Arapahoe (5-1) at Columbine (6-0)
Friday, 4 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium
Without question, Arapahoe, which hasn’t had a winning record since 2005, including 3-7 in each of the past two seasons, notched its best victory of the season, 35-31 over Bear Creek last week. . . . Quarterback Alec Gieser ran for a touchdown and passed for another in the decisive fourth quarter. . . . Columbine has survived back-to-back overtime outings — the Rebels outlasted Chatfield 31-24 two weeks ago, then used four touchdowns by Cameron McDondle and an extra period to down Heritage 27-21.
Heritage (1-5) at Mullen (6-0)
Friday, 7 p.m., Brother Bernard Kinneavy de La Salle Stadium
We don’t see these every week. It’s the defending 4A champion Eagles — they moved up in the current two-year cycle of realignment — against the two-time defending 5A champion Mustangs. . . . Three of Heritage’s losses have been by nine points or fewer. . . . Mullen has won 25 games in a row (its last loss was in the final week of the 2008 regular season, 17-10 at Grandview). Its defense, including strapping Leilon Willingham, has been better than the Phillies’ Roy Halladay — the Mustangs have pitched shutouts in five of six games.
ThunderRidge (4-2) at Highlands Ranch (7-0)
Friday, 7 p.m., Shea Stadium
Nice stretch for the visiting Grizzlies, who fell to sixth-ranked Chaparral a week ago, have the undefeated Falcons on Friday and will get No. 2 and undefeated Regis Jesuit in Week 8. . . . Credit the patience and smarts of coach Joe Johnson for knowing when to ease promising quarterback Brody Westmoreland into the starting lineup. . . . Highlands Ranch, winner in 13 of its past 15 regular-season games, is entering its toughest stretch. Chaparral and Regis Jesuit await. . . . Joe Hansley has rushed for nine TDs and caught a pass for another TD.
Lakewood (5-1) at Denver East (4-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., All-City Stadium
The Tigers were knocked from the unbeaten ranks last week, 41-34 by South. Four second- half turnovers didn’t help. . . . Quarterback Dylan Nelson has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for seven more. . . . Lakewood is averaging 36 points per outing. . . . A familiar scenario: East’s two losses have come to Cherry Creek and, last week, Broomfield. Both are based in the suburbs. . . . In addition to giving up a season-high 41 points to Broomfield, East passed for only 34 yards (and had three interceptions) and was held to 75 on the ground.
Ralston Valley (6-0) at Arvada West (4-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., NAAC
In its inaugural season in big-school play, the Mustangs are undefeated. We haven’t seen that since first-timer in 5A ThunderRidge went on to win its first 10 in 2008. . . . Ralston Valley has seven rushers with at least 136 yards. Tops is Reilly Hauptman, who broke loose for 218 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 29-14 home victory over Legacy. . . . The Wildcats opened with two blowout victories, stalled against Regis Jesuit, put Cherry Creek under the mercy rule, was handled by Pomona, then needed a late field goal to edge Fairview.
Grand Junction (5-1) at Montrose (4-2)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Since a season-opening home loss against undefeated Highlands Ranch, Grand Junction has waxed five foes by an aggregate 198-54. . . . Are the Tigers a surprise? You bet. They haven’t had a winning record since 2006 and were 6-15 the past two seasons. . . . Jerreon Dennis is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and has rushed for 10 touchdowns. . . . Montrose is coming off a bye as well as a two-game losing streak. The Indians were knocked off by Pueblo West 21-14, then 24-14 at Ponderosa.
Dakota Ridge (4-2) at Wheat Ridge (6-0)
Friday, 7:30 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium
Contrast? Dakota Ridge began 2-1 and the games were decided by a combined seven points. The Eagles were again 2-1 over their past three games, but by a combined difference of 62 points. . . . Quarterback Bolton Howes has passed for 12 touchdowns and Brent Terrell has rushed for 10 TDs. . . . Wheat Ridge is 31-2 beginning with its title- winning season in 2008. . . . Nick Ossello is brewing. He has thrown for six touchdowns — against zero interceptions — and rushed for 969 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Pine Creek (5-1) at Falcon (6-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The Eagles were knocked from the unbeaten list as well as the No. 1 ranking in a 22-21 loss at home to Pueblo West on Saturday. . . . Five Pine Creek rushers have at least 108 yards, paced by Josh Beacham’s 568. . . . It’s Week 7 and the Pikes Peak League is just beginning for the Eagles. . . . The Falcons are coming off a 45-9 whipping of Liberty, a league victory, as Andrew Hunley ran for two touchdowns. He has a team-leading six on the ground. . . . Joe Vela has a gaudy 24.1 average per catch and has accumulated seven touchdowns.
Caliche (5-1) at Dayspring Christian (6-0)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
The Buffaloes of Iliff turned in a major effort last week — they took down defending champion Merino 22-21, the program that knocked them out of the 2009 playoffs, 49-8 in the quarterfinals. . . . Caliche returned seven starters on each side of the ball from last year’s team, about as good as it gets in 8-man. . . . Dayspring Christian has pasted two foes by a combined 85-36 since outlasting Merino 41-35. In that game, Ben Sanderford carried 30 times for 242 yards and three touchdowns, and caught fives passes.
Flagler (5-1) at Eads (5-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
The one blemish for Flagler came in Week 2, 52-22 to defending state champion Idalia. . . . The Panthers’ B.J. Kibel has rushed for 1,073 yards and 17 of the team’s 30 touchdowns on the ground. He’s averaging 10.9 yards per carry. . . . Spencer Teer has added seven touchdowns on a 9.4 average per carry. . . . Eads, previously ranked No. 2, fell in overtime last week to Bethune 60-54. The Eagles have been tested in half of their outings. . . . Flagler has clinched a tie for the South East crown and Eads need a victory for a piece of it.
