CLASS 5A
No. 9 Fountain-Fort Carson (7-2) vs. No. 8 Pine Creek (6-3)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at D20 Stadium South
Last meeting: Pine Creek 49, at FFC 16, Nov. 1, 2024
Sitting at No. 8 in the CHSAA seeding index, Pine Creek could use a win to secure a first-round bye in the 5A state playoffs, which likely means a heavy dose of junior Xavier Lukes behind the Eagles’ physical offensive line. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound back carried the ball 40 times for 206 yards and two scores in a grinding come-from-behind win at Regis Jesuit last week — marking his third straight game over 20 carries. Fountain-Fort Carson has a bell cow back of its own in junior Da’kari Releford Jr., who’s topped 100 yards rushing in eight of nine games this season. The pads will be popping in the Springs.
Eaglecrest (6-3) vs. Arapahoe (5-4)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium
Last meeting: Arapahoe 19, at Eaglecrest 7, Nov. 1, 2024
Streaming:
Should Pine Creek falter, the winner of this matchup is likely waiting in the wings to take the eighth and final first-round bye in the 5A bracket. Arapahoe is eyeing second place in the Centennial League and sits just behind Eaglecrest (9) in the CHSAA seeding index after winning four of its last five games. The Raptors have lost two straight after dropping last week’s game to Grandview, 16-14, and could use a win going into the postseason regardless of seeding. Senior Javon Jones is a game-wrecker on the Eaglecrest defensive front. Can he put pressure on Arapahoe sophomore QB Theo Lee?
No. 4 Arvada West (9-0) vs. No. 2 Ralston Valley (9-0)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: Ralston Valley 24, vs. Arvada West 12, Nov. 16, 2024
Streaming:
One of the biggest games in recent Arvada prep football history arrives with massive stakes, but with one of its key stars missing. All-everything Ralston Valley QB Zeke Andrews is out with an injury, meaning it’s on backup Logan Gabler to lead the Mustangs into a game that will decide the 5A Metro League title. The junior looked just fine in his first start last week, completing 20 of 26 passes for 238 yards and five TDs vs. Denver East. But the degree of difficulty goes up a notch against an A-West defense that’s allowed just 14.6 points per game and came up with the one critical two-point stop it needed to survive Chatfield’s upset bid last Friday.
CLASS 4A
Grand Junction (7-2) vs. No. 8 Sand Creek (9-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Sand Creek HS
Last meeting: Grand Junction 34, vs. Sand Creek 6, Oct. 25, 2024
Streaming:
The stakes couldn’t be simpler. The winner moves on to the 4A state playoffs. The loser turns in their helmets and pads. It was the same story a year ago when these two teams met at Stocker Stadium for the 4A I-25 League title, and the Tigers ended Sand Creek’s season with a 28-0 second half. Now, the Scorpions get to play host with the state’s leading rusher, junior Ethan Mangrum (1,861 yards rushing), in their backfield for the do-or-die affair. Nary a league team has held Sand Creek under 40 points. Do the Tigers have the firepower to keep up?
No. 2 Montrose (9-0) vs. No. 9 Pueblo West (7-2)
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Pueblo West HS
Last meeting: Montrose 18, vs. Pueblo West 7, Nov. 30, 2024
Streaming:
The Montrose Red Hawks are nine weeks into the season and still have yet to enter a fourth quarter with less than a two-possession lead. Not one 4A Soco League opponent has come within 30 points of Montrose, nor have they been able to hold the Red Hawks’ ground-and-pound attack under 50. A top-three seed in the 4A state playoffs is all but assured. And now Pueblo West is the only thing standing between Montrose and a second straight unbeaten regular season. Needless to say, the Cyclones have a tall order in front of them.
CLASS 3A
No. 6 Thompson Valley (7-1) vs. No. 5 Roosevelt (5-3)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at Roosevelt HS
Last meeting: Thompson Valley 28, vs. Roosevelt 21, Nov. 1, 2024
Defending 3A champion Thompson Valley’s brutal road back-to-back to close the regular season is here, with their hopes of winning a second straight league title hinging on successive trips to Roosevelt and Pomona. There may be no more battle-tested team in 3A than Roosevelt, which is playing its fourth 3A Top 10 team of the season and is still squarely in the top five of the CHSAA seeding index. Senior RB Milo Pascual has run for 351 yards and three TDs over the Rough Riders’ last two games, both blowout wins. Now he and the Riders face a Thompson Valley defense that’s allowed just 68 points all season.
No. 4 Mead (7-1) vs. No. 1 Windsor (8-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Windsor HS
Last meeting: Windsor 13, at Mead 7, Nov. 1, 2024
Mead and Windsor meet with the 3A North 2 League title on the line for the second straight year and the top seed in the 3A state playoffs at stake as well. The Mead defense, led by seniors Carter Woods (91 tackles) and Josh Gonsalves (82), is as stingy as they come with 52 total points allowed through eight games and back-to-back shutouts over the last two weekends. Now they go up against a physical Windsor run game powered by Oklahoma offensive line commit Deacon Schmitt and senior running back Adrian Czyszczon (897 yards, 13 TDs rushing). This one ain’t for the faint of heart.
No. 8 Eagle Valley (9-0) vs. No. 9 Palisade (6-2)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Palisade HS
Last meeting: Palisade 43, at Eagle Valley 0, Oct. 31, 2024
Eagle Valley will enter uncharted territory when it visits Palisade for its regular-season finale Friday night. The Eagles have already won more games than any Eagle Valley team since 2005, and they are a win away from the program’s first league title in the MaxPreps era (since 2004). Standing in the way is an all-too-familiar roadblock: A Palisade program that’s beaten the Devils 19 (!) straight times dating back to that nine-win 2005 team. The Bulldogs have shut them out six times during that streak, including last year’s 43-0 thumping. And these Bulldogs are red hot, having beaten their last four opponents by a combined score of 194-37. Simply put: History is on deck for the Devils.
