Denver Post staff writer Jon E. Yunt takes a look ahead at the action in high school sports:
FOOTBALL
Hi-Plains spectacular
If 6-man football is your thing, it is imperative you make the trip east on Interstate 70 to Vona on Friday afternoon for an East Central League game. Preseason No. 1 Hi-Plains (5-0) has outscored its previous three opponents 163-4 (field goals in 6-man are worth four points) and have been tested just once — Week 2 at Kit Carson. The Patriots have dedicated their season to former standout Evan Bancroft, who died in a construction accident in June. His No. 3 jersey was retired Sept. 13.
Idalia, also 5-0 and ranked No. 2, has tradition on its side, and the Wolves, under the tutelage of former player Perry Allen, have had it clicking in all facets of the game since Week 1. Kickoff is 4 p.m.
BOYS GOLF
Tee it high and let’ em fly.
The trophies have been ordered and polished. Now it’s time to start handing them out. The start of the fall championships season is upon us and gets underway Monday and Tuesday. The Class 5A tournament ventures to the Air Force Academy and the beautiful Eisenhower Golf Club. Defending team champion Fairview and runner-up Brennan Dolan will have a host of challengers.
Class 4A heads to the northwest corner of the state to Craig, and the Yampa Valley Golf Course. If you need a good team race to keep an eye on, how about the trio of Greeley Central, D’Evelyn and last year’s runner-up from Pueblo Centennial?
The inaugural 3A tournament will be in Elizabeth with Kent Denver the odds-on favorite to claim the initial small-school title. Individually, keep an eye on Front Range Christian’s Min Kyu Jeon, a South Korean exchange student.
BOYS SOCCER
Creek and Grandview go big time
Last month the nation’s soccer powers came to Denver. Now Cherry Creek and Grandview will head to Collinsville, Ill. (outside of St. Louis) for the Gateway City Soccer Classic starting today and running through Saturday. The Bruins and Wolves are among a field of 29 teams representing 13 states.
VOLLEYBALL
Title game rematch
The final two Class 3A teams standing at the Denver Coliseum last season square off for the second time in the regular season Saturday morning. Colorado Springs Christian beat The Classical Academy 3-1 last month.
TRACK AND FIELD
Angelic assembly
Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver will be back home in Denver this week and will be honored Friday morning at his alma mater, East High School, with an assembly at 9 a.m. Oliver competed in the 110-meter hurdles.
