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ThunderRidge, Ralston Valley make big moves in…
Monday, June 22nd 2026

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ThunderRidge, Ralston Valley make big moves in 5A football poll

Ralston Valley receiver Kevin Meadows (8) twisted away from Mullen defensive back Robbie Smith (1) to score a touchdown in the third quarter. The RalstonValley High School football team beat Mullen 43-0 on Aug. 23.
Ralston Valley receiver Kevin Meadows (8) twisted away from Mullen defensive back Robbie Smith (1) to score a touchdown in the third quarter. The RalstonValley High School football team beat Mullen 43-0 on Aug. 23.
By | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

Platte Valley and Liberty/Stratton leap-frogged into first place in the CHSAANow.com Football polls after taking down last week’s top-ranked teams, and ThunderRidge and Ralston Valley made big moves in the Class 5A rankings.

Valor Christian still sits atop the 5A polls with 22 out of 23 first-place votes. ThunderRidge (No. 2) and Ralston Valley (No. 3) moved up in the rankings as Cherokee Trail (No. 8) fell six spots after its loss to Chatfield. Fairview (No. 10) makes its first appearance in the poll this season after a 58-7 thumping of Poudre.

In 4A, Monarch remains the unanimous No. 1 choice, taking all 14 first-place votes. Wheat Ridge (No. 2) and Denver South (No. 3) switch places. Falcon made the classification’s biggest leap, from No. 10 to No. 6, after a 38-0 win over Widefield. Montrose (No. 5), Loveland (No. 8) and Dakota Ridge (No. 10) make the teams’ debut on the list.

Silver Creek remains No. 1 in 3A with nine out of a possible 12 first-place votes. Discovery Canyon (No. 2) passes Rifle (No. 3) after its 49-28 victory over then No. 4-ranked Pueblo East. Palisade (No. 8), Lutheran (No. 9) and D’Evelyn (No. 10) make first appearances in the rankings this week.

After winning 32-14 in a rematch of last year’s state championship game, Platte Valley takes the No. 1 spot in 2A away from Kent Denver (No. 3). Lamar (No. 9) and Manitou Springs (No. 10) join the poll, replacing Bayfield and Grand Valley.

Cederedge (No. 1) holds a narrow one-point lead over Limon (No. 2) after week one in the Class 1A poll. Hotchkiss (No. 4) makes the biggest upward movement, climbing four spots after its 34-13 win over Olathe. Rye (No. 10) takes over Resurrection Christian’s space.

In 8-man ball, Hoehne holds its claim at No. 1 after a 56-15 thrashing of then No. 6 Walsh. A lot of movements this week as four new teams move into the poll: Sargent (No. 7), Haxtun (No. 8), Simla (No. 9) and McClave (No. 10).

With an emphatic 54-6 win over last year’s champion Fleming, Liberty Stratton moves up four spots to take over No. 1. Arickaree makes its debut on the poll after a 36-18 win over Otis.

Football Polls
Weekly poll voted upon by coaches and members of the media from around the state.
Class 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 8-man | 6-man
Class 5A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Valor Christian (22) 1-0 229 1
  Last game: on Aug. 24
Next game: Plays Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7
2 ThunderRidge (1) 1-0 179 3
  Last game: Won to Dakota Ridge (4A) 30-7 on Aug. 29
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Ralston Valley at 7 p.m. Sept. 7
3 Ralston Valley 2-0 166 7
  Last game: Defeated Longmont 44-29 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 2 ThunderRidge at 7 p.m. Sept. 7
4 Cherry Creek 1-0 152 4
  Last game: Won at Clovis (N.M.) 42-6 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at No. 6 Pomona at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
5 Grandview 1-0 109 6
  Last game: Won at Horizon 37-7 on Aug. 29
Next game: Plays Fort Collins at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
6 Pomona 1-0 88 5
  Last game: Won at Broomfield 21-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 4 Cherry Creek at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
7 Columbine 1-0 68 8
  Last game: Won at Fort Collins 33-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Fountain-Fort Carson at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
8 Cherokee Trail 0-1 56 2
  Last game: Lost at Chatfield 23-21 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Fort Collins at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
9 Regis Jesuit 1-0 52 10
  Last game: on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Horizon at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
10 Fairview 1-0 42 –
  Last game: Defeated Poudre 58-7 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Overland at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
Others receiving votes: Chatfield 38, Grand Junction 33, Arapahoe 28, Douglas County 8, Eaglecrest 5, Fountain-Ft. Carson 3, Mullen 3, Overland 3, Rocky Mountain 2, Horizon 1.
Dropped out of poll: Chaparral (9)
         
Class 4A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Monarch (14) 1-0 140 1
  Last game: Won at Greeley West 41-23 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 2 Wheat Ridge at 10 a.m. Sept. 7
2 Wheat Ridge 1-0 116 3
  Last game: on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at No. 1 Monarch at 10 a.m. Sept. 7
3 Denver South 1-0 108 2
  Last game: Won at No. 9 Mesa Ridge 23-18
Next game: Plays at Poudre at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Pine Creek 1-0 97 4
  Last game: Defeated Fountain-Fort Carson 23-14 on Aug. 29
Next game: Plays at Lakewood at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5
5 Montrose 2-0 65 –
  Last game: Won at Palmer Ridge 48-7 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Delta at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
6 Falcon 1-0 63 10
  Last game: Defeated Widefield 38-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Pueblo South at 7 p.m. Sept. 5
7 Pueblo West 1-0 47 5
  Last game: Defeated Pueblo County 28-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Rampart at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
8 Loveland 1-0 37 –
  Last game: Defeated Lakewood 31-28 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays Roosevelt (3A) at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6
9 Windsor 0-1 19 8
  Last game: Lost to No. 3 Wheat Ridge 31-22 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Fossil Ridge at 7 p.m. Sept. 5
10 Dakota Ridge 0-1 16 –
  Last game: Lost at ThunderRidge (5A) 30-7 on Aug. 29
Next game: Plays Golden at 4 p.m. Sept. 6
Others receiving votes: Green Mountain 14, Mesa Ridge 14, Pueblo South 12, Standley Lake 7, Longmont 5, Vista Ridge 4, Rampart 3, Ponderosa 2, Broomfield 1, Montbello 1.
Drops out of the poll: Vista Ridge (6), Ponderosa (7), Mesa Ridge (9).
         
Class 3A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Silver Creek (9) 1-0 117 1
  Last game: Won at Poinciana (Kissimmee, Fla.) 41-25 on Aug. 22
Next game: Plays Centaurus at 6 p.m. Sept. 7
2 Discovery Canyon (1) 2-0 80 6
  Last game: Defeated No. 4 Pueblo East 49-28 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Air Academy at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
3 Rifle (2) 1-0 77 2
  Last game: Defeated Coal Ridge 54-6 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Moffat County at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Elizabeth 1-0 70 3
  Last game: Defeated Frederick 19-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Cañon City at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
5 Conifer 2-0 68 5
  Last game: Defeated Centaurus 35-0 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays at Vista PEAK Prep at noon Sept. 14
6 Holy Family 1-0 48 9
  Last game: Defeated Faith Christian (2A) 42-16 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at No. 10 D’Evelyn at 11 a.m. Sept. 7
7 Roosevelt 1-0 45 8
  Last game: Defeated Eaton (2A) 46-16 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Loveland (4A) at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6
8 Palisade 1-0 37 –
  Last game: Won at Grand Junction Central 45-7 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Glenwood Springs at 7 p.m. Sept. 5
9 Lutheran 2-0 34 –
  Last game: Won at Adams City (5A) 64-6 on Aug. 23
Next game: Plays Denver North at 6 p.m. Sept. 6
10 D’Evelyn 2-0 27 –
  Last game: Won at Mountain View 45-41 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 6 Holy Family at 11 a.m. Sept. 7
Others receiving votes: Coronado 14, Pueblo East 13, Northridge 9, Eagle Valley 7, Erie 6, Evergreen 4, Glenwood Springs 2, Woodland Park 2.
Drops out of the polls: Pueblo East (4), Pueblo Central (7), The Classical Academy (10).
         
Class 2A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Platte Valley (6) 1-0 78 2
  Last game: Defeated No. 1 Kent Denver 32-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Weld County at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
2 Florence (2) 1-0 73 3
  Last game: Won at The Academy 47-14 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays No. 3 Kent Denver at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
3 Kent Denver 0-1 59 1
  Last game: Lost at No. 2 Platte Valley 32-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at No. 2 Florence at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Brush 1-0 56 6
  Last game: Won at Wray (1A) 42-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Burlington at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
5 Eaton 1-1 44 4
  Last game: Lost at Roosevelt (3A) 46-16 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 4 Brush at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
6 La Junta 1-0 37 7
  Last game: Defeated Mitchell 39-14 on Aug. 23
Next game: Plays Rocky Ford at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
7 Faith Christian 1-1 28 8
  Last game: Lost to Holy Family (3A) 42-16 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Vista PEAK Prep at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
8 Strasburg 1-0 22 10
  Last game: Won at Bennett 20-9 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Byers at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
9 Lamar 1-0 17 –
  Last game: Defeated Burlington 21-12 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Centauri at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
10 Manitou Springs 1-0 12 –
  Last game: Won at Manual 46-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Ridge View Academy at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
Others receiving votes: Aspen 4, Fort Lupton 4, Sterling 4, Bayfield 2.
Drops out of the polls: Bayfield (5), Grand Valley (9).
         
Class 1A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Cedaredge (4) 1-1 82 1
  Last game: Won at Montezuma-Cortez 28-20 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Olathe at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
2 Limon (4) 1-0 81 3
  Last game: Won at Yuma 20-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Colorado Springs Christian at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
3 Buena Vista (1) 1-0 69 2
  Last game: Won at Alamosa 39-34 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 4 Hotchkiss at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Hotchkiss (1) 1-0 60 8
  Last game: Defeated Olathe 34-13 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Buena Vista at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
5 Wiggins 1-0 51 7
  Last game: Won at Byers 39-7 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Front Range Christian at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
6 Monte Vista 1-0 44 6
  Last game: Defeated Lake County 47-8 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Gunnison at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
7 Centauri 1-0 37 4
  Last game: Defeated Pagosa Springs 40-0 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays Lamar at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
8 Holyoke 1-0 28 9
  Last game: Defeated Perkins County (Grant, Neb.) 46-0
Next game: Plays at St. Francis (Kansas) at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6
9 Wray 0-1 22 5
  Last game: Lost to Brush (2A) 42-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Burlington at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
10 Rye 1-0 19 –
  Last game: Defeated Rocky Ford 49-7 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays at Crowley County at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
Others receiving votes: Resurrection Christian 18, Burlington 16, Crowley County 11, Paonia 6, Yuma 4, Meeker 2.
Drops out of the poll: Resurrection Christian (10)
         
Class 8-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Hoehne (7) 1-0 70 1
  Last game: Won at No. 6 Walsh 56-15 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Springfield at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
2 Dayspring Christian 1-0 61 4
  Last game: Won at Kiowa 46-14 on Aug. 23
Next game: Plays Hayden at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
3 Akron 1-0 49 7
  Last game: Defeated No. 2 Granada 50-14 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Fowler at 6 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Caliche 1-0 44 8
  Last game: Won at Front Range Christian 21-0 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays Antonito at 1 p.m. Sept. 7
5 Elbert 1-0 34 5
  Last game: Won at Cripple Creek-Victor 62-8 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays West Grand at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
6 Fowler 0-1 26 3
  Last game: Lost at Sargent 20-14 on Aug. 23
Next game: Plays No. 7 Akron at 6 p.m. Sept. 6
7 Sargent 2-0 24 –
  Last game: Defeated Merino 48-22 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays at Dove Creek at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
8 Haxtun 1-0 21 –
  Last game: Won at Longmont Christian 47-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Granada on Sept. 6
9 Simla 2-0 12 –
  Last game: Defeated Wiley 66-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Merino at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
10 McClave 1-0 9 –
  Last game: Defeated Cheyenne Wells 54-8 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Holly at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
Others receiving votes: Norwood 8, Hayden 6, Kiowa 5, Sangre de Cristo 5, Granada 3, Sanford 3, Springfield 3, Dove Creek 1, Soroco 1.
Drops out of the polls: Granada (2), Walsh (6), Dove Creek (9), Hayden (10).
         
Class 6-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Liberty/Stratton (5) 1-0 33 5
  Last game: Won at No. 1 Fleming 54-6 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind on Sept. 5
2 Hi-Plains (1) 1-0 27 4
  Last game: Defeated Prairie 58-28 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays Bethune on Sept. 6
3 Eads (1) 1-0 24 2
  Last game: Defeated Cotopaxi 46-0 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Cheraw at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
4 Fleming 0-1 8 1
  Last game: Lost to No. 5 Liberty/Stratton 54-6 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Pawnee at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
5 Arickaree 1-0 6 –
  Last game: Defeated Otis 36-18 on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays at Idalia at 7 p.m. Sept. 6
Others receiving votes: Bethune 2, Peetz 2, Briggsdale 1, Deer Trail 1, Hanover 1.
Drops out of the polls: Deer Trail (5).

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