Upcoming contests for Colorado Springs area high school sports

Compelling contests:

FOOTBALL

Discovery Canyon (4-2) at Harrison (4-2), 1 p.m. Saturday

The Thunder take a 2-0 road record to Memorial Stadium for their matchup against the Panthers, who had a rough outing last week against Lewis-Palmer and lost 58-27 to the Rangers.

Harrison had won its previous two matchups and allowed just 14 total points in their contests with Cañon City and rival Sierra and look to venture back on a winning path.

Discovery Canyon has won three consecutive games after a 1-2 start and hope to earn their fifth win in a row against Harrison.

Montrose (7-0) at Mesa Ridge (5-2), 7 p.m. Friday

The gauntlet continues for the Grizzlies, who narrowly missed beating 4A’s top ranked Pueblo West on the road last week.

The No. 3-ranked Hawks boast an offense that has scored 35 or more in every game this season. But the Grizzlies have a stingy defense that includes ball hawk Chris Hinojosa Jr., who leads 4A with five interceptions.

Bryce Riehl continues to power the Grizzlies’ offense and is fifth in 4A with 1,464 passing yards and Sonny Rogers, who’s third in 4A with 586 receiving yards.

Vista Ridge (5-2) at Palmer Ridge (6-1), 7 p.m. Friday

Both Ridges earned one-score victories against their respective opponents last week and bring two-game winning streaks to Don Breese Stadium.

The Bears, who enter the contest ranked No.4 in 4A, hold a four-game winning streak over the Wolves and won last season’s matchup 51-0.

Vista Ridge’s defense, buoyed by Lennon Louis (56 tackles) Jacob Bourland, Mason Carter and Silas Arnds (each with 41 tackles) will attempt to tame Palmer Ridge’s Avier Elvira, who carried the ball 21 times and ran for 219 yards – both career highs – and scored two touchdowns in the Bears’ win on the road against Durango.

Rampart (4-3) at Liberty (2-5), 7 p.m. Thursday

The Rams have dropped their previous two games while the Lancers enter their matchup with Rampart having lost three in a row.

Liberty is also hungry for a win against Rampart. The Lancers are 1-14 all-time against the Rams and have not earned a victory against Rampart since a 34-32 win in October 2015.

The Lancers need to stop Rampart’s Camden Bruns, who has 561 yards and four touchdowns on 122 carries this season.

Other sports

BOYS INDIVIDUAL STATE TENNIS

Due to potential inclement weather Saturday in Pueblo, CHSAA announced Wednesday that the 4A state tournament would move from three days to two.

What won’t change is the plethora of local athletes competing in the tournaments in Denver and Pueblo.

Players from Pine Creek, Palmer Ridge, Cheyenne Mountain, Lewis-Palmer, Coronado, Discovery Canyon and Fountain Valley will represent their schools and battle to earn titles this weekend.

For details regarding who will face who, please see check our story on Gazette Preps.

SOFTBALL

The Pikes Peak region will send 10 teams to the regional tournament with each school battling for a spot at this year’s state competition.

Palmer Ridge has the highest seed of all 10 teams and will host 4A’s region 4, which includes No. 13 D’Evelyn, No. 20 Widefield and No. 29 Falcon.

For extensive coverage of the regional tournament, please check out the primer here.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Air Academy at Cheyenne Mountain, 7 p.m., Oct. 22

Following a tilt with Discovery Canyon, the Kadets will close their regular season on the road ahead of the playoffs.

The top-ranked squad in 4A has allowed just six goals through 12 games and Ben Brown leads the team with 14 goals and six assists.

Cheyenne Mountain, though, has dropped just one matchup at home, a 2-1 loss to Northfield on Sept. 24, and since that defeat, have allowed just one goal, which came Oct. 15 against Lutheran.

Pikes Peak region football power rankings

5A

1) Pine Creek (4-3)

2) Fountain-Fort Carson (4-3)

4A

1) Palmer Ridge (6-1)

2) Mesa Ridge (5-2)

3) Vista Ridge (5-2)

4) Sand Creek (5-2)

3A

1) Discovery Canyon (4-2)

2) Harrison (4-2)

3) Cañon City (3-3)

2A

1) The Classical Academy (6-0)

2) Woodland Park (6-0)

1A

1) Peyton (5-1)

2) Colorado Springs Christian (3-3)