Class 5A
No. 4 Ralston Valley (3-0) vs. No. 5 Grandview (3-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Legacy Stadium
Last meeting: Grandview 17, vs. Ralston Valley 17-14, Nov. 18, 2011
After handing defending 4A champion Loveland its first loss in 11 games last week (25-6), the Mustangs will attempt to tag first-year coach Tom Doherty with his first loss at Grandview. One thing that’s clear three weeks into the Doherty Era: The Wolves’ ground-and-pound days are in decline. A program that was once three times more likely to run than pass (since 2015), is close to even distribution (62 pass/75 run) with sophomore QB Liam Szarka at the helm.
No. 2 Cherry Creek (2-1) vs. Arvada West (3-0)
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at NAAC Stadium
Last meeting: Cherry Creek 45, at Arvada West 16, Sept. 16, 2011
Is Wildcats football back? We should find out Friday night when A-West hosts the two-time defending 5A champion Bruins. The Wildcats have already surpassed their win total from the past two seasons combined (2-15), but now step up in class. Creek’s 25-game win streak came to an end last week at Chandler (Ariz.), which extended its own streak to 38 games in a 17-7 win. It marked the first time Creek had been held under double-digit scoring since losing 26-7 to Eaglecrest on Nov. 18, 2017.
No. 7 ThunderRidge (3-0) vs. Arapahoe (2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium
Last meeting: ThunderRidge 28, vs. Arapahoe 14, Nov. 4, 2011
The Grizzlies got everyone’s attention last week with a thorough dismantling of Eaglecrest (29-0). The ThunderRidge defense has generated five turnovers and 14.0 tackles for loss while allowing just one touchdown through three weeks. Junior DE Ethan Hill is responsible for one of those turnovers and has 4.0 TFLs, while QB Seth Frazier has 719 total yards (448 passing, 271 rushing) with 11 touchdown passes. Arapahoe is trying to find its way back after an upset loss to Mountain Vista last week (27-17).
No. 8 Castle View (3-0) vs. Douglas County (3-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Douglas County Stadium
Last meeting: Castle View 52, vs. Douglas County 10, Nov. 28, 2020
It’s been seven years since Douglas County last beat its cross-town rivals, 14-7, in 2014. Since then, Castle View has become the more consistent program, posting winning seasons each of the past three years and coming up with a breakthrough win over Fairview (38-21) in Week 2. After going 4-11 combined in 2019-20, Eric Rice’s club appears to be trending in the right direction as well. Four-year varsity quarterback Antwuan Jackson Jr. (26 of 38, 445 yards, 6 TDs) and running back Tyler Stonebraker (43-356, 4 TDs) are both off to blazing starts for a Huskies offense that’s scored 45-plus points in three straight wins.
Class 4A
No. 3 Pine Creek (3-0) vs. 3A No. 8 Discovery Canyon (2-1)
When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at District 20 Stadium
Last meeting: N/A
After starting the season unranked, all the Eagles have done is outscore opponents 96-20 to re-establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in 4A. Dual threat quarterback Josiah Roy has 658 total yards (319 running, 339 passing) so far this season with 5 TDs apiece through the air and on the ground. Now comes a first-ever meeting with Discovery Canyon, which was just humbled by Mead, 50-7, in Week 3.
Windsor (2-1) vs. No. 7 Loveland (2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Patterson Field
Last meeting: Loveland 29, vs. Windsor 20, Sept. 27, 2019
The Wizards have rebounded nicely since a heartbreaking 26-20 loss in Week 1 to Vista Ridge, beating 5A Fossil Ridge (33-30) and 4A Longmont (56-22) in succession. The two-headed RB tandem of Jaden Thomas and Dax Polka have combined for 801 yards and 6 TDs through three games. They can expect plenty of resistance from a Loveland defense that’s given up 25 points so far this season — all to 5A power Ralston Valley in a 25-6 Week 3 defeat — and is led by 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker Ian Loomis (37 tackles, 8.0 for loss, two forced fumbles).
No. 5 Chatfield (3-0) vs. No. 10 Fruita Monument (2-1)
When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Stocker Stadium
Last meeting: Fruita Monument 38, at Chatfield 27, Sept. 14, 2019
One of six teams in 4A to receive a first-place vote in this week’s CHSAANow.com poll, the Chargers have the look of a true contender. In Week 1, they won with their offense against Longmont (49-43). In Week 3, it was their defense that stepped up against No. 9 Fountain-Fort Carson (23-14). They’ll probably need a bit of both against a Fruita Monument team that scored 40-plus in its two wins and nearly knocked off No. 4 Montrose (26-22) in a Week 2 loss.
Class 3A
Northridge (3-0) vs. No. 2 Mead (2-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mead
Last meeting: Mead 42, at Northridge 0, Oct. 29, 2020
The Mavericks are once again a steamroller. Through two games, Jason Klatt’s squad has gobbled up 571 yards for nine touchdowns on 65 carries while outscoring opponents 95-7. Next up are the Grizzlies, who are 3-0 for the first time in nine years and have an opportunity to prove themselves against one of the bigger bullies on the 3A block. Junior running back Isaac Kness has topped 100 yards in all three games and junior quarterback Cooper Rose has seven touchdown passes.
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