We’re only a week into conference schedules for Classes 1A and 2A but the list of games in week seven include several that could determine championships. The same can be said for eight man where at least three races could see one team take command. In six-man football, our list of games is split evenly between league and non-league action.
Colorado Preps will provide in-depth previews of all the important games and other with our weekly classification reports. They are published each Tuesday through Wednesday all season long.
CLASS 2A
Kent Denver at Englewood (Colorado)
Salida at Pagosa Springs (Intermountain)
University at Resurrection Christian (Patriot West)
La Junta at Elizabeth (Tri Peaks)
Rifle at Delta (West Slope)
NOTES: Machebeuf may eventually be involved but Friday’s game between Kent Denver and Englewood could be the conference championship contest in the Colorado. Both teams won league openers last week and both are 4-1 on the season. RPI standings give a huge advantage to Kent Denver. The Sun Devils are 10th this week and Englewood 25th. Salida is coming off a bye so their trip to Pagosa Springs marks their conference opener. The Spartans are 5-0 on the season and Pagosa Springs 3-3 but they’re separated by just four spots in the RPI this week and both are in the top nine. Resurrection Christian scored a huge win over Berthoud last week and University played tough in a 13-point loss to Eaton. The Bulldogs also need the upset to stay within range of the conference lead. Classical Academy has been the toughest challenger to La Junta recently in the Tri Peaks. That role may be switched to Elizabeth as the Cards are the only other league member with a winning record. They’re 3-2 after beating Manitou Springs last week. La Junta is 5-0 and ranked number one. Delta picked up a wild but very important 49-40 win over Aspen last week. The tough early conference slate continues for the Panthers this week they host unbeaten Rifle. Up in week eight will be Basalt. Rifle beat Coal Ridge 36-8 in their league opener.
CLASS 1A
Platte Canyon at Jefferson (Foothills)
Strasburg at Highland (Northern)
Burlington at Holyoke (North Central)
Centauri at Monte Vista (Southern Peaks)
Colorado Springs Christian at Buena Vista (Tri Peaks)
Olathe at Paonia (Western Slope)
NOTES: It’s only week two of the conference slate but results from games this week could eventually produce league champions. Platte Canyon topped Clear Creek last week so a win over Jefferson virtually clinches the Foothills crown. The remaining league teams are just 2-13 overall. The winner of Strasburg-Highland has finished first and the loser second each of the past two years in the Northern league. Cornerstone Christian is another team there with a winning record (3-2). Burlington continues their rugged three-game stretch to begin the North Central schedule. They passed the first test by beating Wray last week and they visit unbeaten Holyoke this Friday.  On the docket in week eight is the annual clash with top ranked Limon. Nothing new in the Southern Peaks as the winner between Centauri and Monte Vista appears to be the front-runner to that league title. It’s that been that way since both became members. Buena Vista and Colorado Springs Christian are a combined 7-3. The Demons rolled St Mary’s in their league opener while the game is the first in conference play for the Lions. The two should battle Florence (4-1) for the championship. Olathe and Paonia were both week one winners in the Western Slope so the loser will drop off the pace a bit. The Pirates are 5th in RPI and the Eagles 10th.
EIGHT MAN
Holly at Hoehne (Ark Valley)
Mancos at Sanford (Mountain)
Soroco at Vail Christian (Northwest)
Merino at Caliche (Plains)
Pikes Peak Christian at Custer County (Southern)
NOTES: It’s a big week for the eight man ranks with the feature attraction in the Ark Valley between Holly and Hoehne. Both have played and beaten third place Fowler in the past two weeks but margin of victory favors the Farmers. They beat the Grizzlies 44-0 while the Wildcats held on for a one-point win (29-28). Hoehne is 5th in RPI and Holly 10th. Mancos and Sanford are the last two unbeatens in the Mountain division so the winner takes control of the race. Mancos has already posted a win over Sargent so the Bluejays can come close to clinching with a win. Sanford has a nice road win at Norwood in league play. Soroco needs a win at Vail Christian to keep pace with West Grand. Both have yet to drop a conference game and they collide on October 19th. Merino and Caliche play for positioning inside the Plains behind three-time defending state champion Sedgwick County. The Rams came up short to Akron last week so another loss likely means a lower division finish. Caliche has scored at least 54 points in their last three wins since a loss to West Grand. Pikes Peak Christian topped Simla last week (20-12) so a win over Custer County should land them the Southern title. Custer County lost to Simla 24-0 and needs a win to stay in line for a top two league finish. Based on RPI standings, only the league champion may get a playoff bid.
SIX MAN
Idalia at Arickaree/Woodlin (East Central)
Kit Carson at Walsh (Southeast)
Cotopaxi at Sierra Grande (Southwest)
Mountain Valley at Manzanola (Non-league)
Flagler/Hi Plains at Peetz (non-league)
Otis at Briggsdale (non-league)
NOTES: If the playoffs opened this week, all five teams from the East Central would be in the bracket so every game inside the conference is important. Arickaree/Woodlin needs a win to stay tied with Stratton/Liberty atop the standings. A/W won their league opener against Flagler/Hi Plains and hosts Stratton/Liberty in week eight. Kit Carson shares the Southeast lead with Granada but Walsh is just a game back so they can cause some chaos in those standings with a win this week. The Cotopaxi-Sierra Grande winner should finish second to Mountain Valley in the Southwest. Both teams already have losses to the Indians. The result is also important for playoff purposes as the Pirates are 13th in RPI and the Panthers 17th. Mountain Valley is 5th in the standings and could get challenged by Manzanola. The Bobcats are 4-1 but only 20th in RPI after falling to Fleming last week. Peetz and Briggsdale have a difficult act follow-up after combining for 186 points in their game last week. Neither team can rest as each faces a strong opponent this week. Peetz must also avoid looking ahead to a conference championship game with Prairie on the 12th. Otis is coming off another high scoring win in beating Prairie 64-59. They also edged Flagler/Hi Plains 58-55 earlier this year.
