Class 5A
Ralston Valley (1-0) vs. ThunderRidge (1-0)
7 tonight, Shea Stadium
It’s a Class 5A nonleague meeting between former 4A powers that have been factors after moving up a class. . . . The visiting Mustangs were 11-1 a year ago and won the North Metro League. They opened 2011 with a hard-fought 9-0 decision over Horizon. . . . ThunderRidge, ranked No. 10 and eyeing contention in the Continental, began with a 49-28 whipping of Chatfield, the Grizzlies’ highest output since Week 7 in 2009.
Mullen (1-0) vs. Grandview (0-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Legacy Stadium
The two met in the old Centennial League on Oct. 24, 2008, the final week of the regular season. Grandview won 17-10. Since then. Mullen has won 34 games and three 5A championships in a row. . . . The Mustangs handled Chaparral 27-0 last week as super senior quarterback Cyler Miles threw for three TDs. . . . Grandview opened in Zero Week with a 45-17 loss at Valor Christian — the most points it had given up since Week 2 of the 2005 season — and was off last week, so it’s back- to-back matchups against the two upper-class defending state champions.
Class 4A
Monarch (1-0) vs. Greeley West (1-0)
7 tonight, District 6 Stadium
A regular traveler, Monarch won decisively in Florida, 56-0, during Zero Week and was idle last week. . . . The Coyotes have 15 starters back from last year’s 9-2 team, about as much returning experience as there is in 4A. . . . Incentive? No. 3 Monarch dominated the ninth-ranked Spartans 42-14 in nonleague a year ago. . . . The Spartans are coming off a 42-14 whipping of 5A Montbello in nonleague in which they led 22-0 at halftime.
Class 3A
Frederick (1-0) vs. Silver Creek (0-1)
7 tonight, Everly-Montgomery Field
Overcoming five turnovers, including four interceptions, 3A Frederick outlasted 4A Prairie View 6-0 last week on a fourth-quarter touchdown by Dalton Hall. . . . It’s a 3A nonleague matchup. . . . The Warriors have won seven of their past eight games. . . . Silver Creek’s Anthony Apodaca was 29-of-37 for 390 yards and four TDs last week, but the Raptors fell 36-35 at regular 2A power Kent Denver.
D’Evelyn (1-1) at Palisade (1-0)
11 a.m. Saturday, Stocker Stadium
3A No. 7 D’Evelyn is fresh from a nonleaguer in Jefferson County, a 42-20 thrashing of Conifer. Interestingly, touted QB Caleb Flack had to leave in the second quarter after a helmet-to- helmet lick, but no problem — Cody Marvel came in to throw for five TDs, including on his first three throws. . . . Flack is expected to start. . . . The Jaguars’ receiving corps may be the best in the class. . . . The 3A No. 4 Bulldogs debuted in 2010 in a big way — they handled neighbor and 5A Central (G.J.) 24-12.
Erie (1-0) at Holy Family (1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
Whether it’s in 2A or the present 3A, this matchup of Tigers has been worth watching. Since 2006, the two have alternated regular-season victories, with Erie winning the first and most recent (21-17). . . . Holy Family opened at Steamboat Springs with a 52-6 crushing of the Sailors. It had a 29-point second quarter. . . . Erie got started with a 27-7 victory against defending 3A champion Elizabeth. It didn’t complete a pass (0-for-1) and had a modest 163 yards rushing, but four players scored a touchdown.
Class 2A
Brush (1-0) at Faith Christian (1-0)
7 p.m. Friday
The visiting Beetdiggers are ranked No. 2 in 2A; the Eagles are fifth. . . . Brush was 11-3 a year ago and fell 14-13 to Olathe in the title game. Brush began 2011 with a 33-13 victory at 3A Fort Morgan last week. . . . Faith Christian, which lost 14-11 to Olathe, the eventual 2A champion, in the 2010 quarterfinals, started by crushing Ridge View Academy 48-0. The Eagles rolled to a 34-point first quarter. Stefan Holt rushed for two touchdowns. . . . Brush won last year’s meeting 28-7.
Kent Denver (1-0) at Lamar (1-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The Sun Devils scored the only touchdown of the fourth quarter, then answered with TD and a two-point conversion in overtime last week in downing 3A Silver Creek by a point at home. . . . Kent Denver has moved to No. 4 in Class 2A. . . . Lamar’s Savages lost 38-7 to the Sun Devils in Cherry Hills Village in the 2010 2A nonleague game. . . . Lamar opened in Zero Week, winning 30-7 against Trinidad’s Miners, and fell 20-9 last week to defending 1A state champion Burlington. . . . The Savages managed only 70 yards rushing last week, but Casey Fassiotto had three receptions for 74 yards.
Eight-man
Granada (1-0) at Stratton (0-1)
2 p.m., Saturday
Between them, there is plenty of history, as well as nine 8-man state championships, six by Stratton. . . . No. 8 Granada, headed by longtime coach Manuel Gonzales, was 4-5 as year ago, but returns seven starters. . . . The Bobcats opened with a 45-0 victory against Cheyenne Wells. . . . Seventh-ranked Stratton, which fell in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Hoehne a year ago, lost 29-16 to No. 2 and 2010 semifinalist Merino in Week 1. . . . Granada won last year’s meeting 51-22 at home.
Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post
