Class 5A
No. 1 Cherry Creek beat No. 16 Fountain-Fort Carson, 42-6: Running back Carlson Tann scored twice in the first half, Jordan Herron had one touchdown rushing and one on a 88-yard kick return, and the Bruins (9-2) eliminated FFC (8-4) in their 12th straight playoff win. Next week: vs. ThunderRidge
No. 9 ThunderRidge beat No. 8 Arapahoe, 23-17: Freshman quarterback DJ Bordeaux and senior receiver Richard Okuno connected for touchdown passes of 39, 24 and 6 yards to push T-Ridge (11-1) to its second straight playoff win. QB Michael Moynihan had one TD rushing and another passing, the latter a 14-yard hookup near the end of the first half that drew Arapahoe (6-5) within two at 16-14. But that was the last time the Warriors saw the end zone. Next week: at Cherry Creek
No. 4 Grandview beat No. 20 Rocky Mountain, 20-0: Quarterback Liam Szarka threw touchdown passes to Xay Neto and Davion Henderson in the first quarter, Luke Trinrud returned an interception for a touchdown and the Wolves (9-2) posted their second shutout in three games to eliminate the Lobos (6-6). Next week: vs. Pine Creek
: A pair of Pine Creek interceptions in the fourth quarter set up two of Jonathan Coar’s three field goals, as Pine Creek (9-2) survived an upset bid from Legacy (9-3). Coar added a TD run, while QB Cameron Cooper had two passing TDs for Creek. Kylan Studebaker returned the opening kick for a TD to give Legacy an early lead, while Tyler Anderson and Kullen Lerma each had TD runs, the last putting the Lightning ahead 21-14 in the third quarter. Next week: at Grandview
No. 2 Valor Christian beat No. 15 Legend, 42-14: Valor QB Asher Weiner threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Jake Krekeler, and the Eagles (9-2) got rushing TDs from Greg McDonald, Roman Bradley and Trey Stott to eliminate the Titans (7-5). John Brookhart had two TD passes in the loss. Next week: vs. Regis Jesuit
No. 7 Regis Jesuit beat No. 10 Fossil Ridge, 63-28: The Raiders (7-4) scored 35 straight points between the first and second quarters to take a 42-7 lead with 1:33 left in the first half that proved too much for the SaberCats (9-3) to overcome. Next week: at Valor Christian
No. 3 Ralston Valley beat No. 19 Chatfield, 22-7. QB Logan Madden had one TD running and another passing, the latter going to Jackson Hanson for a 22-7 lead early in the second half, and Ralston Valley (9-2) blanked the Chargers (5-7) over the final three quarters. Next week: vs. Columbine
No. 6 Columbine beat No. 11 Rock Canyon, 24-17: Running back Marquane Taylor scored from six yards out midway through the fourth quarter as the Rebels (10-1) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to advance. Aidan Duda scored once and Luke Wennogle hooked up with Deandre Horn on a TD pass to put the Jaguars (8-4) up 17-7 in the second quarter, but they didn’t score again the rest of the night. Next week: at Ralston Valley
Class 4A
No. 1 Palmer Ridge beat No. 16 Skyline, 44-7: The Bears (11-0) began their quest for the program’s first 4A title with another dominant defensive effort, with a second-half TD from Skyline (7-5) narrowly denying them their fourth shutout of the season. Next week: vs. Vista Ridge
No. 8 Vista Ridge beat No. 9 Fruita Monument, 56-20: Four-star QB Brayden Dorman threw three TD passes and scored once with his feet to give the Wolves (8-3) a second shot at Palmer Ridge next week. The last of Dorman’s three scoring passes gave Vista Ridge a 42-12 lead with 4:33 left in the third quarter, putting the Wildcats (8-4) away. Next week: at Palmer Ridge
: The Eagles (6-6) broke a four-game shutout streak for the Loveland (10-1) defense with a pair of TD runs from Noah Triplett, but it wasn’t enough against a Red Wolves squad that set the tone with a long scoring run from Drew Foley in the first quarter and got a pair of TDs from Jude Meiu. Next week: vs. Golden-Montrose winner
No. 5 Montrose beat No. 12 Golden, 47-43: The Redhawks (9-2) rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to survive a wild back-and-forth affair with the Demons (8-4). Golden QB Jazel Riley IV’s three consecutive touchdown passes put the Demons ahead 37-27 in the final frame, then Cole Quercioli’s scoring run gave them a 17-point advantage. But Montrose closed out the game with three unanswered TDs, aided by an onside kick recovery, to pull off the stunner. Next week: vs. Dakota Ridge-Loveland winner
: Wisconsin-bound QB Cole LaCrue threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to give the Eagles (11-0) a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, sparking a rout of the Wizards (7-5). Next week: vs. vs. Heritage
No. 7 Heritage beat No. 10 Mesa Ridge, 21-10: Zyriq Siegler found the end zone twice, the last from seven yards out to put the Eagles (8-3) up 21-10 in the third quarter, and the Heritage defense made it stand up. The lone Mesa Ridge (8-4) TD came on a long Isaiah Jones run. Next week: at Broomfield
No. 3 Ponderosa beat No. 14 Pueblo West, 33-14: The Mustangs (9-2) defense shut out Pueblo West (7-5) over the final two quarters and produced a pair of pick-6s to turn a 14-all game into a runaway win. Next week: vs. Erie
No. 11 Erie beat No. 6 Denver South, 35-10: QB Blake Barnett ran in four TDs, found Caden Lettis for another score and intercepted a pass on defense, and Erie (8-4) kept a South (9-2) offense missing star receiver Rashad Caldwell out of the end zone over the final three quarters. Next week: at Ponderosa
