Rocky Preps: Football report

Rocky Mountain News

Published August 24, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

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* Each Monday during the season, Rocky Preps will take a look at the coming week in high school football.

Classification clashes

All Rocky games of the week are Friday, unless otherwise noted.

* Class 5A: Two of the state's premier programs go at it in the new Southern League on Thursday, when ThunderRidge makes the short trip to take on second-ranked Douglas County, the state runner-up last season.

* Class 4A: Defending state champion Pueblo West made its presence felt in the Steel City last season. Pueblo South, the city's top team for years, will get an opportunity to avenge a loss in the quarterfinals last season.

* Class 3A: Take your pick between two games featuring ranked teams -- No. 2 Palisade at No. 10 Pueblo County, or seventh-ranked Conifer at No. 3 Glenwood Springs.

* Class 2A: No. 5 Florence will be at seventh-ranked Buena Vista in a strong opener, but No. 10 Holy Family and third-ranked Eaton, with quarterback Seth Lobato, always seem to bring out the best in each other. That one will be played in Eaton.

Of note, also keep an eye on Sheridan at Jefferson on Thursday. Jefferson will try to break a 44-game losing streak against a Rams team that also went winless last season.

* Class A: Rye and Del Norte lost in the first round of the playoffs last season, meaning each would like to get started with a win when the sixth-ranked Thunderbolts head to Del Norte on Saturday afternoon.

* Class A 8-Man: Possibly the game of the week, regardless of classification. Second-ranked Dayspring Christian will be at No. 1 Granada on Saturday in a 2007 semifinal rematch. Dayspring won that one 47-17.

* Class A 6-Man: Yet another game pitting ranked opponents will take place, in Briggsdale, when the fourth-ranked Falcons play host to No. 5 Woodlin.

Here and there

* While many neighborhood rivalries will take place this week, most notably Legacy at Mountain Range, Dakota Ridge and Chatfield, Highlands Ranch and Mountain Vista and Castle View at Rock Canyon, the state's top-ranked teams will take their show on the road.

Class 5A No. 1 Bear Creek and 4A's top-ranked Heritage will be in Florida to start the season, as will 5A No. 4 Columbine and 4A No. 3 Monarch.

* Go to the RockyPreps.com 24/7 blog to post your take on the week's top games. Also, check out league standings and statewide leaders throughout the season.

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