Football returns to the high school scene this week as important games can be found in each of the seven divisions. The list is a good one including a state championship rematch in six man, a battle of returning semifinalists in eight man and several top 10 battles across the remaining classifications.
Below is our list of top games and all games are Friday unless otherwise noted. Reports on each classification will be presented throughout the week and the 16th season of the Scoreboard Show debuts on Friday across the Colorado Preps Radio Network. Our affiliate list has grown to 30 radio stations this year and the program will also be available on our mobile app and Amazon Alexa devices. More details will be announced this week.
SIX MAN
Weldon Valley at Peetz (Thursday)
Kit Carson at Stratton/Liberty
Flagler/Hi Plains at Briggsdale
Idalia at Fleming
NOTES: Maybe the headliner across the entire state can be found in this division as Kit Carson challenges Stratton/Liberty on Friday. It’s a rematch of last year’s state championship contest won by the Knighted Eagles. The teams are in the same spots rankings wise where they finished the season as Stratton/Liberty is ranked #1 and Kit Carson number two. Two other top 10 matchups can be found in week one as #5 Flagler/Hi Plains hits the road against #9 Briggsdale and #7 Idalia tries to upset #3 Fleming on the road. The fourth matchup though may be the most important as it’s a league game in the rugged North conference. Peetz, which won the state title two years ago, is heavily favored.
EIGHT MAN
Holyoke at Haxtun
Pikes Peak Christian at Merino
Sedgwick County at Simla
NOTES: For the second straight year, Merino and Pikes Peak Christian face off in the season opener for both clubs and each is coming off a semifinal appearance in 2018. Merino won the season opener 22-6 and then battled injuries before getting hot down the stretch. Their season came to an end with a loss to four-time state champion Sedgwick County. Pikes Peak Christian did not lose a game after Merino until their semifinal battle with Hoehne where they came up short in their first ever appearance in the Final Four. Sedgwick County begins the quest to become the first eight man football team to win five consecutive state championships. Holyoke is a 11-man team and Haxtun plays eight man but the two local rivals get together is what should be a fun contest. Holyoke is ranked fifth in Class 1A and received a first place vote in the first CHSAA poll of the season.
CLASS 1A
Rocky Ford at Florence
Wray at Highland
NOTES: It’s a very light schedule for the opening weekend in Class 1A as many teams are utilizing a bye week very early in the season and as a result we have just two games on the list. The second one could be a good battle between a pair of programs that routinely make the playoffs. Wray finished at 5-5 last season and closed the year with a very frustrating 29-23 loss at Florence in round one. Highland was bounced from the playoffs in the opener as well in a 33-0 setback to eventual state champion Limon. Wray won this matchup on the field last year (41-8) but the victory was later handed to Highland on a forfeit due the inadvertent use of an ineligible player by Wray. Florence looks to topple Rocky Ford in the opening game for a second straight year. Last year’s meeting with a good battle with the Huskies scoring a hard fought 20-6 decision.
CLASS 2A
Strasburg at University
Sterling at Resurrection Christian
Berthoud at Platte Valley
NOTES: The annual clash between Sterling and Resurrection Christian is always among the best non-conference matchups statewide. Both are usually ranked in the top 10 but the Tigers are missing from that lineup this year. Resurrection Christian garnered one first place vote and sits fourth in the pre-season rankings. Platte Valley tallied four first place votes and is ranked second to open the season. The Broncos graduated a three-year starter at quarterback but have plenty of remaining talent left from last year’s runner-up club. Strasburg has played in the last three 1A state championships and begins this run under a new head coach and a 2A opponent.
CLASS 3A
Mead at Lewis Palmer
Evergreen at Erie
Holy Family at Pueblo South
Pueblo East at Roosevelt
NOTES: All four games on our list involved a pre-season top 10 club but the Holy Family visit to Pueblo South includes a pair of ranked opponents. Holy Family is ranked 9th while the host Colts, which captured the 4A state championship two years ago, is rated 8th. Mead opens the season sitting in fifth place as they face a Lewis Palmer team typically tough to beat at home. Erie begins the post-Noah Roper era with a tough home again against perennial playoff club Evergreen. And Pueblo East, coming off another state championship game appearance, also starts a new quarterback for the first time in four years as the 2nd ranked Eagles head to Johnstown.
CLASS 4A
Dakota Ridge at Rampart (Thursday)
Prairie View at Brighton
Grand Junction Central at Montrose
Pueblo West at Fruita Monument
Rio Ranch NM at Pine Creek
NOTES: Rivalry games dot the 4A schedule of note as two games feature teams very familiar with one another. Prairie View and Brighton are neighbors in Adams County while Grand Junction Central and Montrose have a long history stretching back to their SWL days. Central starts the season under new head coach Brandon Millholland who steps up from 1A Cedaredge into the 4A ranks. Expect Pueblo West and Fruita Monument to be among the most physical games in week one as each likes to establish the run game. Fruita scored a rugged 10-6 win a year ago as they limited West to just 74 yards on the ground. The clubs are ranked 8th and 10th respectively and both expect to make the playoffs. Rampart is ranked 9th but has a tough home opener against a Dakota Ridge team that could climb into the top 10 with an opening victory. Pine Creek opens what is a tremendous non-league schedule against one of the top programs in New Mexico. The Eagles were bounced in the second round of the playoffs last year marking their earliest exit since 2011.
CLASS 5A
Boulder at Fairview (Thursday)
Overland at Smoky Hill (Thursday)
Ponderosa at Legend (Thursday)
Broomfield at Legacy
Rocky Mountain at Fort Collins
Bear Creek at Lakewood
Regis at Pomona
NOTES: We extended our list in the big school ranks to include seven games because six are what we determine to be “heated rivalries”. Boulder-Fairview, Overland-Smoky Hill and Ponderosa-Legend get the 2019 season underway in a big way on Thursday and the rivalry trend continues into Friday. Rankings wise, the most attractive game features Regis at Pomona. Pomona is ranked 5th and collected one first place vote in the CHSAA pre-season poll while Regis jumped in at number nine.
