CLASS 5A
Fountain-Fort Carson (5-0) vs. No. 2 Pine Creek (5-0)
When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at D20 Stadium
Last meeting: Pine Creek 14, at Fountain-Fort Carson 0, Sept. 30, 2022
Fountain-Fort Carson has yet to meet a defense capable of stopping its relentless run game (353.6 yards/game), and Pine Creek (6 points allowed/game) has yet to go up against an offense it can’t shut down. So something has got to give. Can Trojans senior Mathias Price continue his run of 100-yard rushing games — now at five straight? Can Creek run its shutout streak to three games in a row? This one should be fascinating.
Valor Christian (1-4) vs. No. 7 Castle View (5-0)
When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at DCS Stadium
Last meeting: Valor Christian 45, vs. Castle View 17, Sept. 29, 2022
After rolling through its nonleague slate with just 31 points allowed, Castle View gets its stiffest test yet. Ugly record aside, Valor was essentially one stop away from taking down fourth-ranked Ralston Valley last week. A game that was a gimme a year ago — Castle View finished 2-8 in 2022 — is now potentially the biggest roadblock standing between Valor and a ninth straight league title. The big challenge vs. the Sabercats: keeping Wyoming defensive end commit Jordan Ochoa (6.5 tackles for loss) out of the backfield.
Eaglecrest (5-0) vs. No. 6 Grandview (4-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Grandview 34, at Eaglecrest 23, Oct. 1, 2022
Are the unbeaten Raptors a real-deal 5A contender? Their Centennial League opener against Grandview should provide evidence one way or the other. Eaglecrest junior quarterback Joe Steiner has certainly looked the part, completing 62.9% of his passes for 928 yards, 12 TDs and just two interceptions. If Air Force commit Liam Szarka catches fire on the other side — as the Wolves QB did last week with two touchdowns passing and another two running — this could turn into a barn-burner.
CLASS 4A
Fruita Monument (3-2) vs. No. 6 Heritage (3-2)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium
Last meeting: Heritage 20, at Fruita Monument 13, Sept. 30, 2022
After losing Nebraska commit Rex Guthrie to injury, in addition to each of its first two games, Heritage has been a ball of fire, scoring 154 points combined over its last three games — all wins. Wide receiver Tanner Terch, not needed in the first two blowout victories, exploded for 124 yards and two TDs on eight catches in a win over Rampart last week. Fruita has shown itself to be equally combustible with its three-headed rushing attack of seniors Amari Wilson (58 carries, 459 yards), Andres Palafox (94-580) and Wyatt Sharpe (62-453).
No. 7 Loveland (4-1) vs. No. 2 Erie (4-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium
Last meeting: Loveland 35, vs. Erie 14, Sept. 30, 2022
Which Loveland team will show up to Tiger Stadium on Friday night: the one that got shut out by Thompson Valley two weeks ago in a crosstown rivalry game? Or the one that shredded Greeley Central to the tune of 63 points and 469 total yards last Thursday? If the Red Wolves are to have a chance against Kansas State QB commit Blake Barnett (1,337 total yards, 16 TDs) and the Tigers, it better be the latter.
Mesa Ridge (3-2) vs. No. 3 Pueblo West (4-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl
Last meeting: Mesa Ridge 21, vs. Pueblo West 14, Sept. 30, 2022
After grinding out a 14-0 win over Far Northeast last week, Pueblo West hosts a Mesa Ridge team that entered the season with big expectations but is still looking for a signature win. The Grizzlies narrowly missed out on one in a 39-35 shootout loss to Dakota Ridge in Week 3. Now comes another big opportunity in both teams’ league opener. Two of Class 4A’s top dual-threat quarterbacks — PW’s Gavin Locket (237.4 total yards/game) and Mesa Ridge’s Bryce Riehl (191.6) — should put on a show.
No. 8 Dakota Ridge (3-2) vs. No. 5 Broomfield (3-2)
When/where: noon Saturday at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium
Last meeting: Broomfield 55, at Dakota Ridge 24, Sept. 30, 2022
A year ago, Dakota Ridge was just another speed bump on the way to an undefeated Class 4A championship season for Broomfield. Now it’s a chance for the Eagles to prove they’re still among the classification’s top contenders following losses to 3A Holy Family (30-29) and second-ranked Erie (30-7) and a down-to-the-wire win over Brighton last Friday. Broomfield can expect more of the same against a Dakota Ridge squad that hung around for three quarters with 5A No. 8 Chatfield last week.
CLASS 3A
No. 7 Northfield (4-0) vs. Vista Ridge (3-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Vista Ridge
Last meeting: Vista Ridge 46, at Northfield 8, Sept. 30, 2022
With league play right around the corner, the Nighthawks get a measuring stick game with a trip south to face 4A Vista Ridge. A year ago, the Brayden Dorman-led Wolves picked apart Northfield en route to a blowout win. With Dorman off to Arizona, the Nighthawks won’t have the same high-octane passing attack to deal with. But the Wolves, winners of two straight by a combined score of 74-27, remain formidable.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
