Ten of the best high school football games to watch in Colorado this week. Our game of the week is John F. Kennedy vs D’Evelyn.
Class 5A
Chaparral (3-2) vs. ThunderRidge (4-1)
Today, 7 p.m., Sports Authority Stadium
The visiting Wolverines need to forget about kicking themselves over last week’s overtime loss to Regis Jesuit. They don’t want to be buried in the Continental League at 0-2. . . . Strange: At 3-2, Chaparral is giving up an average of only 12 points per game. . . . The Grizzlies suffered a late 21-20 setback to Ralston Valley in Week 2 but have since whipped three foes by a combined 129-34, scoring in all 12 quarters.
Denver South (3-2) vs. Lakewood (4-1)
Today, 7:30 p.m., Jefferson County Stadium
A key Denver Prep matchup. . . . South lost a toughie (23-22) to East last week, despite two rushing touchdowns by Phillip Lindsay and a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD by Donald Landrum. . . . Lakewood has played nine league games since joining the DPL and is 8-1. The loss was to South, 41-34 in 2010. . . . The Tigers’ Dylan Nelson has been gr-r-reat! He has six rushing touchdowns, four passing and 806 combined yards.
Boulder (3-2) vs. Pomona (4-1)
Friday, 3 p.m., NAAC
Boulder had a 3-0 start but now is into the meat of its Big 6 schedule. It is coming off a 48-0 trouncing by Ralston Valley. . . . Demetrius Kennedy, a junior, leads Boulder in rushing with 588 yards but had only 25 in 13 attempts last week. . . . Consider it an undermanned blip in a wipeout loss two weeks ago against Class 4A Valor Christian. Pomona righted itself by whipping Arvada West. . . . Injured Dylan Carter returned to produce 103 yards rushing and two TDs. . . . Both teams are the Panthers.
Heritage (3-2) vs. Columbine (5-0)
Friday, 4 p.m., Jeffco Stadium
The Eagles have come back to Earth after a 3-0 start. They have dropped their past two by a combined 86-28. . . . Quarterback Ryan Novak was picked off four times last week against Arapahoe in the Milk Can game. . . . A Big 6 matchup, this also will mark only the second opponent with a record better than .500 for Columbine. . . . Senior running back Cameron McDondle, slowed a year ago because of a concussion, has rushed for 754 yards and 14 TDs.
Bear Creek (3-2) vs. Arapahoe (5-0)
Saturday, 7 p.m.,
Littleton Public Schools Stadium
The Bears’ defense started to leak last week against Mullen in a 34-18 setback, but turnovers and penalties didn’t help. . . . Don’t discount the possibility of a barnburner — Bear Creek won last year’s Big 6 meeting 35-31. . . . Nick Dalton is averaging 21.7 yards per catch. . . . Arapahoe’s spirited momentum is required: The Warriors meet Columbine in Week 7 and Mullen a week later. . . . A strong TD-to-interception ratio of 13-4 for quarterback Alec Gieser. . . . The Warriors will see if their 3-3-5 defense can cover the pass-happy Bears.
Class 4A
Rock Canyon (4-1) at Valor Christian (5-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
After losing on the road to Montrose in their opener, the Jaguars have been gaining steam. Here it is — their chance in a 4A South Metro opener to pull off a shocker. . . . Junior Eric Williams has been a machine with 950 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. . . . Defending 4A champ Valor Christian’s winning streak has reached 15 games. . . . The Eagles had 11 ball carriers last week (52-0 at Pueblo South) and have permitted six points over 12 quarters.
Castle View (5-0) vs. Legend (2-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Sports Authority Stadium
Consider the SaberCats bubbly — they’re riding a high, the best stretch in their short history. . . . Austin Smith has thrown for nine touchdowns and Bryce Lich has rushed for 521 yards and seven TDs. . . . Next up for Castle View in Week 8: Valor Christian. . . . Legend, a newbie in Parker, beat Class 5A Rampart in Week 4 and dropped a heartbreaker (20-19) to 4A Sand Creek last week. . . . The Titans have struggled passing, but Nick Evdos has rushed for 384 yards. Jacob Min has seven TDs.
Class 2A
St. Mary’s (5-1) at Trinidad (4-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Miner Stadium
After a Zero Week setback to Colorado Springs Christian, St. Mary’s has won five games in a row and will be idle next week. . . . Four Pirates have at least 306 yards rushing, led by Casey Smith’s 468 (along with seven TDs). . . . Turnaround? The Miners dropped their first two games, then won their next four (including against top-ranked Florence in Week 4). . . . Jacob Atwater is Trinidad’s workhorse with 109 carries for 859 yards. . . . The Miners have allowed only 41 points since Zero Week.
Class A 8-man
Manzanola (3-2) at Hoehne (5-0)
Friday, 7 p.m., Hoehne Field
After a 1-2 start, the Bobcats have gained some much-needed momentum before taking on the defending state champion Farmers. . . . Michael Aragon and David Torres have combined for 15 TDs, eight by Torres. . . . Hoehne’s winning streak has reached 18 games. . . . Norwood put up a fight last week, losing only 38-29 to Hoehne, but the Farmers’ Martin Waln had 276 yards rushing and receiving. That lifted his season total to 1,226.
