Consider ourselves lucky Week 7 is here.
We’re two rounds away from the beginning of the Colorado schoolboy football postseason (8-man will be first), and so much remains to be seen.
So why stay home?
The Denver Post game of the week will hit the road, Jack, for classic, smashmouth football, the Class 2A Patriot League-Silver, in which Burlington will be at Brush. Nos. 5 and 9, respectively, in The Denver Post/9News 2A poll promise to deliver top-flight, tough-guy play in the class where rushing is king and football remains very much a contact sport.
It’s all about honor in northeastern Colorado.
However, pick one or more of the following to highlight your weekend:
Today
At the moment, 5A No. 6 Arapahoe is cruising and Chaparral is looking to rebound after suffering its first setback. The two will have much to say about the National lead and stretch run in a meeting at Douglas County Stadium.
Both teams are reeling after losses and dismissal from the weekly rankings. Here’s an opportunity in which Mountain Vista or Dakota Ridge can find at least a piece of its character in the 4A Mountain Plains.
Green Mountain, 4A’s No. 6, is a game off the pace in the Mountain Plains and will defend it against Ralston Valley.
4A top-ranked and defending champion ThunderRidge can have its winning streak turn a Sweet 16 with a victory against Golden in the Mountain Plains.
It’s not too early to be thinking about playoff football. Surely it will cross the minds of players in the Centaurus-Alameda matchup in the 3A Metro.
3A top-ranked and undefeated Niwot next gets Valley (4-2).
Friday
Someone needs to deal with No. 7 Gateway in the 5A American. Next up: Highlands Ranch.
The 5A Centennial isn’t a 100-game struggle, it just seems that way. Of note this round, fifth-ranked Mullen will be at Fairview, which has dropped two of its past three games, and new No. 1 Cherry Creek (you’ve heard that one before) will meet Overland in what almost always comes down to a tough grudge match worth watching.
Fort Collins rivalries have been significant in the Front Range, and we’ll have another go with the 5A No. 8 Lambkins meeting Poudre.
5A Jefferson County, which commands three of the top four spots, is in full flight. Two interesting takeoffs will have No. 3 Arvada West against Chatfield and No. 2 Bear Creek versus Pomona.
The 5A National is by no means a senior circuit, but it will command respect with Doherty at Lewis-Palmer.
Many Aurora Central Trojans, 5A independents, may be making their first trips to Johnstown, where they will meet Roosevelt’s RoughRiders, 2A’s No. 3.
No. 5 Wasson at Cañon City will be for a least a share of the 4A Foothills lead.
No, they’re not sweethearts, but the crosstown matchup of Loveland against Thompson Valley is significant in the 4A Northern.
Before we get any deeper into the second half, be advised: That’s a good Grand Junction football team. The 4A No. 3 Tigers, who average 44 points, next get Durango in the Southwestern.
Widefield, working on three wins in a row after dropping its first three games in 2005, is within range of the Pikes Peak lead, but Fountain-Fort Carson, its next foe, certainly has other ideas.
The Bell Game, Colorado’s benchmark for regular-season interest and tradition, will have Pueblo’s Centennial and Central going at it yet again. Your great-grandparents may be your only family members to have viewed the first one, Thanksgiving Day in 1892.
3A No. 2 Florence will be seeking further separation in the Southern by downing Pueblo West.
3A No. 4 and undefeated Northridge, tied for the Tri-Valley lead with Niwot, will be looking to fend off Berthoud, a game off the pace.
Big doings in the 3A Western Slope as No. 5 Eagle Valley will be at No. 6 Steamboat Springs.
2A No. 4 and undefeated Lamar will be at St. Mary’s to determine the Tri-Peaks East lead.
Of course, No. 3 Akron at No. 2 Wray goes beyond the 1A North Central.
This used to be Dolores County at Dolores in the San Juan. Now, it’s Dove Creek at Dolores. No matter. It’s still a rivalry.
The winner of 8-man No. 5 Granada at Wiley will clinch at least a tie for the Arkansas Valley title.
No. 2 Haxtun at Flagler will be for at least second place in the 8-man Plains.
Top-ranked Idalia at No. 5 Kit Carson will be fun among the 6-man unbeaten.
Today
Credit head coach John Schultz and the 5A No. 10 Grandview Wolves for a 5-1 overall start without super all-around performer Aubrey Quarles, who remains on the sidelines with academic problems. However, the Wolves will find out today if he can return beginning with a Centennial game at home against Boulder.
Talented Montbello, in a three-way tie for the Denver Prep lead, will take on John F. Kennedy, just a game back. By the way, it looks like Montbello, East and TJ will remain in 5A for the next two-year cycle. Previous talk had only East staying with the big boys.
A rebound for No. 4 Columbine after its overtime loss last week begins against Standley Lake in 5A Jeffco.
Pueblo East, still looking to get former Broncos great and new head coach Rick Upchurch his first coaching victory, will welcome No. 7 Pine Creek in the 4A Pikes Peak.
Lakewood, which had a huge victory over Dakota Ridge last week, can get deeper into the 4A Mountain Plains picture with a victory over Arvada.
It’s a good weekend to be in the 3A Western Slope. No. 3 and league-leading Palisade will entertain No. 7 Moffat County.
Because of earlier setbacks this season, No. 7 Holy Family at Kent Denver in the 2A Metropolitan just got that much more interesting as we near the end of the regular season.
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
