Week seven of the Colorado High School football season had a little bit of everything; some late rallies, a game called at halftime and three teams clinching playoff berths.  After sorting through every result, Colorado Preps has developed a list of the best and most impressive wins.

PHOTO BY BOB SCHECTER

 

SIX-MAN

  • Kim/Branson earned a conference championship and playoff berth with their lopsided win over Miami Yoder
  • Cheyenne Wells also earned their berth in the playoff bracket as the Tigers beat Cheraw to clinch the Southeast championship
  • Sierra Grande’s scheduled game with Cripple Creek was not played as the Pioneers have ended their season.  But the cancellation allowed the Panthers to officially win the league championship and a playoff berth
  • Hanover picked up a late game with Eads this week and their offense was ready as they exploded for 92 points in the win.  That’s the most points for any team in Colorado this year
  • Idalia collected maybe the best win of the week as they rallied past Prairie 47-42.  They were coming off a tough loss to Stratton which cost them a chance at the league title but the win pushed them to fourth in RPI.

EIGHT-MAN

  • Fowler somehow improved to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Ark Valley as they stunned Wiley 40-34.  The Grizzlies were down 34-22 in the fourth quarter but rallied for the win and they remain tied with Holly atop the conference standings.
  • Hoehne was not as fortunate.  They began the week tied with Fowler and Holly in first but were taken out by McClave 52-16
  • Vail Christian and Hayden both entered their matchup with a share of the Northwest lead with Rangely but the contest was not close as the Saints picked up a big 44-0 win.  They remain unbeaten on the season.
  • Haxtun scored a huge win over Sedgwick County (36-12) as they bumped to 7-0 on the season.  The Bulldogs, who can clinch the Plains championship by beating Denver Christian next week, remains in line for the top overall playoff seed.
  • Byers beat Lyons on Friday for their fourth straight win and is now just one win away from clinching a league championship.  They can wrap it up by beating either South Park or Justice in their final two games.

CLASS 1A

  • Center probably had the best win of the division as the Vikings rolled previously unbeaten Ignacio 32-13.  The Vikings have a league loss to Centauri but still has a big game remaining with Monte Vista on their schedule.
  • Rocky Ford earned their first win of the season as the Meloneers had no trouble in blowing past Sheridan 57-6
  • Bennett was winless in four non-conference games but is 2-0 in the Flatirons in playoff contention after beating Manual 42-8.  The Tigers have outscored their first two league opponents 89-8.
  • Wray and Wiggins played a physical game in week six and both recovered to score nice league wins in week seven.  The Eagles downed Holyoke and the Tigers fought past Yuma.  Wray is tied with Limon atop the North Central with Wiggins and Holyoke tied for third one game back.  All four remain strong playoff contenders.
  • Coming off another frustrating loss to Strasburg last week, Highland bounced back to earn a hard fought 15-8 win over Flatirons Academy.  That win likely assures the Huskies of no worse than a second place finish in the North and in the past that’s been good enough for a playoff berth.
  • Meeker scored the important home league victory over top 10 rival North Fork on Friday and that win keeps the Cowboys tied with Gunnison for the Western Slope lead.  Those two collide here in week eight.
  • Gunnison prepped for that matchup by scoring a non-league win over CS Christian. as they remain perfect at 6-0.

CLASS 2A

  • Eaton won the league battle of the top two ranked teams in the division as the Reds outdefended Resurrection Christian 10-6.  The win keeps the Reds unbeaten at 6-0 while the Cougars slid to 4-1 ahead of another huge date with Severance in week eight
  • Following their impressive win over Faith Christian the week before, Northfield started very slow but then took out Arvada 39-20.  They remain unbeaten in conference play and atop their conference.
  • Brush went through a similar situation.  They blasted Platte Valley in week six but led Valley by just a 13-7 margin after the first quarter on Friday.  The Beetdiggers went on to win 61-6.
  • Bayfield continued their dominance over Alamosa as they scored a 28-0 shutout of the Mean Moose.  While not clinching, the Wolverines moved very close to landing the conference crown with the win.
  • Aspen could not build on the momentum of the Rifle win as they were no match for Delta in a 56-0 loss.  Delta now looks forward to an important conference date with Basalt.

CLASS 3A

  • The second 1 versus 2 battle of the week was in this division between Roosevelt and Mead.  The Mavericks scored first and kept Roosevelt off the board until late in the first half but the Riders still won 37-7.  They are now 6-0 on the season as Mead suffered their first loss.
  • Steamboat Springs could be the most surprising team in the division as they moved to 5-1 with a narrow 31-30 win over Eagle Valley.  It was the Sailors first game against a 3A opponent this year and they scored a nice league opening win.
  • Summit was equally impressive on the Western Slope as they slammed Glenwood Springs 42-0.  The Tigers now challenge perennial power Palisade in week eight.
  • Discovery Canyon set up a huge showdown with Durango this week by beating Sand Creek 52-8.  Before the game, the Thunder and Scorpions were considered the top threats to the defending state champions for the conference crown.  And Discovery Canyon easily won that battle.
  • The weirdest game of the week was the top 10 battle between Lutheran and Evergreen.  The Lions created a wide 46-2 lead by halftime and the game ended there as the Cougars did not come out for the second half.

CLASS 4A

  • Nice turnaround for Bear Creek this week.  The Bears did not play well the lopsided loss to Chatfield but put that game behind them to score a 14-10 “upset” of top ten member Chatfield.
  • Aurora Central kept a share of the conference lead with Denver South as the Trojans ran past Vista Peak 27-7.  They are now 6-1 and will meet Denver South on October 21st.
  • Broomfield has climbed right back into the playoff chase as their win over SIlver Creek as their third straight.  The win also kept them tied with unbeaten Erie for the Northern 1 lead.
  • Erie is still rolling along.  They blew by Brighton 47-27 and now sit at 7-0 on the season.  The Tigers have scored 329 points overall and will face Broomfield in week nine.
  • Palmer Ridge lost to Montrose in week six and trailed Ponderosa 21-7 at halftime but rallied for an impressive 35-28 win.  That win avoided an 0-2 conference start.

CLASS 5A

  • Arapahoe continued their fine season as the win over Cherokee Trail pushed them to 6-1.  The Warriors are 2-0 in the Centennial and tied with Cherry Creek in first.  They challenge the Bruins in week eight.
  • Pomona is back.  The Panthers lost a very tough battle with Smoky Hill (28-27) three weeks ago but has responded with two straight wins.  They beat Lakewood handily in week six and then took Ralston Valley off the unbeaten list last Thursday (17-3).
  • No letdown for Arvada West after the stunning win over Columbine.  The Wildcats took care of Mullen 35-14 on Friday and sit tied with Pomona atop the Jeffco.  The leaders face off this week.
  • Fort Collins is alone atop the Metro 1 thanks to their win over Boulder.  They are 2-0 in league play and lead four teams by one game in the loss column.  Only the league champion earns a playoff bid.
  • And we may have kept the best win for last as Legend and Regis played an instant class.  The Raiders led 35-14 midway through the third quarter but then fell behind 42-35 late in the fourth.  The Raiders scored with under a minute left but could not convert the extra point.  Legend’s win was their second narrow win in the conference as they also moved past Pine Creek 26-23 the week before.C