Ten of the best high school football games to watch in Colorado this week. Our game of the week is Mullen vs. Columbine.
Class 5A
Douglas County (3-5) vs. ThunderRidge (6-2)
Today, 7 p.m., Shea Stadium
The host Grizzlies can clinch at least a tie for the Continental League crown with a victory. . . . Douglas County began 2-0 and got to 3-1 before dropping its past four outings by a combined 107 points. . . . Trey Smith paces the Huskies with seven touchdowns, but they have thrown for only three TDs. . . . ThunderRidge is coming off a large victory, 10-3 over Regis Jesuit, on Zach Jones’ 4-yard TD run and a PAT kick and 35-yard field goal by Logan Beck.
Highlands Ranch (6-2) at Regis Jesuit (5-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Lou Kellogg Stadium
Depending on the Douglas County- ThunderRidge outcome, no worse than a tie for the Continental championship goes to the winner. . . . Highlands Ranch had won six straight games and became the league favorite before getting waxed last week, 31-0 by Chaparral. The Falcons trailed 21-0 at halftime and gave up points in each quarter. . . . Regis Jesuit got 146 yards rushing from Jordan Jungers last week, but still only managed a field goal.
Grand Junction (8-0) at Durango (5-3)
Friday, 7 p.m., Demon Field
Only Grand Junction and Columbine entered Week 9 with the chance to finish the 5A regular season undefeated. . . . The top-ranked Tigers, who won the 5A-4A Southwestern a year ago, are seeking their eighth consecutive league victory. . . . Watch for two top throwers on the Western Slope — Grand Junction’s Sean Rubalcaba (764 yards, 12 TDs) and Durango’s Joe Keresey (1,354 yards, 15 TDs) . . . The Tigers, headed by Jerreon Dennis (21 rushing TDs), lead 5A in scoring at 352 points.
Class 4A
Valor Christian (8-0) vs. Ponderosa (4-4)
Today, 7 p.m., Sports Authority Stadium
The Eagles are coming off one of the strangest forfeits in state memory — Littleton passed last week less than five fours before kickoff. . . . Valor Christian coach Brent Vieselmeyer said his guys “were OK and we’ll move on.” . . . An Eagles win would secure a piece of the South Metro. . . . Ponderosa, a quarterfinalist in 2010, blew a 21-7 halftime lead last week and was outscored 10-0 late against the school that has eaten into its enrollment, Legend.
Class 3A
Holy Family (7-1) vs. D’Evelyn (6-2)
Friday, 4 p.m., Trailblazer Stadium
The two are tied for second place in the Metro North, each having lost to league-leading Kennedy. . . . Holy Family’s Connor Clay had 198 yards rushing on only 11 carries and scored three TDs in last week’s 43-6 pasting of Arvada. . . . The Tigers have won seven of their last 10 league games. . . . D’Evelyn’s Caleb Flack, returning from concussion complications, has thrown for eight TDs the past two games. . . . The Jaguars’ Matt Menard leads all in-staters with 64 receptions.
Rifle (8-0) vs. Palisade (7-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Stocker Stadium
Rifle owns a one-game Western Slope lead over Battle Mountain and Palisade with two to play. . . . Rifle’s Ryan Moeller’s 1,660 yards rushing is second among all Coloradans. He also has 16 TDs. . . . Only two of the Bears’ victories have been by less than 17 points. . . . Palisade, which lost 49-28 to Battle Mountain in Week 6, features balanced rushing, headed by Ronald Kuntz’s 644 yards. Luke McLean has 12 TDs rushing.
John F. Kennedy (8-0) at Skyview (6-2)
Saturday, noon, George DiTirro Stadium
JFK is bidding for its first league title in more than a decade and clinching at least a tie for the Metro North. . . . Commanders player-of-the-year candidate Kyle Trinidad’s totals have reached 1,466 yards and 20 TDs. . . . Eleven of Braden Miltenberger’s 25 TD tosses have gone to Tim Vega. . . . Skyview, which has taken league hits to D’Evelyn and Holy Family, has won two straight games. . . . Kyle Bowers remains the Wolverines’ first option with 1,095 yards rushing and 12 TDs.
Class 2A
Kent Denver (7-1) at Bennett (7-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., Paul Read Field
It’s for the Colorado League lead. . . . Kent Denver has whipped its past four foes by an aggregate 220-6 and hasn’t given up a point in 14 quarters. . . . Jaden Franklin’s 590 yards and 11 TDs rushing pace the Sun Devils. Teammate Collins Gantz is averaging 18 yards on his 23 receptions. . . . Bennett has won four straight games, three on the road. . . . Stopping the Tigers means dealing with Caleb Copeland (888 yards rushing), who had five TDs last week against Platte Canyon.
Lamar (6-3) at Trinidad (6-2)
Friday, 7 p.m., Miner Stadium
At least a share of the Tri-Peaks title will be there for the winner. . . . This is the regular-season finale for Lamar. The Savages blasted Trinidad 30-9 in Zero Week and will be idle in Week 10. . . . No secret who will get the ball for the Savages — Eric Nieschburg (1,306 yards rushing and 17 TDs), notably 273 and three, respectively, last week in a 34-17 decision of St. Mary’s. . . . The Miners have won six consecutive games. Jacob Atwater has rolled to 1,200 yards rushing and 11 TDs.
