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ThunderRidge new No. 1 in this week’s high…
Friday, May 15th 2026

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ThunderRidge new No. 1 in this week’s high school football poll

Monarch High running back Kidd Soole, center, #34, finds space with the help of teammate, Kody Mommaerts, right, while Wheat Ridge defensive back Anthony McGinnis, left, pursues in the third quarter of play on Sept. 7 at the Howard Spangenberg Field in Lafayette.
Monarch High running back Kidd Soole, center, #34, finds space with the help of teammate, Kody Mommaerts, right, while Wheat Ridge defensive back Anthony McGinnis, left, pursues in the third quarter of play on Sept. 7 at the Howard Spangenberg Field in Lafayette.
By | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

A 36-18 win over last week’s No. 3-ranked Ralston Valley coupled with an overtime loss by Valor Christian has ThunderRidge claiming the No. 1 position in this week’s 5A Football Poll.

The Grizzlies and the Eagles had 12 first-place votes apiece, but ThunderRidge edged out Valor Christian by nine points to take the top spot this week. Cherry Creek’s 19-15 win over then No. 6 Pomona pushes the team into the No. 3 position, followed by Grandview (No. 4) and Columbine (No. 5). No. 9 Chatfield and No. 10 Grand Junction make the teams’ first appearances in the poll as Pomona and Cherokee Trail drop out.

Monarch’s dominating 45-18 win against Wheat Ridge has them remaining at the top, claiming 19 out of the 20 first-place votes. The Farmers fall three spots into No. 5. Denver South (No. 2) has the other first-place vote. Standley Lake (No. 9) makes its first appearance on the poll after a 41-7 win over Niwot.

Silver Creek stays on top of the Class 3A poll with eight of the 14 first-place votes. Rifle (No. 3) has four first-place votes, Lutheran (No. 7) and Coronado (No. 8) have the other two.

In 2A, Platte Valley stays in the No. 1 spot, receiving seven out of eight first-place votes, followed by Brush (No. 2) with the other vote. Defending champions Kent Denver holds onto No. 3 after squeaking a 22-21 win over Florence, which drops two spots into No. 4.

With a 20-14 win over No. 4 Hotchkiss last week, Buena Vista leaps two spots into No. 1. Cedaredge falls two positions into No. 3.

Hoehne continues its hold in No. 1 in 8-man, receiving all eight first-place votes. There was a lot of turnover in the poll as Elbert, Fowler, Sargent and Haxtun all drop out and Norwood (No. 7), Granada (No. 8), Kiowa (No. 9) and Dove Creek (No. 10) enter.

Little changed in the 6-man poll as Liberty/Stratton, Hi-Plains and Eads all hold on to No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Fleming (No. 5) and Arickaree (No. 4) swap places.

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 ThunderRidge (12) 2-0 226 2
  Last game: Won 36-18 at No. 3 Ralston Valley on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays No. 4 Grandview at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
2 Valor Christian (12) 1-1 217 1
  Last game: on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at Heritage at 7 p.m. Sept. 12
3 Cherry Creek 2-0 176 4
  Last game: on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Douglas County at 7 p.m. Nov. 12
4 Grandview 2-0 137 5
  Last game: Won 14-0 against Chaparral on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at No. 1 ThunderRidge at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Columbine 2-0 88 7
  Last game: Won 27-12 at Fountain-Fort Carson on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 8 Pine Creek (4A) at 6 p.m. Sept. 12
6 Ralston Valley 2-1 79 3
  Last game: Lost 36-18 to No. 2 ThunderRidge on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at No. 10 Grand Junction at 7 p.m. Sept. 14
7 Regis Jesuit 2-0 70 9
  Last game: Won 26-7 at Horizon on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Mullen at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
8 Fairview 2-0 67 10
  Last game: Won 53-32 at Overland on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Rangeview at 7 p.m. Sept. 12
9 Chatfield 2-0 58 –
  Last game: Won 41-0 at Denver East on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Dakota Ridge at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12
10 Grand Junction 3-0 48 –
  Last game: Won 42-17 at Rocky Mountain on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 6 Ralston Valley at 7 p.m. Sept. 14
Others receiving votes: Pomona 42, Cherokee Trail 40, Arapahoe 34, Douglas County 20, Doherty 8, Horizon 4, Legend 2, Mullen 2, Mountain Range 1, Mountain Vista 1.
Dropped out of poll: Pomona (6), Cherokee Trail (8).
         
Class 4A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Monarch (19) 2-0 192 1
  Last game: on Sept. 7
Next game: Play Niwot at 6 p.m. Sept. 12
2 Denver South (1) 2-0 170 3
  Last game: Won 29-27 at Poudre (5A) on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Denver East at 4 p.m. Sept. 12
3 Pueblo West 2-0 120 7
  Last game: Defeated 27-6 at Rampart on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 4 Rampart at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Montrose 3-0 113 5
  Last game: Won 38-24 against Delta on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Pueblo West at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Wheat Ridge 1-1 98 2
  Last game: on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Littleton at 4 p.m. Sept. 13
6 Falcon 2-0 96 6
  Last game: Won 17-7 at Pueblo West on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays at George Washington at 7 p.m. Sept. 12
7 Loveland 2-0 88 8
  Last game: Won 34-28 against No. 7 Roosevelt (3A) on Aug. 6
Next game: Plays at Broomfield at 7 p.m. Sept. 12
8 Pine Creek 1-1 70 4
  Last game: Lost 27-13 at Lakewood (5A) on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays at No. 5 Columbine (5A) at 6 p.m. Sept. 12
9 Standley Lake 2-0 31 –
  Last game: Won 41-7 at Niwot on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Greeley Central at 4 p.m. Sept. 13
10 Windsor 1-1 29 9
  Last game: Won 42-14 at Fossil Ridge on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays Palmer Ridge at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13
Others receiving votes: Montbello 15, Dakota Ridge 14, Mesa Ridge 14, Durango 13, Pueblo Centennial 9, Longmont 7, Vista Ridge 5, Sand Creek 4, Ponderosa 3, Widefield 3, Green Mountain 2, Pueblo South 2, Thompson Valley 2.
Drops out of the poll: Dakota Ridge (10).
         
Class 3A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Silver Creek (8) 2-0 124 1
  Last game: Won 48-6 at Centaurus on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Summit at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
2 Discovery Canyon 3-0 97 2
  Last game: Won 35-0 at Air Academy on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays No. 10 Elizabeth at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
3 Rifle (4) 2-0 89 3
  Last game: Won 62-0 against Moffat County on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Glenwood Springs at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Holy Family 2-0 80 6
  Last game: Won 42-7 at No. 10 D’Evelyn on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Mead at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Conifer 2-0 79 5
  Last game: Defeated Centaurus 35-0 on Aug. 31
Next game: Plays at Vista PEAK Prep at noon Sept. 14
6 Palisade 2-0 53 8
  Last game: Won 34-18 against Glenwood Springs on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays at Montezuma-Cortez at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
7 Lutheran (1) 3-0 50 9
  Last game: Won 49-0 against Denver North on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Summit at 4 p.m. Sept. 21
8 Coronado (1) 3-0 45 –
  Last game: Won 35-7 against Harrison on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at Pueblo Central at 7 p.m. Sept. 14
9 Roosevelt 1-1 35 7
  Last game: Lost 34-28 at No. 8 Loveland (4A) on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Centaurus at 7 p.m. Sept. 12
10 Elizabeth 1-1 28 4
  Last game: Lost 23-20 against Cañon City on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at No. 2 Discovery Canyon on Sept. 13
Others receiving votes: Eagle Valley 16, Pueblo East 15, Northridge 10, Erie 4.
Drops out of the polls: D’Evelyn (10).
         
Class 2A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Platte Valley (7) 2-0 79 1
  Last game: Won 29-16 against Weld Central on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Sterling at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
2 Brush (1) 2-0 64 4
  Last game: Won 22-14 at Fort Morgan on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at No. 7 Eaton at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
3 Kent Denver 1-1 62 3
  Last game: Won 22-21 at No. 2 Florence on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Faith Christian at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Florence 1-1 45 2
  Last game: Lost 22-21 to No. 3 Kent Denver on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 La Junta 2-0 40 6
  Last game: Won 49-0 against Rocky Ford on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 8 Manitou Springs at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
6 Strasburg 2-0 36 8
  Last game: Won 60-0 against Byers on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Fort Lupton at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
7 Eaton 1-1 33 5
  Last game: Lost 46-16 at Roosevelt (3A) on Aug. 30
Next game: Plays No. 2 Brush at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
8 Manitou Springs 1-0 18 10
  Last game: Won 53-0 against Ridge View Academy on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at No. 5 La Junta at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
9 Lamar 2-0 16 9
  Last game: Won 20-19 at Centauri on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays Alamosa at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
10 Bayfield 1-1 12 –
  Last game: Won 43-0 against Dolores on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Basalt at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
Others receiving votes: Fort Lupton 11, Denver West 7, Faith Christian 7, Ridgeview Academy 6, University 2, Aspen 1, KIPP 1.
Drops out of the polls: Faith Christian (7).
         
Class 1A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Buena Vista (7) 2-0 154 3
  Last game: Won 20-14 against No. 4 Hotchkiss on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Custer County at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
2 Limon (4) 2-0 139 2
  Last game: Won 43-21 against Colorado Springs Christian on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Byers at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
3 Cedaredge (6) 2-1 126 1
  Last game: Won 34-20 at Olathe on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Dolores at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Hotchkiss 1-1 81 4
  Last game: Lost 20-14 at No. 3 Buena Vista on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Del Norte at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Holyoke 2-0 78 8
  Last game: Won 28-8 at St. Francis (Kan.) on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Highland at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
6 Monte Vista 2-0 57 6
  Last game: Won 28-27 at Gunnison on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Roaring Fork at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
7 Wray 1-1 56 9
  Last game: Won 19-14 at Burlington on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Yuma at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
8 Crowley County 2-0 51 –
  Last game: Won 6-0 against Rye on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Calhan at 2 p.m. Sept. 14
9 Wiggins 2-0 49 5
  Last game: Won 7-6 against Front Range Christian on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Resurrection Christian at 11 a.m. Sept. 14
10 Paonia 2-0 38 –
  Last game: Won 47-25 against Grand Valley on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Centauri at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
Others receiving votes: Centauri 34, Meeker 25, Rye 13, Burlington 9, Peyton 7, Roaring Fork 7, Resurrection Christian 4, Cornerstone Christian 2, Lyons 2, Platte Canyon 2, Ignacio 1.
Drops out of the poll: Centauri (7), Rye (10).
         
Class 8-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Hoehne (8) 2-0 80 1
  Last game: Won 49-28 against Springfield on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 7 Norwood at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
2 Dayspring Christian 2-0 60 2
  Last game: Won 72-16 against Hayden on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at Sargent at 3 p.m. Sept. 13
3 Akron 2-0 54 3
  Last game: Won 48-42 at No. 6 Fowler on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Belleview Christian at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Caliche 2-0 45 4
  Last game: Won 46-0 against Antonito on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays at Potter-Dix (Potter, Neb.) at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Simla 3-0 40 9
  Last game: Won 20-14 at Merino on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at West Grand at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
6 McClave 2-0 35 10
  Last game: Won 47-0 at Holly on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Wiley at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
7 Norwood 2-0 22 –
  Last game: Won 25-12 against Sedgwick County on Sept. 7
Next game: Plays No. 1 Hoehne at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
8 Granada 1-1 18 –
  Last game: Won 51-25 against No. 8 Haxtun on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Antonito at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13
9 Kiowa 2-1 17 –
  Last game: Won 56-7 at Longmont Christian on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Merino at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
10 Dove Creek 2-1 15 –
  Last game: Won 56-36 against No. 7 Sargent on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Elbert at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
Others receiving votes: Sangre de Cristo 13, Sargent 13, Belleview Christian 7, R.M. Lutheran 5, Antonito 4, Fowler 4, Miami-Yoder 3, Springfield 3, Haxtun 2.
Drops out of the poll: Elbert (5), Fowler (6), Sargent (7), Haxtun (8).
         
Class 6-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Liberty/Stratton (7) 2-0 43 1
  Last game: Won 59-6 against Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind on Sept. 5
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Eads at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
2 Hi-Plains (2) 2-0 33 2
  Last game: Won 62-20 against Bethune on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays Genoa-Hugo/Karval at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
3 Eads 2-0 26 3
  Last game: Won 52-2 at Cheraw on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays No. 1 Liberty/Stratton at 7 p.m. Sept. 13
4 Arickaree 2-0 13 5
  Last game: Won 54-20 at Idalia on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at Bethune at 2 p.m. Sept. 13
5 Fleming (1) 1-1 10 4
 

Last game: Won 56-44 at Pawnee on Sept. 6
Next game: Plays at North Park at 1 p.m. Sept. 14
Others receiving votes: Kit Carson 5, Deer Trail 3, Peetz 3, Otis 2, Briggsdale 1, Hanover 1.
Drops out of the polls: None.

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