Week 6 in Colorado schoolboy football 2006 indicates the downslope, as in the stretch run of the regular season and doorway to the playoffs.
No kidding, members of the state’s seven classifications have as few as three games left.
Before any more time is wasted, The Denver Post game of the week heads north to the Class 5A Front Range League. Devoid of a champion since 1984 (Northglenn), what could turn out to be the league’s decisive game is Friday night’s Fort Collins (ranked No. 3 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll) against Legacy contest at Five Star Stadium.
In addition, dozens of other games warrant first-hand looks, such as those below for your viewing pleasure:
Today
* Hey, 19 … that’s the number of victories in succession defending 5A champion and top-ranked Douglas County will have if it handles Heritage in the Continental.
* Palmer at Pomona means two of the four teams tied for third at 3-2 in that crazy 5A South Metro will decide who stays in the upper end.
* Well, they’ve done it – 4A Grand Junction against 5A Fruita Monument is nonleague, one of the more asinine repercussions of realignment.
* Pass the salt, Niwot will be at No. 5 Loveland in the 4A Northern.
Friday
* No. 2 Mullen, which has won 30 of its past 32 5A Centennial games, will be at Smoky Hill, loser in 11 of its past 12 league games.
* Crossroads? Fairview (2-1 in league) at 5A No. 9 Eaglecrest (1-2) is a very important matter in the Centennial.
* No. 8 Mountain Vista, undefeated at midseason and tied for the Continental lead, next will get Arapahoe, disappointed at 2-3. Meanwhile, fellow Continental regulars Rangeview and Gateway (Aurora), and Chaparral and Ponderosa (Parker) will do the city- and town-battle things.
* Never mind that Arvada West is 2-3. The Wildcats and 5A No. 5 Columbine, which will meet in the South Metro, have been having terrific games since today’s players were in diapers.
* On the line is second place in the 4A Pikes Peak for Pueblo West at Pine Creek.
* Standley Lake, which has yet to play a postseason game, is 4-1 and hosts Golden in the 4A Mountain Plains.
* Fossil Ridge, which earlier snapped a 23-game losing streak, can have a three-game winning streak if it downs Valley in the 3A Tri-Valley.
* The 3A Tri-Valley also will have surprising Frederick (5-0) in its first significant matchup of the season, at home against No. 6 Sterling.
* 3A No. 2 and undefeated Berthoud will take a break from league and host Moffat County.
* Estes Park, which has yet to score a point (the Bobcats have given up 208), will try to get on the board at Eaton in the 2A Patriot.
* Gunnison at 2A No. 4 Roaring Fork will involve first place in the Western Slope.
* Admit it, there always seem to be big games in 1A. This week, it’s No. 6 Wray at No. 3 Lyons in the North Central.
* No. 7 Grand Valley is seeking a 6-0 start and a victory against visiting Paonia in the 1A Western Slope.
* Eight-man’s North Plains has two to view – Longmont Christian at No. 5 Haxtun and No. 4 Merino at No. 7 Sedgwick County.
* McClave, bidding for its first postseason berth since 1978, is 4-1 and at Wiley in 8-man’s South Arkansas Valley.
* No. 4 and undefeated Pawnee has a 6-man nonleaguer against visiting Otis.
Saturday
* Give thanks for the 5A Centennial – No. 6 Overland against No. 4 Grandview at Legacy Stadium should make your afternoon.
* It’s odd all the way around – East and Montbello are both 1-4 overall; winless in the Denver Prep/Southwest; and have a 10 a.m. kickoff time. Hope there’s juice and Wheaties.
* The festival of Mountain Plains will have No. 6 and undefeated Wheat Ridge at Arvada, and No. 7 and two-time defending 4A champion ThunderRidge hosting Dakota Ridge.
* Three-time defending champion and No. 1 Limon can tie Longmont (1988-92) with 45 victories in a row, second-best in Colorado annals and tops for 11-man, if it defeats Cripple Creek-Victor in the 1A South Central.
* No. 3 Stratton at Simla will involve two of the three teams tied for the I-70 lead.
