Prep Football Preview: Week 9 Games to Watch
Denver Post preps editor Kyle Newman breaks down the biggest games to watch in Week 9 of the 2017 high school football season, the fourth week of conference play across the state:
Ralston Valley (5-3) at Eaglecrest (8-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, Legacy Stadium
After an 0-3 start, sophomore running back Chase Wilson and the Mustangs have ripped off five straight wins, including a triumph over defending 4A champion Pine Creek on Sept. 29 and a 42-6 thrashing of Rangeview last week. But No. 3 Eaglecrest provides Ralston Valley’s toughest matchup yet, considering senior quarterback Jalen Mergerson’s offense has a seemingly unlimited number of playmakers. Listen to this game live on the Post Preps Radio Game of the Week.
Chaparral (6-2) at Pomona (6-2),
7 p.m. Thursday, North Area Athletic Complex
The Class 5A No. 2 Panthers haven’t been seriously tested in October, but the No. 10 Wolverines will do just that as they seek to continue their fivegame win streak. Whether Chaparral can put itself in a position for an upset will largely hinge upon the ability of senior linebacker Tristan Dietz and his cohorts to contain Pomona senior tailback Max Borghi, who has made a mockery of opposing defenses the past few weeks.
Highlands Ranch (6-2) at Legend (4-4), 7 p.m. Friday, EchoPark Stadium
As the Class 5A No. 6 Falcons look to rebound from a blowout loss to No. 1 Valor Christian last week, coach Monte Thelen’s Titans are fighting for their playoff lives entering the regular season’s home stretch. Senior quarterback/safety Joe Alber leads the Falcons into Parker against a stacked Legend defense featuring two Division I-bound seniors in defensive end Tate Wildeman (Nebraska) and safety Chad Muma (Wyoming). Watch this game live on the Post Preps TV Game of the Week.
Dakota Ridge (5-3) at Chatfield (7-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Jefferson County Stadium
In a Class 4A Plains League affair, these longtime Jeffco rivals meet as Dakota Ridge — ranked 19th in the latest 4A RPI — looks for a signature win over a No. 3 Chargers team that has yet to lose to an in-state opponent. Junior running back Jered Garcia and senior defensive back Landen Nordbrock are lynchpins for the Eagles, while the senior running back tandem of Ben Frenette and Brandon Andersen has yet to be stopped in conference play. Follow preps editor Kyle Newman for live updates from this game.
Skyline (7-1) at Windsor (7-1), 7 p.m. Friday, H.J. Dudley Field
Fresh off a 35-28 shootout victory over Fort Collins last week, Class 4A No. 9 Skyline will again lean on star junior running back Jeremy Hollingsworth to carry the load in a showdown against perhaps the most physical team the Falcons have faced to date. Meanwhile, No. 4 Windsor looks to keep its Northern League momentum going and will do so with the typical combination of dual-threat senior quarterback Connor Apodaca and a mean defense highlighted by senior linebacker Nathan Cole.
Northglenn (5-3) at Fairview (7-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Christian Recht Field
Coach Matt Dean has the Norsemen within reach of their first winning campaign since 2011, but to get a sixth victory, Northglenn needs to have an answer to Class 5A No. 9 Fairview’s aerial attack (by sophomore quarterback Aidan Atkinson) and ground ambush (by senior Mariano Kemp). But the Norsemen have firepower of their own, as evidenced by junior running back Andrew Martel, junior wideout Hector Ortega and junior free safety J.J. Gomez.