CLASS 5A
Arvada West (5-2) vs. No. 9 Denver East (5-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at All City Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
Every week brings at least two marquee matchups in the rough-and-tumble 5A Metro League, and this is the first of them in Week 8. Denver East is fresh off a dramatic 29-26 win over Chatfield that saw the Angels rally from a 14-point deficit, while Arvada West was Columbine’s latest victim in a 35-14 loss in which mistakes negated a 323-yard passing day from Logan Duhachek. If the A-West junior QB is going to match those numbers Thursday, the Wildcats offensive line will have to keep an eye on East senior edge rusher D.J. Crowe (18.0 TFLs, 10.5 sacks).
No. 6 Ralston Valley (6-1) vs. No. 3 Columbine (7-0)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium
Last meeting: Columbine 30, at Ralston Valley 14, Oct. 6, 2023
The other 5A Metro League showdown this week is a grudge match between perennial 5A powers that are constantly a thorn in each other’s sides. Columbine has won 21 straight dating back to 2023. The last team to beat them? Ralston Valley, which is 4-3 vs. Columbine since 2018, and 3-2 in league play. Outside of a Week 1 shootout with Erie (48-38) and 34-17 loss to Valor Christian in Week 5, the Mustangs defense has been rock solid. But the thunder-and-lightning backfield of senior James Basinger (1,279 yards, 16 TDs) and junior Mark Snyder (920, 13) is unlike any challenge they’ve faced thus far.
No. 2 Cherry Creek (6-1) vs. Eaglecrest (5-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Cherry Creek 21, at Eaglecrest 0, Oct. 13, 2023
A week after an upset loss to Cherokee Trail, the Raptors face an even bigger test with the Bruins paying a visit. Senior quarterback Joe Steiner is both the Raptors’ leading passer (1,040 yards, 12 TDs) and rusher (515 yards, 8TDs), and he’ll need to tap into both skills if Eaglcrest is going to hang with Creek. The Bruins have allowed seven points total over two Centennial League games and scored 86 behind junior QB Brady Vodicka’s cannon arm (561 yards, 5TDs) and junior RB Jayden Fox’s game-breaking legs (191 yards, 3 TDs).
CLASS 4A
No. 2 Dakota Ridge (6-1) vs. Highlands Ranch (5-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Halftime Help Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
After winning four games over its last three seasons in 5A, Highlands Ranch appears to have found its level in the 4A South Metro League. With senior QB Crew Gerig (1,358 yards, 19 TDs on 60.4% passing) slinging it, the Falcons can score in bunches. They were within a touchdown of Ponderosa in the fourth quarter last week before ultimately falling, 42-28. Now they must find another level against red-hot Dakota Ridge, which has won six straight since a Week 1 loss to Chatfield while averaging 388.7 yards and 33.1 points per game.
No. 3 Montrose (7-0) vs. No. 5 Mesa Ridge (5-2)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Mesa Ridge
Last meeting: Montrose 43, vs. Mesa Ridge 12, Oct. 20, 2023
For the fifth time in six weeks, Mesa Ridge takes on a Post Preps Top 10 team as the Grizzlies play host to a Montrose program looking to win its fourth straight league title. Mesa Ridge nearly knocked off top-ranked Pueblo West a week ago, with senior quarterback Bryce Riehl accounting for 247 of the Grizzlies’ 385 total yards in the 31-28 loss. The big challenge will be finding a way to match Montrose’s physical and technically sound ground-and-pound attack. Through seven games, no defense has been able to solve that riddle.
No. 8 Vista Ridge (5-2) vs. No. 6 Palmer Ridge (6-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Don Breese Stadium
Last meeting: Palmer Ridge 51, vs. Vista Ridge 0, Oct. 27, 2023
Palmer Ridge has been a roadblock standing in front of Vista Ridge since 2021, winning four straight by a cumulative score of 151-38 with two shutouts and one narrow win (24-17) to speak of. Is this the Vista Ridge team to finally bust through? The Wolves’ two losses are to 5A defending champion Columbine and 4A No. 1 Pueblo West. They’ve won two straight since those setbacks, including a 21-14 victory over Rampart last week that featured three takeaways and three tackles for loss from the defense. The Bears showed grit of their own at Durango last Friday, beating the Demons 24-21 to run their league win streak to 12. No. 13 may not be any easier.
CLASS 3A
Mountain View (5-1) vs. No. 4 Thompson Valley (6-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Patterson Stadium
Last meeting: Thompson Valley 21, at Mountain View 14, Oct. 13, 2023
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Thompson Valley already picked off one cross-town rival earlier this season, beating Loveland 20-0 in Week 4. Now the Eagles can complete the city sweep for the second year in a row with a fourth straight win over Mountain View. Talk about a role reversal. Mountain View won 12 of 13 in this series before 2021. Now it’s the Mountain Lions who are chasing an upset, riding a four-game win streak into a showdown with one of the last two unbeatens in 3A. It will be strength vs. strength: A Thompson Valley defense that’s allowed two touchdowns over six games vs. a Mountain View offense averaging 34.3 points per game.
No. 6 Pueblo Central (5-1) vs. No. 8 Pueblo East (4-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Dutch Clark Stadium
Last meeting: Pueblo Central 20, vs. Pueblo East 14, Sept. 7, 2023
A big year for prep football in Pueblo produces another big matchup at Dutch Clark Stadium. Led by seniors Amari Brown (743 yards rushing, 8 TDs) and Genaro Pino (1,008 total yards, 8 TDs), Pueblo Central has steamrolled through its in-state schedule, beating the five Colorado teams it’s faced 207-53. But in Pueblo East, the Wildcats will face an offense that just might be capable of trading haymakers with them. The Eagles have scored 119 points over their last two games alone, including a 63-42 stunner at Holy Family in which they gained 623 total yards. First one to 50 wins?
Note: All stats taken from MaxPreps.com.
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