CLASS 5A
No. 1 Cherry Creek (13-1 in 2024) vs. No. 6 Regis Jesuit (6-6)
When/where: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lou Kellogg Stadium
Last meeting: Cherry Creek 42, vs. Regis Jesuit 7, Sept. 12, 2024
Streaming:
The Bruins begin their 5A title defense with a trip around Cherry Creek State Park to Kellogg Stadium, where sophomore wunderkind QB Luke Rubley and the Raiders are hoping to spring an upset. Creek is once again loaded along the line of scrimmage, thanks in part to the transfer of three-star left tackle Jackson Roper from … Regis. Yup, this one should be fun.
No. 2 Valor Christian (11-2) vs. No. 8 Pine Creek (7-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at D20 Stadium South
Last meeting: Valor Christian 31, vs. Pine Creek 14, Aug. 23, 2024
Streaming:
The Mike Sanford Era at Valor begins Friday night with a visit to the Springs, where the Pine Creek Eagles will be debuting a new head coach of their own in Trevor Hudson. Both teams feature high-level talent up front. The big question for Valor will be who takes the snaps at quarterback: returning senior starter Dawson Olk, or super sophomore Titus Huard? Either way, the battle in the trenches should be good.
No. 10 Arvada West (7-5) vs. Fountain-Fort Carson (5-5)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Guy Barickman Stadium
Last meeting: A-West 51, vs. Fountain-Fort Carson 14, Aug. 23, 2024
This is the year that’s been circled all along for a talented class of seniors at Arvada West. If the Wildcats are going to take the next step to legit 5A contenders under first-year head coach CJ Hanna (formerly Denver North and Westminster), they’ll need to be able to handle difficult road trips like this one. When FFC head coach Jake Novotny has a talented running back, and he often does, the Trojans are a handful.
Mountain Vista (11-1) vs. Liberty-Bakersfield (7-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Shea Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
Streaming:
Do the Golden Eagles have staying power after the departure of an uber-talented senior class led by record-breaking quarterback Austyn Modrzewski? The first clues come Friday night with a visit from the Liberty Patriots out of Bakersfield, Calif. The Patriots are 34-1 in league play the past eight years combined and feature Michigan State commit Quinn Buckey at left tackle. Talk about a stiff test right out of the gate.
CLASS 4A
No. 3 Montrose (13-1) vs. Durango (7-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Durango High
Last meeting: Montrose 42, vs. Durango 16, Aug. 23, 2024
Streaming:
The Red Hawks’ bid for an unbeaten season fell one win short in the 4A championship game last December in Fort Collins. Now they bring back 2,000-yard rusher Elijah Womack and a host of others to make another run at the school’s first football state title since 1950. Durango fared well in its first year in 4A last fall, but the Demons may not play a better team all season than the one they host Friday.
No. 9 Pueblo West (11-2) vs. Loveland (5-7)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Patterson Field
Last meeting: Pueblo West 42, vs. Loveland 0, Aug. 23, 2024
Streaming:
Loveland, fresh off its first losing season in 10 years, gets a chance to make an early statement with Pueblo West heading north for a battle of 4A powers. The Red Wolves got mercy-ruled last year on their trip to Pueblo. That Cyclones team went on to reach the 4A semifinals. But with three-year starting quarterback Gavin Lockett off to Northern Colorado, they’ve got a significant hole to fill.
