CLASS 5A
Douglas County (3-0) vs. No. 8 Castle View (3-0)
When/where: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at EchoPark Stadium
Last meeting: Castle View 29, at Douglas County 7, Sept. 15, 2023
The Battle of the Rock comes to … Parker? Castle View has won seven of the last 10 between these two, but Douglas County has taken two of three since 2021. The Huskies are coming off an impressive 38-21 win over Rock Canyon that saw senior Roman Saiz catch six passes for 230 yards and 2TDs. The yards will be harder to come by against the Sabercats, who’ve allowed 13 points total through three games. Castle View running back Aaron Perry (351 yards, 5 TDs rushing) leads a balanced Castle View offense (207.0 yards passing, 208.3 rushing/game).
Denver East (3-0) vs. Eaglecrest (2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Eaglecrest 35, vs. Denver East 0, Aug. 30, 2013
East steamrolled through its first three opponents, winning by a combined margin of 133-12. Led by senior defensive end D.J. Crowe (5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss), the Angels defense is formidable. The offense, averaging 44.3 points/game, is also off to a good start. Now comes their most difficult test yet with a trip to Aurora to take on the Raptors, who gave seventh-ranked Chatfield all it could handle in a 23-16 loss last Friday.
4A No. 6 Vista Ridge (3-0) vs. No. 3 Columbine (3-0)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Jeffco Stadium
Last meeting: First meeting
Defending 5A champion Columbine is back doing its ground-and-pound thing, churning out 320 rushing yards/game with senior James Basinger (65 carries, 525 yards) the driving force. Can 4A power Vista Ridge, fresh off a shutout of 5A Denver South, match the Rebels in the trenches? The Wolves have a bell-cow back of their own in Gabriel McFarland (408 yards, 4 TDs). A win here might establish Vista Ridge as the team to beat in 4A.
Arapahoe (2-1) vs. No. 10 Pine Creek (2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at D20 Stadium South
Last meeting: N/A
Two teams riding two-game win streaks meet in the Springs looking to maintain their momentum. Pine Creek has put 97 points on the board since losing 31-14 to Valor Christian in Week 0, with quarterback Cameron Cooper catching fire with 406 total yards and 4 TDs. Arapahoe has 90 points since getting shut out by No. 2 Mountain Vista, including 48 in last week’s rout of ThunderRidge that saw senior quarterback Mitchell Price complete 20 of 24 passes for 303 yards and 3 TDs.
No. 1 Cherry Creek (2-1) vs. Highland Park (3-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Highlander Stadium in Dallas, Texas
Last meeting: N/A
The last of Cherry Creek’s three out-of-state games this season is a visit to storied Highland Park and its 9,600-capacity stadium. The Dallas high school counts among its alumni Scottie Scheffler, Matthew Stafford, Clayton Kershaw and Doak Walker. The Scots have won 10-plus games in 11 straight seasons and are unbeaten to start this one. Can the road-weary Bruins, who’ve won two straight since a Week 1 loss in Utah, trade haymakers with one of the Lone Star State’s best?
CLASS 4A
No. 5 Dakota Ridge (2-1) vs. 3A No. 3 Pomona (2-1)
When/where: 4 p.m. Friday at Jeffco Stadium
Last meeting: Pomona 42, at Dakota Ridge 0, Oct. 23, 2003
A week after beating Green Mountain 33-7, resurgent Pomona gets a chance to make another big statement against Dakota Ridge. The latter is facing a ranked opponent for the fourth straight week. With wins over Green Mountain and Mesa Ridge in back-to-back games, the Eagles have an impressive resume of their own. Junior Landon Kalsbeck (443 total yards, 6 TDs, 19 tackles) has emerged as a dynamic two-way force. A Pomona defense that has seven takeaways and allowed only 28 points over three games awaits.
No. 7 Heritage (2-1) vs. No. 8 Mesa Ridge (2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at C.A. Foster Stadium
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Last meeting: Heritage 21, vs. Mesa Ridge 10, Nov. 11, 2022
Mesa Ridge gets its second ranked 4A Jeffco power in as many weeks. The Grizzlies defense struggled to stop the Dakota Ridge run game (308 yards) in a 19-14 loss last week at Jeffco Stadium. Things won’t get any easier against Heritage, which got its rushing attack untracked in a 40-17 win over Northfield last week as Jett Balika ran for 200-plus yards and 3 TDs. That’s a big development given all of the pass-catching weapons at QB Jamison Seese’s disposal.
Legacy (1-2) vs. No. 2 Broomfield (3-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium
Last meeting: Broomfield 34, at Legacy 13, Aug. 30, 2019
Legacy pulled off a stunner last week, scoring 21 fourth-quarter points to rally for a 34-27 upset win over Grandview. It was a coming-out party of sorts for sophomore QB Andrew Gardner, who threw for a career-high 219 yards and three TDs on 14-of-23 passing. Now the Lightning gets a chance to prove that was no fluke against a Broomfield defense that boasts one of the top defensive backs in the state (Mikhail Benner). The Eagles offense, averaging 551.3 yards/game, may be even better.
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