If it is what it is, then today’s beginning of Week 1 in Colorado’s 2006 schoolboy football season should be the mix of anticipation and emotion one would expect with the 86th version of openers.
And it may only get better.
Since 1921, the names, equipment and faces have continued to change and evolve, while the feeling for the state’s most popular game only gets stronger.
The first highlight will be Saturday’s Class 3A matchup, Faith Christian, top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News poll, at No. 5 Kent Denver, 3 p.m., in The Denver Post game of the week, although even a modest first round of matchups deserves watching, particularly when containing the following:
Today
- Notable pedigree for Regis, which will be at fellow Auroran Rangeview in the new 5A Continental League. The Raiders sport quarterback Klay Kubiak, son of Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak, the former Broncos quarterback and assistant coach; and Ryan Tauer, son of Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer.
- Add 5A Continental: Heritage, which has been inconspicuous by winning only three games the past two seasons, opens at Highlands Ranch.
- The first examples of Colorado Springs and Jefferson County together as one – No. 8 Arvada West, a semifinalist in 2005, will be at Doherty and Lewis-Palmer will leave Monument to meet No. 7 Bear Creek in Lakewood. It’s all part of the new 5A South Metro.
- Historical: Add the dateline of Henderson to the fray as the new Prairie View has its first game, at Evergreen in 3A nonleague.
- Historical II and with other views: The new Castle View will host Skyview, also in 3A nonleague.
Friday
- So much for cream puffs. No. 9 Arapahoe will meet Chaparral in a demanding 5A Continental League opener, a season-shaper for both.
- Why should Lakewood’s return to 5A be easy? The Tigers will take on No. 3 Columbine in the new 5A South Metro.
- Local young men are heading West, at least for weekend getaways. 5A No. 10 Eaglecrest, 4A No. 1 Monarch and 5A Overland will play in California. Eaglecrest will meet Burroughs, Monarch has a date with La Canada and Overland will take on Los Osos.
- Thomas Jefferson, one of 20 Zero Week winners, will be in Aurora to take on No. 5 Grandview, coming off a semifinalist showing a year, in 5A nonleague.
- It’s 4A nonleague, but Fountain-Fort Carson at Cañon City should be about physical play.
- In Pueblo, No. 6 South, which has made the playoffs every season since 1999, will open against what should be an improved Centennial in 4A nonleague.
Two-time defending 4A champion ThunderRidge will begin playing for a third when it hosts 5A Fruita Monument. The Grizzlies have won 23 games in succession.
Defending 3A champion Florence, No. 4, first has 2A Eaton at home.
- The 3A top-ranked Alamosa Mean Moose, seeking to take the next step after last year’s semifinals, will begin at home against 2A No. 9 Pagosa Springs.
- 2A No. 2 Holy Family will have its second game (the Tigers won in Zero Week), a nonleaguer at Roosevelt’s RoughRiders.
- Limon is looking to turn the big four-oh, as in 40 consecutive victories for the three-time defending 1A state champions. The Badgers will host Wiggins.
- 1A Burlington’s drop from 2A figures to be eventful. The No. 2 Cougars will be at No. 6 Wray.
- Big doings in 8-man – top-ranked Haxtun will open against visiting Sierra Grande, and No. 2 Granada will entertain No. 9 Swink.
- Aguilar and Liberty have had trouble fielding enough players for 6-man teams. Lucky us. It means their original opponents, defending state champion and top-ranked Idalia, and No. 2 Kit Carson, will meet.
Saturday
- Welcome to 5A, Mountain Vista. The Golden Eagles will open against Ponderosa in their first 5A Continental encounter.
- 4A No. 10 Dakota Ridge will host Brighton, which switched from 5A.
- Another debut – first-year Mountain Range will be at Ridge View Academy in 3A nonleague.
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
