CLASS 5A
No. 7 Castle View (6-1) vs. No. 6 Mountain Vista (6-1)
When/where: 4 p.m. Friday at Halftime Help Stadium
Last meeting: Mountain Vista 38, at Castle View 21, Oct. 13, 2022
The last major hurdle between Mountain Vista and a potential winner-take-all Week 10 showdown with Valor Christian? A Castle View defense that’s among the stingiest in the state, and fresh off a 49-7 win over ThunderRidge that also saw QB Derek Gordon throw four TD passes. The No. 1 challenge for Mountain Vista on Friday will be finding a way to keep edge rusher Jordan Ochoa (4½ sacks) away from junior QB Austyn Modrzewski (2,108 yards, 24 TDs passing).
No. 1 Cherry Creek (7-0) vs. Eaglecrest (6-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Cherry Creek 42, vs. Eaglecrest 7, Oct. 14, 2022
Creek’s three-week gauntlet has arrived. If the four-time defending state champion Bruins are to do what each of the past two Creek teams could not — win the Centennial League title outright — it starts Friday with a visit to Eaglecrest. The Raptors have re-established themselves as a tough out at the 5A level, with a defense that’s allowing 12.6 points per game. They’ll need a similar effort against Creek, which has three shutouts in its last four games.
Rock Canyon (5-2) vs. Valor Christian (3-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Valor Stadium
Last meeting: Valor 28, at Rock Canyon 13, Oct. 15, 2022
Valor’s rise from a 1-4 start to the season encounters another potential pitfall with Rock Canyon set to visit on Friday. The Eagles have cruised through two league games, beating both Castle View (21-3) and Highlands Ranch (45-6) by double digits, and will have to continue that trend if they hope to maintain a streak of winning seasons that dates back to 2009.
No. 3 Pine Creek (7-0) vs. Legend (5-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at EchoPark Stadium
Last meeting: Legend 31, at Pine Creek 14, Oct. 14, 2022
Pine Creek has answered every test it’s faced so far this fall, with last Friday’s come-from-behind win over Regis Jesuit the most recent. The Eagles can thank senior linebacker/running back Mason Miller for the latter. The Iowa State commit scored a pair of touchdowns and registered two tackles for loss in the win over Regis, and he has four TFLs combined over his last three games.
CLASS 4A
Dakota Ridge (4-3) vs. No. 5 Golden (6-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: Golden 49, at Dakota Ridge 41, Oct. 13, 2022
A year ago, these two produced a barn-burner that ultimately decided the Mountain West League title. That may very well be the case again this fall. Golden has won six straight since losing to 3A No. 1 Green Mountain in Week 1, with senior Luc Chevalier (76 carries, 561 yards) the driving force for an offense averaging 182.1 yards/game on the ground. With two-way QB Blake Palladino (1,564 total yards, 15 TDs) on the other side, another shootout could be in the cards.
CLASS 3A
Frederick (3-3) vs. No. 9 Riverdale Ridge (5-1)
When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at Riverdale Ridge High School
Last meeting: Frederick 42, vs. Riverdale Ridge 14, Oct. 13, 2022
Riverdale Ridge is one win away from clinching its first winning season in program history with a resurgent Frederick squad up next. The Golden Eagles have won three straight by a combined score of 120-40, as junior quarterback Gavin Ishmael has compiled 1,016 total yards (774 passing, 242 rushing) and 13 TDs in those victories. A Riverdale Ridge defense that’s picked off 10 passes (Cayden Trujillo and Isaak Alvidrez have three apiece) better be ready.
No. 7 Northfield (5-1) vs. No. 3 Holy Family (5-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium
Last meeting: Holy Family 48, at Northfield 6, Oct. 15, 2022
After knocking off Lutheran last week, Holy Family takes on the seventh-ranked Nighthawks in its third Top 10 matchup in four games. Northfield’s lone loss of the season came in OT against 4A Vista Ridge, with the Nighthawks holding their other five opponents to 35 points total. Now comes their stiffest test yet: Dual-threat QB Rylan Cooney (1,616 total yards, 20 TDs), senior RB Dominic Gabriel (703 yards, 7 TDs) and a Holy Family offense averaging 34.3 points/game.
Northridge (5-1) vs. No. 4 Roosevelt (5-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Randall Hess Stadium
Last meeting: Roosevelt 36, at Northridge 7, Oct. 13, 2022
Two teams coming off stunning losses meet in a game that at one point seemed destined to feature two undefeated squads. Roosevelt is looking to rebound from a 40-20 loss to Resurrection Christian, while Northridge is coming off 34-14 defeat against previously winless Mountain View. A Roosevelt run game that entered last week’s loss averaging 291.2 yards/game will look to get back on track after managing just 92 against Resurrection Christian.
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