Week number eight is now upon us and as we do each Sunday, we feature the top games coming up in each classification.  Below is the list for Classes 5A, 4A and 3A and it includes a few games of league leaders facing off.
Colorado Preps will preview all the games more in-depth during our weekly updates on each classification.  They’re posted each Tuesday through Thursday and then we recap the week during the Scoreboard Show each Friday night at 9:30pm on the Colorado Preps Radio Network.
 

CLASS 5A

Bear Creek (3-4) at Legacy (4-3) — THURSDAY
Columbine (6-1) at Northglenn (5-2) — THURSDAY
Fairview (6-1) at Mullen (3-4)
Valor Christian (7-0) at Highlands Ranch (6-1)
Lakewood (5-2) at Poudre (5-2)                                      
Grandview (5-2) at Doherty (5-2)
Two games on our list will determine the outright lead in conference play.  Valor Christian and Highlands Ranch are both 2-0 and share the lead in the Lincoln division and the same scenario exists between Grandview and Doherty in the Massive conference.  Winners will be alone in first entering the final two weeks of the season.  With wins over Fairview and Mullen, Columbine is alone in first and has control of the Cameron conference.  Northglenn is coming off a loss to Mountain Range but an upset of the Rebels gives the Norse a share of first place.  They’re one of four conference teams at 1-1.  Fairview and Mullen are two others so the loser is out of the league title chase if Columbine gets the win.  Mullen also sits 15th in RPI points so the game is also important to their wildcard chances.  Bear Creek needs a win over Legacy to stay tied with Regis atop the Antero conference.  Sitting 24th in RPI, the Bears best chance at a playoff berth is a conference crown.  Poudre (16th) is another RPI bubble team that could use a quality win and they get that chance against Lakewood.
 

CLASS 4A

Dakota Ridge (4-3) at Heritage (2-5) — THURSDAY
Greeley West (4-3) at Brighton (5-2)
Fruita Monument (7-0) at Standley Lake (6-1)
Coronado (3-4) at Montrose (4-3)
Pueblo West (6-1) at Mesa Ridge (5-2)
Fort Collins (3-4) at Skyline (6-1) — SATURDAY
Dakota Ridge and Heritage are part of a three-way tie with Chatfield atop the Plains conference.  All three teams are 2-0 in league play so the loser will fall a game off the pace.  The Fruita Monument-Standley Lake winner will be the leader of the Mountain division.  Both clubs are 2-0 in conference play.  Brighton needs a win over Greeley West to keep pace with Loveland atop the Longs Peak.  The outcome could also impact the playoff bracket as Brighton is 17th in the RPI and Greeley West 18th.  Coronado and Montrose are two of four teams at 1-1 in the Pikes Peak.  All four clubs are one game back of first place Rampart who scored a big win over Montrose last Friday.  The game could be more important to Coronado as the Cougars are outside the top 24 in RPI and Montrose is 12th.  Mesa Ridge is 2-0 and tied with Pine Creek atop the Southern.  Pueblo West lost to Pine Creek last week so needs a win to stay in the title chase there.
 

CLASS 3A

Palmer Ridge (7-0) at Thomas Jefferson (6-1)
Canon City (6-1) at Discovery Canyon (4-3)
Frederick (5-2) at Berthoud (5-2)
Erie (7-0) at Roosevelt (5-2)
Holy Family (4-3) at Mead (7-0)
Lutheran (3-4) at Skyview (6-1)
Palmer Ridge and Thomas Jefferson are both 2-0 and tied for the East Metro lead so the winner there will sit alone in first.  It’s the same situation in the Southern between Canon City and Discovery Canyon as both the Tigers and Thunder have won their first two conference games.  Lutheran and Skyview compete to stay in the West Metro chase.  Both teams are 1-1 and a game back of Evergreen (2-0).  Both the Lions and Wolverines have already lost to the first place Cougars so even with a win on Friday, catching them will be difficult.  Lutheran could also be in a must win situation for playoff purposes.  They’re outside the top 24 in RPI while Skyview is very solid at number five.  Mead and Erie need wins over quality opponents to maintain their lead in the rugged Tri Valley.  They’re also second and third respectively in the latest RPI standings.  Holy Family has dropped to 17th with three straight losses but Roosevelt remains in good shape at number seven.  Berthoud (13th) and Frederick (16th) are also both alive for playoff berths and the winner of their game improves their standing.