Class 5A
4A No. 5 Loveland (10-2) vs. Fossil Ridge (5-6)*
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Timnath Stadium
Last meeting: Loveland 28, at Fossil Ridge 10, Oct. 30, 2009
After a promising finish to last season (4-2 in last six games), the SaberCats enter the 2022 season looking to produce their first winning campaign since 2016. Quarterback Tyler Kubat (3,116 yards, 27 TDs in ’21) is back taking snaps, with a multitude of weapons at his disposal, including rangy receiver Mac Busteed (1,154 yards, 11 TDs). A Week 1 date with Loveland, consistently one of Class 4A’s top defensive teams, offers the perfect barometer.
No. 4 Regis Jesuit (8-4) vs. No. 2 Valor Christian (13-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Valor Stadium
Last meeting: Valor 24, at Regis Jesuit 6, Aug. 27, 2021
The state’s top private school football powers meet in Week 1 for the second straight year, providing an early glimpse at the 5A pecking order. Valor lost a significant amount of production from last year’s 5A runner-up squad and has a new leader — former Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin. On the other side, Regis brings back dual threat QB Exander Carroll, CU-bound tight end Andrew Metzger and Nebraska linebacker Hayden Moore as it looks to replace Valor as the leading threat to Cherry Creek’s 5A hegemony.
5A No. 8 Legend (11-2) vs. 4A No. 6 Vista Ridge (7-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Vista Ridge
Last meeting: Vista Ridge 46, vs. Legend 0, Oct. 3, 2008
Legend coach Monte Thelen’s methodical rebuild has produced four consecutive playoff campaigns in Parker, including back-to-back 5A state semifinals trips over the past two years. Now comes the hard part: Maintaining that success now that the Titans must replace all but two starters. Up first is a matchup with perhaps the best passing tandem in the state: Arizona-bound quarterback Brayden Dorman and Washington State wide receiving pledge Brandon Hills.
No. 1 Cherry Creek (12-2) vs. No. 6 Ralston Valley (9-3)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: Cherry Creek 24, vs. Ralston Valley 16, Nov. 16, 2018
For the first time in program history, Ralston Valley will take the field without Matt Loyd as its coach. Now, it’s former Golden boss Jared Yannacito’s team, and he gets the most challenging introduction to 5A football imaginable: the three-time defending 5A champion Bruins. Creek begins the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in the CHSAANow.com rankings, its roster loaded with FBS talent as head coach Dave Logan enters his 11th season in Greenwood Village.
Class 4A
No. 4 Palmer Ridge (10-2) vs. No. 2 Montrose (12-1)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Montrose
Last meeting: Montrose 28, at Palmer Ridge 21, Oct. 1, 2021
Months after seeing its bid for perfection end in the state semifinals, the Red Hawks host Palmer Ridge in a season-opening showdown of expected 4A contenders. The Red Hawks spent much of last season running over everything in their path, but with four of their top five rushers lost to graduation, new impact players must emerge. Palmer Ridge also has some reloading to do, but with QB Derek Hester (2,345 yards, 25 TDs passing) back, big things are expected.
No. 7 Ponderosa (7-5) vs. No. 1 Erie (13-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Erie
Last meeting: N/A
Erie begin its quest to return to the 4A state championship with a home matchup against one of the most consistent contenders in the classification. The Mustangs have reached the playoffs eight straight seasons, but are coming off a 7-5 season that saw them lose four of their last six games. The Tigers, meanwhile, fell a Hail Mary short of the 4A crown, but return quarterback Blake Barnett, one of three QBs in the state to surpass 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing last fall.
No. 3 Dakota Ridge (11-1) vs. No. 9 Pueblo West (1-0 in 2022)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Pueblo West
Last meeting: Pueblo West 31, at Dakota Ridge 7, Sept. 22, 2017
No, that’s not a misprint. The Cyclones are one of four teams who’ve already played one regular season game this year — a 42-22 demolition of Grand Junction that saw them churn out 382 yards of offense. Now they get a Dakota Ridge team that hasn’t lost in the regular season since Week 10 of the 2019 season. Keep an eye on senior running back Noah Triplett, who ran for 1,551 yards and 28 touchdowns last fall.
Class 3A
No. 7 Palisade (9-3) vs. No. 2 Roosevelt (12-1)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Roosevelt
Last meeting: Palisade 17, vs. Roosevelt 14, Nov. 11, 2017
A hazy 3A picture will get some clarity with this matchup of title contenders. Roosevelt has reached the 3A finals and semifinals in successive seasons, thanks in large part to a stingy defense that’s allowed just 10.4 points per game since 2020. That unit will get a stern test right out of the gate against Palisade, which brings back a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Malakhi Espinosa and running back Phallen Salvati.
No. 6 Holy Family (6-6) vs. No. 8 Frederick (9-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Frederick
Last meeting: Holy Family 42, vs. Frederick 35 (OT), Oct. 14, 2021
The Matt Loyd era kicks off in Frederick, with the former Ralston Valley head coach taking over a Golden Eagles program looking to build on last year’s 9-2 showing. His first game will be a rematch of last year’s overtime thriller, which produced a career game from then-sophomore quarterback Rylan Cooney with 326 yards and six touchdowns on 13-of-18 passing.
* All records for 2021 season unless otherwise noted.
