6:30 p.m. today,
French Field
The prize is before their eyes — the winner will clinch no less than a tie for the Class 5A Front Range League title and one of the 32-team playoff bracket’s top eight seeds. Before the season, the league favorite was a mystery. With two weeks to play in the regular season, this league game matches two of the few unbeaten teams in the state. Fairview probably is the bigger surprise and surely remembers 2008, when Fort Collins put 70 points on the Knights. The Lambkins have climbed steadily behind QB Erik Brakke, left.
Cherry Creek (3-4) vs. Grandview (5-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Legacy Stadium
Grandview has all but sewn up no worse than second place in the 5A Centennial behind Mullen, which the Wolves plays in Week 9, but there’s plenty of fun to be had between district rivals. Cherry Creek showed fight against Mullen before falling the past week, including a sparkling, one-handed reception by Austin Wilburs, left. However, the Bruins will be facing a Grandview crew that righted itself after being knocked off by Fort Collins, winning the last two weeks by a combined 56-13.
Arvada West (6-1) vs. Bear Creek (3-4)
4 p.m. Friday, Jefferson County Stadium
Don’t look now, but Arvada West’s bid to capture the 5A Big 8 is serious. The Wildcats thoroughly whipped Pomona 31-14 last weekend, are in three-way tie for the Big 8 lead with Pomona and Chatfield, which they’ll meet in Week 9, and are meshing nicely. Kicker Justin Castor, left, had six receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown, and the defense cracked heads. The Bears too, are revitalized after thumping Columbine. Their ground game was stellar, and they appear to be rising. It’s a good time to face A-West.
ThunderRidge (4-2) vs. Chaparral (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Stadium
After winning its first 13 regular-season games in 5A, ThunderRidge dropped two in a row. The Grizzlies got back on track last week by crushing Palmer 56-19 and are just a game off the Southern pace set by Ponderosa and Chaparral. The Wolverines remained in command by defeating Ponderosa in Week 6, and the league’s top postseason seed is within reach. They were overcome by improving Highlands Ranch in Week 7, but defensive end Tommy Harris, left, and the Wolverines can shake it off.
Monarch (7-0)
at Littleton (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday,
Littleton Public
Schools Stadium
No worse than a share of first place in the 4A North Metro is on the line. Coach Phil Bravo’s Monarch has been convincing every time out, notably with victories over 5A’s Thomas Jefferson and Cherry Creek in addition to a hard-fought 24-14 decision of Ralston Valley, tied for second in the league with the Lions and Brighton. Since being handled by Brighton 22-9 in Week 4, the Lions and RB Mister Jones, left, have pasted three foes by a combined 117-6.
Windsor (6-1) vs. Mtn. View (7-0)
7 p.m. Friday,
Ray Patterson Field
Mountain View wasn’t that impressive last week in a 7-6 squeaker over Berthoud, but it was indicative of a 3A top-ranked Mountain Lions season that has been effective. They hold a one-game lead in the Tri-Valley with three to play. Meanwhile, the Wizards, whose only loss involved giving up 27 points in the fourth quarter to Northridge, have otherwise been steady and thorough. They have two shutouts and won 35-32 in Week 7 at Fort Morgan. RB Connor Glenn, left, has nearly 1,100 yards rushing and scored 13 TDs.
Valor Christian (7-0) at Elizabeth (6-1)
7 p.m. Friday Elizabeth Field
Continuing as one of the top stories in 3A, Valor Christian remains in front of the Metro League. In the local midrange world of haves and have-nots, the Eagles (Jared Ward, left) have won their past two games by a combined 110-0 and have been sharp after a season-opening, one-point, nonleague victory over D’Evelyn. Elizabeth has been steady too, moving on from its setback, 25-20 to Conifer in Week 4, to be one of six teams within two games of the Metro lead. The Cardinals slipped past Centaurus 12-6 last week.
Yuma (7-0)
at Akron (7-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Akron Field
Here’s another example of why small-school play in eastern Colorado rules. Not only will this game between top-ranked Akron and No. 3 Yuma determine the 1A North Central lead, but it is viewed as the best chance in the regular season for the machine-like Rams to have their winning streak end. It’s at 46 games. Powerful Yuma has been impressive with an aggregate 323-31 scoring advantage. But so has Akron, which has won its past four by a combined 160-20, led by another bunch of multitaskers, including Byron Guy, left.
Dayspring Chr. (7-0) at Merino (7-0)
1 p.m. Saturday
Merino Field
The winning streak has reached 20 games for No. 2 Dayspring Christian, the defending 8-man state champion. No. 1 Merino was won 18 of its past 20 games. This may be the first of two meetings this season between the two — Dayspring Christian beat Merino 26-8 in the 2008 title game. In 2009, Dayspring Christian has won by a combined 343-57; Merino’s Rams, who have more than 30 players on their roster, by 367-42, much of it with the help of quarterback Wyatt Barber, left.
Otis (6-1) at Idalia (7-0)
7 p.m. Friday
Idalia Field
Otis had been humming along briskly in 6-man before Eads’ 46-35 decision the past week. The Bulldogs’ Karson Kuntz rolled to 197 yards rushing, but that wasn’t enough. “Enough” is a word used recently at Idalia, where school was canceled for a bit and so was the Wolves’ game against Bethune. It was played Monday, a 52-24 Idalia win, as it joined Bethune, Manzanola and others in a stand against nasty flu circulating everywhere. Idalia’s Adam Marostica, left, is having a big defensive year at end.
— Compiled by Neil H. Devlin
