Forgive Colorado schoolboy footballers and followers if they’re in a tizzy.
Week 9, so fine, probably is the most frantic time of the 2005 season.
For instance, it will mark the beginning of the Class A 8-man state playoffs.
The 2A, 1A and 6-man groups are in their final week of the regular season, including a couple of 2A leagues that will have cross-division matchups to determine playoff seeding.
And the 5A, 4A and 3A classes will be settling league titles and postseason berths, not to mention setting up last-minute scrambles for Week 10.
And you think you’re busy?
The Denver Post game of the week will head slightly out of the area for a Saturday matchup that will decide the 1A South Central championship. It will be two-time defending Colorado champion Limon, winner of 34 consecutive games, vs. Byers at 1 p.m. in Strasburg between the Nos. 1 and 8 teams, respectively, in The Denver Post/9News 1A poll.
However, as stated above, so many others warrant your consideration and are listed below, and keep an eye toward Week 10, when there will be another wave of them:
Today
No. 4 Bear Creek, stung by Columbine last week, will be at 1-7 Standley Lake in 5A Jefferson County before settling the league championship next week against top-ranked Arvada West.
Fort Collins, which has forged a three-way tie for the 5A Front Range lead, would do well to be prepared for host Thornton, which has fought back to .500.
A sticky situation? At the moment, No. 6 Greeley West has a one-game lead in the 4A Northern. However, No. 5 Thompson Valley can forge a tie with a victory and one game to play (Greeley West will face Loveland in Week 10, which has already lost to Thompson Valley).
Up-and-down Rampart can keep the heat on in the 4A Pikes Peak if it handles Sand Creek’s Scorpions.
Friday
Aurora’s backyard always contains entertainment. No. 6 Gateway at Rangeview in the 5A American should be no exception. Gateway, by the way, will be at Regis, currently a half- game ahead in the league, in Week 10.
Big doings in the 5A Centennial – No. 8 and league-leading Grandview will be at No. 5 and defending state champion Mullen; No. 3 Cherry Creek will be at feisty Eaglecrest. (Keep in mind Grandview will play Cherry Creek in Week 10.) Also, Boulder (lineman John Kyed officially has been accepted at Stanford) can triple its victory total from last season (one) if it can get past Overland.
No. 9 Montbello can clinch the 5A Denver Prep’s top postseason seed and a tie for the league title if it handles George Washington. Conversely, a GW victory means the Pats can do likewise in Week 10 if they also defeat Thomas Jefferson.
The 5A Front Range may have been overshadowed – again – by the Centennial and Jeffco leagues, but state the following: It has been competitive … again. Tri-leader Legacy will be at Brighton and Poudre, also in a three-way tie for the lead, will have another Fort Collins rivalry game with Rocky Mountain.
The 5A National title belongs to No. 7 Douglas County if it handles rival Chaparral. However, a Chaparral victory gives the Wolverines the tiebreaker with one game to play.
Regis, winner of five consecutive games and quietly atop the 5A American, will take on the National’s Arapahoe, an important matchup in the wild- card chase.
4A top-ranked and defending state champion ThunderRidge can turn 18 (as in consecutive games won) with a home victory against scrappy Lakewood. The Grizzlies have clinched the league’s top seed and at least a share of the championship. Meanwhile, No. 8 Ralston Valley, which has the inside track on second place, can keep it by downing Mountain Vista.
Another year, and another last-week showdown looms in the 4A Skyline between No. 2 Monarch and Broomfield. Monarch, which will host Ranum, and Broomfield, scheduled to be home against Adams City, are set to meet in Week 10.
Head to the hills – No. 3 and undefeated Grand Junction will welcome No. 9 Montrose in the Southwestern.
There’s still time for shuffling in the 3A Southern. Harrison at No. 10 Woodland Park may account for some of it.
No. 5 Eagle Valley will be at Glenwood Springs in the 3A Western Slope. In Week 10, the Devils will host league-leading Palisade.
In the 3A Tri-Valley, top- ranked and undefeated Niwot will be at Fort Morgan. No. 4 and undefeated North- ridge will host Valley’s Vikings. And you guessed it – in Week 10, Northridge will be at Niwot.
Top-ranked and undefeated Faith Christian has the 2A Metropolitan under control, having clinched the championship and league’s top postseason seed. But the Eagles could be tested in their regular-season finale, a date at No. 10 Holy Family.
Must-see 1A North Central play – No. 4 Wray at No. 2 and undefeated Lyons will either decide the league (if Lyons wins) or possibly create a three-way tie that would involve No. 3 Akron, which will be at Holyoke.
The 1A San Juan will be decided when No. 9 Dolores heads to No. 6 Nucla.
6-man may have only one league, but it’s almost always important when No. 3 Revere plays at top-ranked and un- defeated Idalia.
Saturday
Top-ranked Arvada West knows better than to look beyond Pomona in 5A Jeffco. Never mind next week’s possible title game against Bear Creek – the Panthers would love nothing better than to ruin it for their district rivals, and they are quite capable.
It’s nonleague and late in the season, but color Durango at Pine Creek interesting.
6-man Aguilar, fighting to stay alive in the wild-card chase, will be at Bethune.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
