Getting your player ready...
Nearly a month into 2006, Colorado schoolboy football will turn to a couple of annual powers on the next-to-highest level for leadership.
In The Denver Post game of the week, Broomfield at Loveland represents a combined nine state championships as well as new league alignment in the two-year cycle. Broomfield, ranked No. 5 in The Denver Post/9News Class 4A poll and late of the Skyline League, will have a Northern meeting at No. 8 Loveland (five titles, the most recent in 2000).
However, as we start to cook, don’t miss some of the following for your viewing pleasure:
Today
- For the 43rd time, Boulder will meet Fairview, which owns a 23-19 edge in the city series. The 5A Centennial game will be played at the old standby, Christian Recht Field, a site that remains one of the more historic and interesting places to view a game. The past three games have included an overtime and have been decided by a combined five points.
- Horizon can match its first 3-1 start since 1999 – also the last year it made the playoffs – if the Hawks can defeat Thornton in the 5A Front Range.
- Consider it a victim of Colorado’s classification system as well as a shame – 4A Central of Grand Junction will take on 5A Fruita Monument in a matchup that is considered nonleague.
- Not long ago, Cherokee Trail hosting Aurora Central would have been laughed at … but not any more. It will figure heavily into the lead for the 4A Skyline.
- Feel good. Rock Canyon and Castle View, two of the state’s newer schools, will play in the 3A Central Metro as well as accept donations and hold a raffle for 8-year-old Kohl Benjamin, who is battling a rare cancer. Proceeds at Douglas County Stadium will help defray medical costs for the Benjamin family.
Friday
- Eaglecrest and Grandview, close in proximity as well as in the 5A poll – they are Nos. 4 and 5, respectively – have a Centennial biggie at Legacy Stadium. Eaglecrest has permitted a 5A-low 18 points.
- OK, they’re both 1-2 in the 5A Continental, but Arapahoe vs. Heritage means rivalry as well as possession of the Milk Can or Brookridge Trophy, in honor of the old dairy site that is Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
- With this oddball system, there’s a first time for everything – the city’s East and Thomas Jefferson will have their inaugural 5A Denver Prep/Southwest encounter.
- No. 9 Bear Creek righted itself last week and will take on Pomona, stinging from a mistake-filled loss, in the 5A South Metro. Seven of its 10 teams are 2-1 entering Week 4. Meanwhile, Lakewood will be at Doherty; the Week 2 league leaders were each blown off the field in Week 3.
- Mountain football can make for unusual matchups. How about home-schooled American Academy, from Utah, at 4A Grand Junction?
- Ring in the 58th Bell Game at Dutch Clark Stadium in which Pueblans past and present will rock to Central and Centennial, in 4A nonleague.
- No. 9 Summit will host D’Evelyn (both are 3-0) for the 3A Central Metro lead.
- No. 7 Englewood, 3A’s Central North leader, cannot afford to be blinded by its date at No. 1 Alamosa, the South Metro co-leader (with Florence).
- The new 2A Flatirons appears loaded. Here’s a reason: No. 7 Erie will be at top-ranked Faith Christian.
- Wow! No. 3 Akron at No. 6 Wray in the 1A North Central is a must-see.
- No. 10 Longmont Christian and No. 4 Merino, which met in the 2005 8-man quarterfinals, have reloaded to meet in East’s Plains Division.
Saturday
- Defending 5A champion and top-ranked Douglas County, on a 16-game winning streak, will host Rangeview in the Continental.
- At high noon, No. 2 Ralston Valley and No. 9 Dakota Ridge will have their opener in the tough Mountain Plains.
- Nice victory for Delta last week. It handled Battle Mountain. However, the Panthers will get No. 4 Palisade next in the 3A Western Slope.
- The fickle finger of fate points at South Park, outscored 170-0 through three weeks, yet host in the 1A South Central to Limon, the three-time defending state champion on a winning streak of 42 games.
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
