At this juncture in the prep football season – specifically in Class 5A, 4A, and 3A – it is a turning point for teams.

The great teams are eyeing state championships.

The good teams are aiming to be great, and average teams are wanting to be good.

Good should get teams in the playoffs and once in you have a chance at the coveted state championships.

One of those teams that could be great is Pueblo West in 4A. The Cyclones are slowly getting fully healthy, and it is showing.

West is 5-1 overall and coming off a 49-6 home trouncing of Doherty last Friday. The only blemish on the Cyclones’ record is a 17-7 loss to highly-touted 3A squad Pomona.

Against Doherty, QB Chase Harrison tossed two TD passes and ran for another to power the Cyclones, who are ranked No. 5 in the latest ColoradoPreps.com poll. Harrison, a sophomore, missed his team’s first two games, but has shown he has immense talent behind center.

Harrison has 264 yards passing and 163 yards rushing. West is on a collision course to meet Montrose (6-0), the No. 1 ranked team in 4A, on Halloween night – Oct. 31 – at West.

Before that epic battle, the Cyclones, who have allowed just 13 points in their last three games, travel to face Mesa Ridge (2-4) at 7 p.m., Friday.

Class 5A

Columbine (3-3) at No. 4 Arvada West (6-0), 7 p.m., Thursday

Arvada West is having an outstanding season as shown by its perfect record through six games.

The Wildcats were dominant last weekend, thrashing Denver South 45-7. AW is paced by QB Logan Duhachek. The senior has thrown for 1,450 yards and 22 TDs. Fellow senior running back Jaidan Green has 63 carries for 473 yards and eight scores. Another senior wideout Noah Meurer has a team-best 30 receptions for 559 yards and seven TDs.

Arvada West needs to find some new magic as Columbine has been dominant in this series, winning seven of the last eight meetings.

Columbine, which has a storied state championship winning history in football, counters with RB Mark Snyder. The senior, who has played in five of the Rebels six games, has a team-best 588 yards on the ground and five scores to his name.

The Rebels have saved their season with three wins over Fossil Ridge (21-20), Heritage (14-13) and Denver East (48-9). A win against AW this week could put Columbine back on track to make the postseason.

Class 4A

No, 9 Durango (5-1) at No. 4 Palmer Ridge ( ), 6 p.m., Friday

After a season-opening loss to Montrose (35-14), Durango regrouped and has run off five consecutive wins over Farmington (N.M.) (35-6), Piedra Vista (17-0), Palisade (17-6), Grand Junction (31-0) and Rampart (47-7).

The Demons’ offense is powered by QB Grady Feeney. The junior has thrown for 794 yards and nine TDs. He has also added 546 yards rushing and 8 TDs. Durango’s ground and pound attack is fueled by Gus Halls who has a team-high 568 yards rushing and three scores.

Palmer Ridge is a lethal force this season. The Bears, who seemingly are always a state championship contender, have scored 277 points, while allowing just 43 points a game.

Palmer Ridge’s offense is put into gear by RB Jackson Mabe. The senior has accumulated team-highs in rushing (566 yards) and TDs (10). The Bears’ top receiver is Zak Crisler. The junior has caught 26 passes for 484 yards and three scores.

If Durango wants to be considered a legitimate state title contender a win at Palmer Ridge would go a long way in silencing the Demons’ critics.

Class 3A

No. 7 Roosevelt (3-2) at No. 2 Pomona (4-1), 7:30 p.m., Friday

Finding the best battle in 3A didn’t take much searching. It comes when two highly touted 3A teams in Roosevelt and Pomona lock up.

Roosevelt has had an up and down season; it has three wins but then has two defeats against Holy Family (41-26) and to top-ranked Windsor (26-14).

The Roughriders are going to need to show up with their ‘A’ Game if they want to come aways with a victory.

Roosevelt is paced by senior QB Jasiah Ramirez (586 yards passing and 8 TDs) and Milo Pascual. The senior has 85 carries for 498 yards rushing and seven TDs.

Pomona will answer with QB Tucker Ingersoll. The junior has 649 yards passing for the air and 11 scores. He has also added 176 yards rushing and two TDs.

Ethan Vu leads the team in rushing with a team-best 290 yards and three TDs. Emmitt Munson has a team-best 13 receptions for 152 yards and four TDs.

This game will not break either team’s season, but a win definitely will be a shot in the arm for the victorious squad heading into the postseason.