Prep football: How the top teams fared
CLASS 5A
No. 1 Valor Christian (9-0) beat Poudre (5-4) 42-26 behind touchdown runs by senior Alexis Chaves-salinas, senior Trevor Szilagyi and senior Easton Cecil.
No. 2 Pomona (7-2) beat Chaparral (6-3) 34-0 as the Big Black defense, highlighted by senior cornerback Kenny Maes’ 97yard pick-six TD, posted Pomona’s first shutout of the season.
No. 3 Eaglecrest (9-0) beat Ralston Valley (5-4) 17-15 as senior quarterback Jalen Mergerson engineered a last-second drive that resulted in senior Theryne Sandoval-jimenez booting a 21-yard field goal to win the game as time expired.
No. 4 Regis Jesuit (8-1) beat Westminster (1-8) 42-14 as the Raiders’ defense, again anchored by senior linebacker Tama Tuitele, locked down the Wolves for the first three quarters.
No. 5 Cherry Creek (7-2) beat Prairie View (0-9) 49-14 thanks to seven first-half touchdown passes from junior quarterback Alex Padilla.
No. 6 Highlands Ranch (6-3) lost to Legend (5-4) 19-14 as Titans junior Trustin Oliver’s fourth-quarter touchdown grab from senior quarterback Micah Butte was the difference in the Titans’ upset at Echopark Stadium.
No. 7 Grandview (7-2) beat Arapahoe (2-7) 28-10 as the Wolves erased a three-point halftime deficit at Legacy Stadium thanks to touchdowns from junior running back Jordan Billingsley, senior running back Aaron Harris and senior wideout Gunner Gentry.
No. 8 Columbine (8-1) beat Mountain Range (4-5) 50-0 thanks to 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns from senior running back Conner Snow, plus three rushing scores by junior quarterback Logan Dearment.
No. 9 Fairview (8-1) beat Northglenn (5-4) 40-0 as sophomore quarterback Aidan Atkinson passed for 196 yards and two touchdowns and senior tailback Mariano Kemp had 109 yards and four scores on the ground.
No. 10 Chaparral (6-3) lost to No. 2 Pomona (7-2) 34-0, snapping the Wolverines’ five-game win streak.
CLASS 4A
No. 1 Ponderosa (9-0) beat Cheyenne Mountain (5-4) 61-0 with senior defensive back Ian Clear’s third pick-six TD of the season, plus scores from senior wideout Nick Robins, senior tailback Jevon Glover and a rushing touchdown by senior offensive guard Max Bruner.
No. 2 Pine Creek (8-1) beat Widefield (6-3) 46-0, as sophomore running back David Moore III had a touchdown run and the Eagles’ defense forced a safety early, beginning the rout.
No. 3 Chatfield (8-1) beat Dakota Ridge (5-4) 38-17 thanks to three rushing touchdowns from senior running back Ben Frenette.
No. 4 Windsor (8-1) beat No. 9 Skyline (7-2) 56-55 in overtime as the Wizards secured the Northern League title and an automatic playoff berth, with the running back combination of sophomore Isaiah Salazar, junior Noah Montague and senior Brandon Ramirez combining for 410 yards.
No. 5 Fruita Monument (9-0) beat George Washington (2-7) 50-16 to secure the Mountain League title, the Wildcats’ first conference championship since 2002, and one earned through another multiple-touchdown performance by senior running back Braeden Graham.
No. 6 Loveland (9-0) beat Brighton (6-3) 34-12 as the Indians clinched the Longs Peak title and an automatic playoff berth thanks to four touchdowns by junior running back Zach Weinmaster as well as junior defensive end Javon Hackett’s scoop-and-score.
No. 7 Monarch (7-2) lost to Fort Collins (4-5) 24-21 as the Lambkins’ junior running back tandem of Michael Remmers and Kellen Voggesser propelled Fort Collins to the upset victory.
No. 8 Pueblo West (8-1) beat Pueblo Centennial (1-8) 47-0 as senior running back Pierre Taylor and the Cyclones’ offense exploded for a second consecutive week.
No. 9 Skyline (7-2) lost to No. 4 Windsor (8-1) 56-55 in overtime despite over 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns from junior running back Jeremy Hollingsworth.
No. 10 Pueblo South (8-1) beat Sand Creek (1-8) 49-0 to extend coach Ryan Goddard and the Colts’ winning streak to six games, with senior quarterback Zach Cozzolino’s performance continuing to be crucial.