8 Colorado high school football games to watch in Week 3 – The Denver Post

Class 5A

No. 5 Ralston Valley (2-0) vs. 4A No. 2 Loveland (2-0)

When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at NAAC

Last meeting: Ralston Valley 42, Loveland 6, Sept. 19, 2019

A week after going on the road to Florida, enduring an hours-long delay and then holding on for a 30-17 win, the Mustangs host a Loveland program riding an 11-game win streak. The Red Wolves have yet to surrender a point in a pair of blowout wins, but now face dual threat quarterback Zach Friedman, who threw for 119 yards and ran for 118 in last week’s win in the Sunshine State.

No. 2 Valor Christian (2-0) vs. Eastside Catholic (1-0)

When/where: 8 p.m. Friday at Valor Stadium

The Eagles take on an out-of-state team for the second week in a row. Last week, they went on the road to beat Oaks Christian, 30-7, in California. This week they host Eastside Catholic out of Sammamish, Wash., a program that consistently churns out FBS-level talent, with four-star senior linebacker Dishawn Misa just the latest. With Oklahoma-bound running back Gavin Sawchuk on the other side of the line of scrimmage, expect fireworks.

No. 4 Regis Jesuit (1-1) vs. Mullen (1-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at de La Salle Stadium

Last meeting: Regis Jesuit 30, Mullen 21, Sept. 20, 2019

The Raiders have held bragging rights over their private school rival for two years after last fall’s annual meeting was canceled by COVID. A late fumble return gave the Mustangs an 25-21 upset win over Legend last week. Now they’re looking for a second straight win over a ranked opponent, with the degree of difficulty going up another notch against a balanced Raiders offense that ripped off 490 total yards (249 passing, 241 running) in a 52-17 rout of Highlands Ranch in Week 2.

Class 4A

No. 7 Fountain-Fort Carson (2-0) vs. No. 8 Chatfield (2-0)

When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at Jeffco Stadium

Last meeting: Fountain-Fort Carson 48, Chatfield 7, Sept. 16, 2011

The Trojans got an unexpected bye last week when their opponent, Liberty, was forced to go into quarantine and forfeit. The extra week of rest might come in handy against a Chargers offense that’s already churned out 656 yards and 11 TDs on the ground in two games. The Trojans bring their own explosive run game to Jeffco Stadium with senior back Dezmen Oliver looking to build on a 117-yard, 3-TD performance in Week 1.

3A No. 2 Durango (2-0) vs. No. 4 Montrose (2-0)

When/where: 6 p.m. Friday at Montrose

Last meeting: Montrose 14, Durango 13, Sept. 13, 2019

The defending 3A champion Demons have yet to be challenged two weeks in 2021, outscoring opponents by a combined 112-0 margin to move their win streak to 10 games. The road trip to Montrose figures to be bumpier. The Indians rallied to top Fruita Monument, 26-22, last week and beat Durango the last time these two met after denying a last-minute two-point conversion.

No. 9 Golden (2-0) vs. No. 10 Skyline (2-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Skyline

Last meeting: Skyline 48, Golden 27, Aug. 31, 2017

A pair of teams with early season momentum meet with each trying to establish itself as a 4A contender. Golden quarterback Jazel Riley IV has thrown for three touchdowns and run for four, while Dalton Summers, Toby Trujillo and Nick Campanelli each have one interception apiece. Skyline has shown an ability to win with its offense (51-6 over Grand Junction) and defense (21-14 over Rampart).

Vista Ridge (1-0) vs. No. 4 Pine Creek (2-0)

When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday at District 20 Stadium

Last meeting: Pine Creek 47, Vista Ridge 7, Nov. 8, 2019

Any notion that the Eagles weren’t going to be a force once again in 4A — they were unranked to start the season — was quickly put to rest with back-to-back shutout wins over Pueblo West (27-0) and Denver East (28-0). Now they get a shot at arguably the state’s best quarterback: 6-foot-5 junior Brayden Dorman, who threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns in a come-from-behind win over Windsor in Week 1.

Class 3A

No. 3 Mead (1-0) vs. No. 6 Discovery Canyon (2-0)

When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at District 20 Stadium

The Mavericks cruised in a Week 1 win over Pueblo Centennial (45-0), then got an extra week to prepare for Discovery Canyon, which is fresh off a 21-13 victory over a Pueblo South team missing two-way star Jace Bellah. This is the first meeting between these 3A powers, and it should serve as an early bellwether for Mead, which has lost just two contested games in three years.

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