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Grand Junction replaces Arapahoe in Class 5A…
Sunday, May 17th 2026

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Grand Junction replaces Arapahoe in Class 5A football poll

Nathan Starks (24), and Milo Hall (5) of Cherry Creek High School celebrate Starks' touchdown in the firstst quarter of the game against Smoky Hill High School at Stutler Bowl at Greenwood Village at Oct. 11. Cherry Creek won 48-14.
Nathan Starks (24), and Milo Hall (5) of Cherry Creek High School celebrate Starks’ touchdown in the firstst quarter of the game against Smoky Hill High School at Stutler Bowl at Greenwood Village at Oct. 11. Cherry Creek won 48-14.
By | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

After a 46-39 loss to Lakewood Friday, Arapahoe fell out of the Class 5A football poll this week. Grand Junction moves into the No. 10 spot.

At the top, Valor Christian holds onto its No. 1 position with 22 of 23 first-place votes. Fairview, the only undefeated team in the class, comes in at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Regis Jesuit and No. 4 Cherry Creek.

Montrose continues its reign on top of 4A, receiving all 24 first-place votes. Last year’s champion, Monarch, comes in at No. 2, followed by Pine Creek and Falcon, each of which rose two spots. No. 8 Broomfield enters the rankings after taking down No. 9 Standley Lake 27-23 last Thursday. Montbello falls out of the poll.

Palisade is the undisputed No. 1 in Class 3A, garnering all 17 first-place votes. Undefeated Coronado comes in at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Silver Creek and No.4 Discovery Canyon. No. 9 Conifer enters the polls, replacing Roosevelt.

Brush holds onto its No. 1 spot in 2A, receiving all 11 first-place votes, followed No. 2 Platte Valley and No. 3 Manitou Springs. No. 10 Gunnison enters the poll as Eaton drops out.

Buena Vista continues with its spot at No. 1, earning 12 of the 17 first-place votes. Limon, which received the other five, comes in at No. 2. No. 9 Yuma and No. 10 Platte Canyon enter the rankings, taking over for Wiggins and Lyons.

No. 1 Hoehne holds onto a narrow three-point lead over No. 2 Dayspring Christian in 8-man play. No. 10 Sargent enters the poll, replacing Sanford. In 6-man, Liberty/Stratton stays at No. 1. Otis enters the top five after its win against Briggsdale, which drops out.

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) 6-1 229 1
  Last game: Won 42-6 against Doherty at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Palmer at 7 p.m. Oct. 17
2 Fairview (1) 6-0 192 2
  Last game: Won 38-20 at Legacy at 7 p.m. Oct. 10
Next game: Plays at No. 8 Pomona at 4 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Regis Jesuit 6-1 158 3
  Last game: Won 42-7 against Chaparral at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Mountain Vista at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
4 Cherry Creek 6-1 154 5
  Last game: Won 48-14 at Smoky Hill at 4 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Grandview at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
5 ThunderRidge 6-1 153 4
  Last game: Won 56-27 at Douglas County at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Chaparral at 7 p.m. Oct. 17
6 Columbine 6-1 101 6
  Last game: Won 43-14 against Mullen at 6 p.m. Oct. 10
Next game: Plays Lakewood at 6 p.m. Oct. 17
7 Chatfield 6-1 100 7
  Last game: Won 56-35 against Bear Creek at 7 p.m. Oct. 10
Next game: Plays at Mullen at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Pomona 6-1 82 9
  Last game: Won 42-30 at Ralston Valley at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays No. 2 Fairview at 4 p.m. Oct. 18
9 Cherokee Trail 5-2 50 10
  Last game: Won 21-7 against Grandview at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Eaglecrest at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Grand Junction 5-2 19 –
  Last game: Lost 34-33 at Durango at 7 p.m. Oct. 4
Next game: Plays No. 1 Montrose (4A) at 7 p.m. Oct. 17
Others receiving votes: Overland 10, Rock Canyon 6, Mountain Range 5, Arapahoe 4, Lakewood 1, Ralston Valley 1.
Dropped out of poll: Arapahoe (8).
         
Class 4A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Montrose (24) 7-0 240 1
  Last game: Won 35-26 against Fruita Monument at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at No. 10 Grand Junction (5A) at 7 p.m. Oct. 17
2 Monarch 5-1 189 2
  Last game: Won 56-7 at No. 9 Montbello at 11 a.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at George Washington at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Pine Creek 5-2 180 5
  Last game: Won 70-27 at Sand Creek at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Ponderosa at 7 p.m. Oct. 19
4 Falcon 6-1 151 6
  Last game: Won 24-14 at Ponderosa at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Air Academy at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
5 Pueblo South 6-1 118 8
  Last game: Won 45-33 against Canon City at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
Next game: Plays at Widefield at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
6 Longmont 5-1 109 7
  Last game: Won 30-16 at Greeley West at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Niwot at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18
7 Durango 6-1 97 10
  Last game: Won 46-14 against Grand Junction Central at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Fruita Monument at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Broomfield 4-2 64 –
  Last game: Won 27-23 at No. 3 Standley Lake at 4 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Montbello at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
9 Standley Lake 6-1 62 3
  Last game: Lost 27-23 to Broomfield at 4 p.m. Oct. 11
 Next game: Plays Golden at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Loveland 5-1 59 4
  Last game: Lost 18-0 to Windsor at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10
Next game: Plays Thompson Valley at 6:30
Others receiving votes: Windsor 23, Pueblo West 8, Denver South 6, Pueblo Centennial 6, Cañon City 4, Montbello 2, Sand Creek 2.
Drops out of the poll: Montbello (9).
         
Class 3A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Palisade (17) 7-0 179 1
  Last game: Won 56-0 against Steamboat Springs at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Delta at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
2 Coronado 8-0 126 2
  Last game: Won 28-0 against Lewis-Palmer at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Woodland Park at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Silver Creek 5-1 116 4
  Last game: Won 21-13 at Skyline at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Roosevelt at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
4 Discovery Canyon 6-1 115 5
  Last game: Won 42-14 at Lewis-Palmer on Oct. 4
Next game: Plays Mitchell at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
5 Holy Family 5-1 96 6
  Last game: Won 20-19 at Erie at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Frederick at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
6 Evergreen 6-1 93 7
  Last game: Won 20-14 against D’Evelyn at 11 a.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Glenwood Springs at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
7 Elizabeth 5-2 64 9
  Last game: Won 47-6 against Englewood at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Fort Morgan at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Mead 6-0 57 8
  Last game: Won 41-14 at Northridge at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Skyline at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
9 Conifer 5-2 38 –
  Last game: Won 20-10 against No. 3 Rifle at noon Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Alameda at 4 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Rifle 5-2 33 3
  Last game: Lost 20-10 at Conifer at noon Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Steamboat Springs at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
Others receiving votes: Roosevelt 26, The Classical Academy 24, Frederick 10, Delta 5, Glenwood Springs 5, Lutheran 1.
Drops out of the polls: Roosevelt (10).
         
Class 2A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Brush (11) 6-0 110 1
  Last game: Won 54-0 against Valley at noon Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Sterling at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
2 Platte Valley 5-1 92 4
  Last game: Won 44-0 against No. 10 Eaton at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Valley at noon Oct. 18
3 Manitou Springs 7-0 84 3
  Last game: Won 15-7 against No. 7 Lamar at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Trinidad at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
4 Kent Denver 6-1 81 2
  Last game: Won 48-0 against Sheridan at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at No. 9 Bennett at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
5 Florence 5-2 57 5
  Last game: Won 37-7 at La Junta at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Dolores Huerta Prep at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
6 Faith Christian 6-2 51 6
  Last game: Won 56-0 against Bishop Machebeuf at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays The Academy at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
7 Strasburg 5-2 38 9
  Last game: Won 36-22 at University at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Eaton at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Lamar 5-2 31 7
  Last game: Lost 15-7 at No. 3 Manitou Springs at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
9 Bennett 5-2 29 8
  Last game: Won 47-6 against Ridge View Academy at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays No. 4 Kent Denver at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Gunnison 5-2 11 –
  Last game: Won 7-0 against Bayfield at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Pagosa Springs at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
Others receiving votes: Olathe 10, Jefferson 7, Fort Lupton 3, Denver West 2.
Drops out of the polls: Eaton (10).
         
Class 1A [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Buena Vista (12) 7-0 163 1
  Last game: Won 46-8 against Peyton at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Ellicott at 1 p.m. Oct. 19
2 Limon (5) 7-0 154 2
  Last game: Won 24-6 against Holyoke at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Calhan at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Hotchkiss 6-1 136 3
  Last game: Won 31-7 at Roaring Fork at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays No. 7 Paonia at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
4 Centauri 6-1 118 4
  Last game: Won 61-7 against Del Norte at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Dolores at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
5 Monte Vista 6-1 85 5
  Last game: Won 46-0 against Dolores at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Center at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
6 Cedaredge 5-2 76 7
  Last game: Won 38-30 at Meeker at 6 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Lake County at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
7 Paonia 6-1 65 6
  Last game: Won 47-8 at Lake County at 6 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Hotchkiss at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Wray 4-3 40 8
  Last game: Won 57-20 at Highland at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Resurrection Christian at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18
9 Yuma 4-3 27 –
  Last game: Won 28-26 at No. 9 Wiggins at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Cornerstone Christian Academy at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Platte Canyon 6-1 26 –
  Last game: Won 35-31 at No. 10 Lyons at 6 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays Denver Christian at 1 p.m. Oct. 19
Others receiving votes: Resurrection Christian 17, Lyons 13, Burlington 6, Cornerstone Christian 3, Rye 3, Crowley County 2, Wiggins 1.
Drops out of the poll: Wiggins (9), Lyons (10).
         
Class 8-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Hoehne (6) 7-0 96 1
  Last game: Won 67-6 against Cripple Creek-Victor at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Fowler at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
2 Dayspring Christian (4) 7-0 93 2
  Last game: Won 52-15 against Haxtun at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at No. 3 Caliche at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Caliche 7-0 72 3
  Last game: Won 27-14 at Merino at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Dayspring Christian at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
4 Simla 6-0 66 4
  Last game: Won 52-6 against Elbert at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at No. 6 Kiowa at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
5 Norwood 6-1 50 5
  Last game: Won 67-0 against Mancos on Oct. 11
Next game: Plays No. 8 Dove Creek at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
6 Kiowa 6-1 48 6
  Last game: Won 70-0 against Pikes Peak Christian on Oct. 4
Next game: Plays No. 4 Simla at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
7 Akron 5-2 27 8
  Last game: Won 54-50 against Sedgwick County at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Merino at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
8 Dove Creek 6-1 26 9
  Last game: Won 62-0 against Nucla at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at No. 5 Norwood at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
9 McClave 6-1 25 7
  Last game: Won 51-8 against Manzanola at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Cripple Creek-Victor at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
10 Sargent 5-2 20 –
  Last game: Won 60-0 at Antonito at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays Sanford at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
Others receiving votes: Vail Christian 12, Sanford 8, Springfield 5, West Grand 2.
Drops out of the poll: Sanford (10).
         
Class 6-man [top]
RANK TEAM W-L POINTS LAST
1 Liberty/Stratton (7) 7-0 48 1
  Last game: Won 78-32 against Kit Carson at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Deer Trail at 1 p.m. Oct. 19
2 Arickaree (4) 7-0 47 2
  Last game: Won 63-18 at Hanover at 1 p.m. Oct. 12
Next game: Plays at Genoa-Hugo/Karval at 7 p.m. Oct. 18
3 Hi-Plains 6-1 25 5
  Last game: Won 75-40 at Idalia at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Next game: Plays at Peetz on Oct. 18
4 Eads 6-1 24 4
  Last game: Won 52-6 at Flagler on Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Primero on Oct. 18
5 Otis 4-2 16 –
  Last game: Won 34-32 at No. 3 Briggsdale on Oct. 11
Next game: Plays Bethune on Oct. 18s
Others receiving votes: Briggsdale 5.
Drops out of the polls: Briggsdale (3)

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