Guess what. We’re at midseason for Colorado 2007 schoolboy football, beyond the midway point for certain classifications.
Times flies as we take on Week 5 with some of its biggest matchups noted below:
Today
* Bear Creek, ranked No. 5 in Class 5A and miffed at losing last week on a gamble against Pomona, will be looking to get right against Lakewood in the South Metro League.
* No. 7 Broomfield, currently in command of the 4A Northern, is looking for a perfect first half. The Eagles will be at Mountain View.
* Concerning newbies, Mountain Range, which has climbed to No. 9, has a date with Rock Canyon in the 3A Central Metro.
Friday
* OK, so the 5A Centennial race is on – again – to dethrone No. 2 Mullen, which has lost only one league game since 2002. The Mustangs will meet Eaglecrest, the early (4 p.m.) game of a doubleheader at Legacy Stadium. The nightcap features Fairview at Grandview (7:30 p.m.).
* Smoky Hill has returned to earth – losing to Overland after a 3-0 start – but can take off again if it can get past an all-too-familiar nemesis, No. 6 Cherry Creek, in the 5A Centennial.
* Feeling good at 3-1, Heritage can’t be fooled – Chaparral, its next foe in the 5A Continental, has some good personnel.
* Good news: The 5A South Metro’s upper end is offering matchups among its elite. No. 10 Pomona against Arvada West could be exceptional.
* Extreme 4A Foothills – Pueblo Central at No. 6 Air Academy.
* Does it ever end in the powerful 4A Mountain Plains? Obviously not this week as No. 2 Ralston Valley will invade Highlands Ranch to take on No. 1 ThunderRidge.
* No. 6 Glenwood Springs at Battle Mountain decided a 2006 playoff spot from the 3A Western Slope, so keep an eye on this version, too.
* It’s an annual must-see in 2A – top-ranked Holy Family at No. 2 and defending state champion Faith Christian in the Flatirons League – and we may see it again in November.
* Yes, it’s close to Kansas, but what’s a road trip on the weekend? Don’t miss No. 3 Limon at No. 6 Burlington in the 1A South Central.
* It’s official. Consider McClave (3-1), which has missed the playoffs since 1978, in the hunt. The Cardinals will be at Holly in 8-man’s Arkansas Valley.
* The eastern side of the state seems to be full of big games. Case in point: 6-man’s top-ranked Idalia will welcome No. 3 Hi-Plains in the East Central.
Saturday
* Highlands Ranch, just a game off the pace in the 5A Continental, will entertain a disappointed-to- date (and .500) Arapahoe.
* Live! In Highlands Ranch, it’s Saturday night (7 p.m.) for Range- view at No. 4 Mountain Vista in the 5A Continental.
* We knew the game, a local stable, was coming, but certainly not the records so far for Kent Denver (1-3) at Denver Christian (0-4) in the 2A Colorado League.
* The balance and stability of 1A will be further underlined when No. 10 Hayden visits No. 5 Dolores.
