Austin Druse
Moving into the middle of the summer, sports fans start to feel an itch and there is only one thing that will satisfy it.
Football. The season is so close, yet so far away.
Incoming freshmen can’t wait to be a part of the homecoming pep rally and go watch their teams. There’s no better feeling than when both bands are playing fight songs, and opposing student sections make their case as to why they are the best school in the state.
Last season, Valor Christian forced a late turnover and capitalized on a late-game drive to take home the Class 5A crown. The Windsor Wizards snagged their fourth title in school history with a 35-14 win over Loveland, and Pueblo East won the 3A championship with a 57-31 rout of Roosevelt.
Bayfield and Buena Vista also came away with their second titles in program history with the Wolverines taking the 2A crown and the Demons coming away with the 1A title.
Sedgwick County cruised to the 8-man title and Eads brought home the 6-man championship.
This year, that all changes. Different kids will force those late-game turnovers, and new legacies will be cemented on Friday nights.
Here are some of the marquee matchups across the state this season, from 6-man to 5A:
Columbine at Palm Bay (Melbourne, Fla.), Aug. 26 (7 p.m.): The Rebels opens the season against Palm Bay High School after losing in the semifinals of last year’s playoffs. The Rebels have not won a state title since 2011, but will have a shot this season. This game will also be a test of how one of the best programs in Colorado matches up with other states.
Regis Jesuit at Mullen, Sept. 9 (7 p.m.): After last season’s 23-17 win over Mullen, Regis Jesuit looks to make it five straight wins against the Mustangs. This could very well be a playoff matchup as well, as both these programs look to return to the postseason in 2016.
Fountain-Fort Carson at Pomona, Sept. 10 (12 p.m.): After 37 years at the helm, Fountain-Fort Carson’s Mitch Johnson retired after the Trojans lost in the first round of the 2015 5A playoffs. Soon after, the Trojans hired CSU-Pueblo assistant Jake Novotny to take over. Novotny gets a shot to hand perennial power Pomona an early-season loss and keep the strong tradition of Fountain-Fort Carson football.
Windsor and Pine Creek face off in September. (Cindy Betancourt/eStudioWest.com)
Windsor at Pine Creek, Sept. 10 (1 p.m.): The 2013 and 2014 4A champion Eagles gets a shot at the 2015 champion Windsor on this Saturday matchup. These two teams could have met in the finals in 2015 before Loveland upset Pine Creek in the semis.
Pueblo Central at Pueblo Centennial, Sept. 16 (7 p.m.): The oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi River highlights a great week of football games. Central snuck by Centennial 27-24 last year and will look to make it two in a row this year. These two teams have faced off for over a century in what is certainly one of the top rivalries in the entire state.
Broomfield at Windsor, Sept. 16 (7 p.m.): Blair Hubbard gets a marquee matchup early in his new coaching tenure with the Broomfield Eagles as they travel up north to face the defending champion Windsor High School.
Pueblo East at Discovery Canyon, Sept. 16 (7 p.m.): After defeating Discovery Canyon in the second round of the 3A playoffs last season, defending champ Pueblo East travels to Colorado Springs for a Week 3 rematch against the Thunder.
Legend at Chaparral, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.): Rivalry week. That one game in the schedule that every coach circles on the calendar regardless of where it falls in the year. For new Legend head coach Monte Thelen, this rivalry week game comes with raised stakes, as his Titans face Chaparral at Sports Authority Field.
Delta at Palisade, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.): Delta made a surprise run last season as the program hasn’t seen a championship in football since 1960. But, they’ll see a potential playoff matchup early on in the season as they face off against six-time champ Palisade (the most recent coming in 2003).
Pomona at Valor Christian, Sept. 23 (7 p.m.): The Eagles host the Panthers in a rematch of the 5A state championship game. Valor lost to Pomona in an eary-season matchup last year, but got their revenge in the championship.
Kit Carson at Cheyenne Wells, Sept. 23 (7 p.m.): Last season, Kit Carson was the No. 1 seed in the 6-man state playoffs but was upset in the semifinals. This game could be a statement game for the as they look to avenge the loss.
Buena Vista at Centauri, Sept. 23 (7 p.m.): The Demons meet the Falcons in an early season rematch of last year’s opening round playoff game. Then No. 1 seed Buena Vista defeated then No. 16 seed Centauri 48-6 en route to winning it all in 1A.
Valor Christian and Cherry Creek play in late September. (Cindy Betancourt/eStudioWest.com)
Valor Christian at Cherry Creek, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.): In 2014, the Bruins defeated the Eagles to win the 5A Championship. Last season, Valor beat Creek in the semifinals and eventually went on to win the title. This midseason matchup of powerhouse programs sets the stage for a potential playoff rematch in 2016.
Thompson Valley at Longmont, Oct. 6 (6:30 p.m.): This midseason matchup pits two playoff teams from last season. Thompson Valley lost in the first round to No. 1 seed Pine Creek, and Longmont got beat in the semis by the eventual champion Windsor. Both Longmont and Thompson Valley could make it back to the playoffs.
Bayfield at Delta, Oct. 21 (7 p.m.): Last year’s 2A champion Bayfield faces 3A semifinalist Delta in this midseason grudge match. Bayfield won its first championship since 1996 and just its second in school history last season.
Pueblo East at Pueblo Central, Nov. 4 (7 p.m.): If Pueblo East continues its run from last year, this cross-town rivalry game with the Wildcats will definitely make for a great tune-up before the playoffs start in mid-November.