CLASS 5A
No. 5 Regis Jesuit (0-0) vs. No. 6 Valor Christian (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Valor Stadium
Last meeting: Regis 24, vs. Valor 21, Aug. 26, 2023
Regis and Valor meet in Week 1 for the fourth year in a row, except this time the Eagles already have a game under their belts after taking down Pine Creek, 31-14, in Week 0. The assumption Valor would open things up with Bob Stitt calling plays was proven correct for one week, with junior Dawson Olk throwing for 287 yards and a pair of scores in his first varsity start. If Regis pass rushers Jace Filleman and Grayson McPherson can apply pressure, this one will go down to the wire.
No. 3 Legend (1-0) vs. No. 7 Grandview (0-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
This constitutes the first meeting between two of 5A’s elite programs. The Titans couldn’t have been more impressive in handling Fruita Monument, 41-0, in Week 0. QB Michael Marsenich was near perfect (8 of 10, 145 yards, 1 TD), three rushers found the end zone, and the defense produced four takeaways. The Wolves have the weapons to test the Legend defense. But do they have a replacement for all-everything QB Liam Szarka?
Erie (1-0) vs. No. 10 Ralston Valley (0-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
Erie, last year’s 4A champion, moved up to 5A over the offseason. Now comes its first big test. The Tigers had no problem taking down Brighton, 45-0, in Week 0, but Ralston Valley is in a much heavier weight class. The Mustangs have reached the 5A semifinals two years in a row, but are replacing several key contributors, most notably three-year starting QB Logan Madden. This game is as much a test of RV’s capacity to reload as it is Erie’s ability to hang with 5A’s best.
4A No. 9 Dakota Ridge (0-0) vs. Chatfield (0-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium
Last meeting: Chatfield 45, at Dakota Ridge 21, Sept. 22, 2023
A pair of Jeffco rivals meet in the season lid-lifter, with both teams looking to replace dual-threat quarterbacks. For the first time in 20 years, Dakota Ridge will do it without Ron Woitalewicz on the sideline. Longtime lieutenant Jeremiah Behrendsen is now the head coach of the Eagles, and his first game running the show is a doozy. Chatfield found its footing in its second year in 5A, reaching the state semifinals behind senior QB Jake Jones. Now it’s someone else’s turn to take the reins.
No. 8 Arapahoe (0-0) vs. No. 2 Mountain Vista (1-0)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Halftime Help Stadium
Last meeting: Mountain Vista 27, at Arapahoe 17, Sept. 9, 2021
If there were any doubts about Mountain Vista’s status as a 5A contender, those were put to rest by halftime of the Golden Eagles’ 83-6 demolition of Pearl City, Hawaii, last week. QB Austyn Modrzewski completed 76.2% of his passes for 338 yards and six TDs, while five different pass-catchers got in the end zone. The degree of difficulty goes up a notch this week, however, with the always-salty Arapahoe defense ready to pay a visit.
CLASS 4A
No. 2 Palmer Ridge (0-0) vs. No. 5 Ponderosa (0-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at EchoPark Stadium
Last meeting: Palmer Ridge 34, at Ponderosa 12, Sept. 21, 2023
A meeting of 4A contenders comes on Thursday night in Parker, with Ponderosa looking to snap a three-game losing streak to Palmer Ridge that includes a one-sided home loss last fall. The Bears lost a fair amount of talent off that squad, but Palmer Ridge rarely has trouble finding capable replacements. Ponderosa can make a big early statement with a win here.
3A No. 5 Roosevelt (0-0) vs. Northfield (0-0)
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Evie Dennis Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
What would have been a massive 3A battle just last fall is now a cross-classification test for a 3A Roosevelt program looking to reload and a now-4A Northfield program that’s had its arrow pointing up over the last three seasons. If the Nighthawks want to continue that ascent, being able to go toe-to-toe with a team like Roosevelt will go a long way.
CLASS 3A
No. 8 Green Mountain (0-0) vs. No. 1 Windsor (0-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Windsor
Last meeting: N/A
Windsor was a darn good 4A program a year ago, reaching the state quarterfinals last fall. Now it might be the cream of the crop in 3A. A Week 1 date with Green Mountain should provide an early clue. The Rams have a new leader on the sideline. Former D’Evelyn coach Anthony Rankin replaced Jesse German, who moved across the metro to Eaglecrest after reviving the Rams program over the past six years.
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