(Ismael Gomez)
The mountain air has taken on the crispness of fall and the calendar has turned to October. That means with Week 7 of the football season comes the start of league play for all classifications.
Several radio stations throughout the state will be broadcasting these all-important league matchups.
1A: (9) CSCS at Buena Vista
Time: 7 p.m. kick
Station: Eagle Country 104
On the call: Len Gates (Play by play), Bob Marken (Color)
Sports director Caleb Burggraaf on the matchup: Buena Vista looked like a championship team against St. Mary’s on Friday, despite giving up three scores once the running clock was started near halftime. The Demons now welcome Colorado Springs Christian to their home field, as the look for a 2-0 start to their league schedule. This game will come down to the defense for the Demons slowing down the running game of the Lions. If they can slow down that part of the game, the Demons offense should be able to build into a rhythm and pick up where they left off against St. Mary’s.
Listen to the game on Eagle Country 104.1 and online at www.eaglecountry104.com.
2A: (7) Salida at Pagosa Springs
Time: 7 p.m. kick
Station: The Peak 92.3
On the call: Caleb Burggraaf (Play by play), Dan R. (Sideline)
Burggraaf on the matchup: In the Spartans first taste of the Intermountain League, they get a familiar opponent. For the past two year, the Pagosa Springs Pirates have been on the Salida schedule, and Salida has had success. This year, Pagosa is being led by a strong senior at quarterback who has started for four years for the Pirates. His test will be going against a Salida defense which has only allowed more than 7 points a game once this season, and has two shutouts to their record. Keep an eye on the Spartans running game on the other side of the ball, where Vince DeLeo and Eli Smith form a two headed monster for teams to handle in the backfield.
Listen to the game on The Peak 92.3 and online at www.eaglecountry104.com.
4A: Air Academy at Coronado
Time 6 p.m. kick
Station: XTRA Sports 1300
On the call: Ryan Kaufman (Play by play), Ryan Pelton (Color)
Kaufman on the matchup: Air Academy is on pace for the largest single season win total in more than a decade after a 4-1 mark through their non-conference schedule. Their hot start can attributed to a style of play that would make the other school on campus (the Air Force Academy) proud. They have averaged 182.6 yards per game on the ground this season thanks to the duo of Kyle Pope and Zach Martin and have given up less than 7 points per game on average over the last four games, including back to back shutouts.
Coronado meanwhile is looking for consistency after a 2-3 run through the non-conference. Turnovers have plagued the Cougars in their losses, something that coach Monte Gutowski has spent extra time this week trying to fix. When they do hang on to the football, they have dynamic playmakers in Ladarius Mays and Willy Bobrick who Coronado will look to get out in space in order to get big gains on the stout Kadet defense.
Listen to the game on XTRA Sports 1300 or at xtrasports1300.com.
2A: The Academy at (8) Eaton
Time: 7 p.m. kick
Station: 1310 KFKA
On the call: Clark Johnson (Play by play), Mike Danson (Color)
Tanner Schwindt on the matchup: The No. 8-ranked Reds look to defend home field on homecoming night against a scrappy academy team that wants to knock off a top tier team.
Listen to the game at KFKA 1310 or online at 1310kfka.com.
6-man: (7) Idalia at (6) Arickaree/Woodlin
Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday
Station: KAT Country 98.3 FM
On the call: Marc Romero
Romero on the matchup: 1-loss Arickaree/Woodlin and top ranked Stratton/Liberty are the only teams with unblemished East Central league records, while Idalia is trying to keep pace and currently 1-1 in conference. It is almost eerie how closely these teams match up (at least on paper) with both offenses putting up 41 points per game, and each of the last 2 meetings being decided by 8 points (one win for each side).
Listen on KAT Country 98.3 FM or katcountry983.com by clicking sports.