Scouting the Colorado high school football quarterfinals in Class 5A, 4A and 3A

The Colorado high school football season is down to its final three weekends. With eight teams left in each of the state’s three largest classifications, here’s a preview of what to look for:

Class 5A

No. 9 Erie (10-2) at No. 1 Cherry Creek (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Could the reigning 4A champion Tigers pull off a stunner at Stutler Bowl? They already went on the road and scored a minor upset of No. 8 Pine Creek — their ninth straight win following a 1-2 start. The Bruins, winners of 10 in a row, struggled to put away that same Pine Creek team earlier this fall. But Cherry Creek hasn’t missed the 5A semifinals since 2017. It’ll take near perfection from Erie to end that run.

No. 5 Valor Christian (10-1) at No. 4 Columbine (10-1), noon Saturday: Valor and Columbine rarely meet, but when they do, it’s in the state quarterfinals. This marks the fourth quarterfinal matchup between the two 5A powers since 2013, with Valor winning two of the first three. Each time, the winner has gone on to reach the state title game. As it often does with Columbine, this one comes down to one question: Can Valor slow down the Rebel run game?

No. 7 Fairview (11-0) at No. 2 Mountain Vista (11-0), 7 p.m. Friday: The last two 5A unbeatens meet, with Golden Eagles senior QB Austyn Modrzewski fresh off breaking the CHSAA career passing yardage record (now at 11,608). Mountain Vista has topped 40 points in all but one of its 11 wins — and the 11th was a 35-0 laugher. It’ll be on Fairview sophomore QB Ki Ellison (2,380 yards, 23 TDs passing) and senior WR Jordan Rechel (1,518 total yards) to keep pace.

No. 6 Legend (10-1) at No. 3 Ralston Valley (10-1), noon Saturday: Even after the exodus of a strong senior class, Ralston Valley is back in the mix in 5A — one win from its third straight state semifinal trip. Junior QB Zeke Andrews (2,864 total yards) has proven more than capable of utilizing the many weapons around him. The big test for the Mustangs on Saturday is in the trenches, where Legend’s physical run game led by Wyoming RB commit Jaden Lawrence does most of its damage.

Class 4A

No. 8 Ponderosa (8-3) at No. 1 Dakota Ridge (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday: How much has Ponderosa improved over the last month? The answer to that question will likely determine whether or not the Mustangs, 36-7 losers to Dakota Ridge on Oct. 4, can hang with the Eagles on Friday. Senior RB De’alcapon Veazy (861 yards, 13 TDs) has been on a tear during Pondo’s five-game win streak. But nobody is hotter than the Eagles, winners of 10 straight by a combined score of 393-140.

No. 5 Broomfield (10-1) at No. 4 Palmer Ridge (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday: A pair of 4A blue bloods meet for the second straight postseason, with Broomfield looking to avenge last year’s 38-14 semifinal loss. The Eagles return many of the same headliners, including Air Force CB/WR commit Mikhail Benner and QB Darien Jackson (1,776 yards passing), while senior RB Avier Elvira (1,430 yards rushing) and Air Force O-line commit Court Towns have Palmer Ridge eyeing its third 4A semifinal in four years.

No. 7 Mesa Ridge (8-3) at No. 2 Montrose (11-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: A familiar road block stands between Mesa Ridge and its first state semifinal in 12 years: A Montrose program that’s beaten the Grizzlies three times in three years, including a 32-28 win this fall that saw the Red Hawks chew up nearly the entire fourth quarter on the game’s final drive. Unless Mesa Ridge found an answer for Montrose’s brute force, a second straight trip to the semifinals awaits the Red Hawks.

No. 11 Heritage (7-5) at No. 3 Pueblo West (10-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: A week after going into Durango and coming out with a “W,” Heritage hits the road again with junior QB Jamison Seese, senior RB Jett Balika and Nebraska WR commit Tanner Terch looking to continue their assault on 4A defenses. The Eagles are averaging 53.2 points over their last five games, but now get a Pueblo West defense allowing just 11.7 points/game. Something’s gotta give.

Class 3A

No. 8 Discovery Canyon (9-2) at No. 1 Thompson Valley (11-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: One of the hottest teams in 3A faces the classification’s last remaining unbeaten in a matchup pitting strength vs. strength. Discovery Canyon enters the game riding an eight-game win streak with a rushing attack that averages 236.2 yards/game. On the opposite sideline is a Thompson Valley defense that’s allowed 65 points all season. If it’s a rock fight, advantage Thompson Valley.

No. 13 Severance (5-6) at No. 5 Green Mountain (8-3), 6 p.m. Friday: Severance spent all fall narrowly losing games to the best of the best in 3A, so, naturally, the Silver Knights eked out a 10-3 thriller at Palisade to score the third playoff win in program history last week. The margin for error only gets slimmer against Green Mountain, which has won five in a row with senior QB Simon Lunsford (1,273 yards, 15 TDs on 68% passing) on a serious heater.

No. 6 Windsor (10-1) at No. 3 Pomona (8-3), 3:30 p.m. Saturday: A pair of programs that entered the season with big goals after dropping to 3A in the offseason meet with only one guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. Windsor has won 10 straight since a Week 1 loss to a Green Mountain, with the Wizards defense allowing just 45 points total during that streak. Pomona, which beat that same Green Mountain team 33-7, will have to earn its first state semifinal bid since 2020.

No. 7 Pueblo Central (9-2) at No. 2 Mead (9-1), 1 p.m. Saturday: After surviving a 36-34 shootout with No. 10 Lutheran in last week’s first round, Pueblo Central heads north looking to punch its ticket to the state semifinals for the first time since 2009. Standing in the way is a Mead team that just piled up 261 yards on the ground in a 30-7 win over Pueblo South and hasn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 15 points in a single game all season.

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