Football coaches, including schoolboy level, have developed the outlook: “Teams usually make their biggest improvement between their first and second games.”
We get to see if they’re correct beginning tonight, when Colorado starts Week 2.
After a spate of whitewashings, nailbiters, ho-hummers and upsets, 2006 in-state play will hit its stride with additional rounds of league play, rivalries and first-time gatherings.
This round’s biggie will have Douglas County, ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll and defending Colorado champion, playing at Arapahoe, 5A’s No. 7, Friday, 7 p.m., as The Denver Post game of the week visits the Continental League.
However, the promise of betterment statewide should involve a wider range of significant offerings, labeled below for your viewing pleasure:
Today
- They have had multiple storied matchups for decades, including last season, when Bear Creek won 31-28 on a last-play field goal by a freshman in the regular-season finale to decide the league title. So don’t be surprised if 5A No. 6 Bear Creek and Arvada West produce something similar. What’s new is that the two Jefferson County League powers are now in the South Metro League.
- Boulder at Northglenn is 5A nonleague, but may tell us about the overall depth of the Centennial and Front Range, respectively.
- No. 4 Grandview will host Legacy in 5A nonleague as it’s the Wolves’ turn to state the following: “Next week, we get Mullen.”
- The 3A Western Slope refuses to wait – it will be No. 3 Steamboat Springs at No. 2 Palisade in a league opener, arguably the best game on the board.
Friday
- They’re pretty much down a couple of streets from one another, so why shouldn’t Mountain Vista face Highlands Ranch in the 5A Continental?
- It’s a Friday in a short work week, but knock off early to witness the 4 p.m. kickoff between No. 5 Fort Collins at No. 3 Cherry Creek in 5A nonleague, then stay for the first meeting between 4A Dakota Ridge and 5A Overland.
- Raptors, go home. No. 9 Eaglecrest, which opened last week in California, is on the road again, up Interstate 25 at Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) in 5A nonleague.
- No. 2 Mullen’s home opener will be against Denver’s Montbello, in 5A nonleague.
An upbeat Mesa Ridge is set to experience the resident truth of the Steel City, No. 4 Pueblo South, in the 4A Foothills.
- Guy Barickman Stadium, one of the schoolboy jewels in Colorado, will open its season with No. 10 Fountain-Fort Carson hosting Rampart in the 4A Pikes Peak.
- Ah, that 4A nonleague play – Green Mountain will be at No. 7 Grand Junction. No, the cost of diesel fuel hasn’t dropped considerably.
- No. 10 Roosevelt lost to No. 2 Holy Family in Week 1. This round, the RoughRiders will be at No. 1 Faith Christian in 2A nonleague.
- 8-man No. 1 Haxtun’s gauntlet in the ever-tough North (Plains Division) will begin at No. 6 Merino.
- Tops for the week in the 6- man game? The No. 3 Peetz Bulldogs will host Woodlin.
Saturday
- Through one week, the 5A South Metro paid the most unlikely dividends, with two preseason ranked teams (Arvada West and Columbine) losing. Next up: No. 8 Columbine will be at Palmer and Sand Creek’s Scorpions have a date at Lakewood’s Tigers, who are coming off their first big-school league victory in 17 years.
- 2A Kent Denver is off to an 0-2 start, but the Sun Devils have lost to 3A No. 3 Steamboat Springs and 2A No. 1 Faith Christian. It won’t be much easier – 2A No. 3 Brush will visit Cherry Hills Village in nonleague.
- Platte Valley’s Broncos, ranked sixth, will be at Denver Christian in 2A nonleague.
- Gilpin County, which ended a 13-game losing streak last week, can build a winning streak if it defeats Vail Christian in the 8-man Central.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
