  Since they beat Denver Christian last week, Elbert can take a huge step to the title with another victory.
 

SIX MAN

Kit Carson at Cheyenne Wells
Cheraw at Granada
Walsh at Eads
Peetz at Briggsdale
Cotopaxi at Kim/Branson
Deer Trail at Hanover
NOTES:  Kit Carson and Cheyenne Wells get together in a rivalry game that has plenty on the line this week.  Both are unbeaten and the winner will not only have the edge in the Southeast chase, but remain in consideration for the top overall playoff seed.  Each team scored a big win last week; Kit Carson downed Cheraw and Cheyenne Wells topped Granada in a battle of unbeatens.  Cheraw and Granada look to bounce back from those setbacks when they square off.  Granada is in good shape for third place with a win while Cheraw looks to stay in the playoff chase.  Walsh and Eads are also battling for a post-season berth and better position in the league chase.  Cotopaxi-Kim/Branson should be a battle of eventual league champions.  The Pirates are the likely Southwest winners while Kim/Branson (5-0) is heavily favored in the South Central.  Deer Trail has already beaten Genoa Hugo so a win over Hanover should push them to the Central championship.