CLASS 5A
No. 5 Pine Creek (1-0) vs. No. 7 Valor Christian (0-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at D20 Stadium
Last meeting: Valor Christian 24, vs. Pine Creek 7, Sept. 2, 2022
Creek and Valor meet for the fourth time since 2018, with the latter winning each of the first three meetings. Could this be Creek’s best shot at getting the elusive “W”? Week 1 certainly offered few clues. While Valor lost a nail-biter at Regis Jesuit that saw Eagles QB Asher Weiner compile 264 yards on 20-of-34 passing with one TD and one interception, Creek sat idle after its Week 1 opponent was forced to forfeit. Will that translate into early-game rust for Creek?
No. 9 Arapahoe (1-0) vs. 4A No. 9 Heritage (0-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium
Last meeting: Arapahoe 24, at Heritage 14, Sept. 2, 2022
It appears the Arapahoe defense is salty once again. At least, that’s what the Warriors’ 31-9 win over Legacy in Week 1 suggested — a game that saw Arapahoe shut out the Lightning through three quarters. Now comes a mammoth test: The passing combination of senior quarterback Kurt Rossner and junior pass catcher Tanner Terch, who hooked up 12 times for 263 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 35-34 loss to Mountain Vista.
No. 3 Grandview (1-0) vs. Fossil Ridge (0-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Grandview 49, at Fossil Ridge 17, Sept. 1, 2022
A week after taking its lumps against Loveland’s ground-and-pound offense, Fossil Ridge heads to Legacy Stadium to face another sturdy run game. While dual-threat QB Liam Szarka didn’t rip off any big runs last week, the two-headed backfield of sophomore Chris Blanks (seven carries, 100 yards) and junior Donavon Vernon (8-83) went nuclear. Can Fossil Ridge QB Nick Kubat (8-of-11 passing, 100 yards) operate with the same efficiency he showed in Week 1?
Denver South (1-0) vs. Denver East (2-0)
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at All-City Stadium
Last meeting: Denver South 55, vs. Denver East 0, Sept. 2, 2022
How real are the Angels? Clarity should come by the end of Saturday’s cross-town rivalry game against South. East outscored Westminster and Smoky Hill 91-19 through its first two games, with Elijah West Duah and Sean Campbell popping big runs while the defense racked up 28 tackles for loss and six turnovers. If the Angels find a way to contain South seniors Chevelle Early (12 carries, 162 yards in Week 1) and Jr Felipe (16-of-25 passing, 273 yards), watch out.
CLASS 4A
No. 1 Palmer Ridge (1-0) vs. No. 8 Mesa Ridge (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at C.A. Foster Stadium
Last meeting: Palmer Ridge 28, vs. Mesa Ridge 7, Sept. 2, 2022
Six days after rallying to beat Montrose in dramatic fashion, Palmer Ridge heads south to face a ranked opponent for the second week in a row. The Grizzlies couldn’t have played much better in Week 1, with junior QB Bryce Riehl completing 5 of 9 passes for 185 yards and the defense pitching a shutout in a 57-0 demolition of Kennedy. Now comes the real test against the Bears, who’ve won 15 straight regular-season games dating back to ’21.
No. 2 Broomfield (1-0) vs. 3A No. 4 Holy Family (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium
Last meeting: Broomfield 65, vs. Holy Family 7, Sept. 2, 2022
A year ago, these two football programs met for the first time since Holy Family moved to its Broomfield campus — and it couldn’t have been more lopsided. With several key players from that 4A championship Broomfield team now gone, the Tigers get another crack at their crosstown rivals. Holy Family senior QB Rylan Cooney (277 total yards) was sharp in a Week 1 win over Frederick, but the bar gets significantly higher against Broomfield.
No. 5 Montrose (0-1) vs. Fruita Monument (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Montrose
Last meeting: Fruita Monument 30, vs. Montrose 14, Sept. 1, 2022
After a heartbreaking loss to top-ranked Palmer Ridge, Montrose looks too avoid its second consecutive 0-2 start to a season with its Western Slope rivals set to visit. Fruita senior QB Amari Wilson (179 total yards) was nearly flawless against Grand Junction Central last week, and the defense registered seven tackles for loss. Now the challenge is stopping a Montrose ground game that has little trouble pushing opponents around.
CLASS 3A
No. 2 Green Mountain (1-0) vs. Severance (1-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Severance
Last meeting: Green Mountain 42, vs. Severance 0, Sept. 2, 2022
A Rams defense that shut out seven opponents last season, including Severance, opened up the 2023 campaign with an absolutely dominant showing against 4A Golden. Not only did they shut out the Demons, they held them to just 40 yards of offense while totaling two turnovers and six tackles for loss. Next up is Jaden Hoffman-to-Jeremiah Hoffman, a Severance passing duo that accounted for 10 completions, 167 yards and a touchdown in a 39-36 win at Canon City last week.
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