Upcoming contests for Colorado Springs area high school sports

Compelling contests:

Cross country

Regional meets at Monument Valley Park, 1 p.m. Thursday

One event remains before the state cross country meet takes place at Norris Penrose Event Center on Nov. 2.

Colorado Springs’ regional event will feature a handful of teams from 3A, 4A and 5A with Air Academy, Pine Creek, Coronado, Discovery Canyon, Manitou Springs and Woodland Park racing in their respective classes to lock up the final spots available at the state meet.

The Kadets girls enter the event as the No. 2 team in 5A behind Mountain Vista and, as of Oct. 11, are No. 4 in the nation.

Football

Discovery Canyon (5-2) at Lewis-Palmer (3-4), 7 p.m. Friday

After starting the year 1-2, the Thunder have won four games in a row and have outscored their opponents 197-35 during the streak.

The Thunder’s success also helped them jump from No. 11 to No. 9 in CHSAA’s recent 3A football rankings.

Lewis-Palmer also continues to heat up and, following a three-game skid, has earned a pair of victories and outscored their opponents 96-27 in the two wins.

Air Academy (4-4) at Vista Ridge (5-3), 7 p.m. Friday

Both teams look to get back on the winning track following losses last week. The Wolves lost to Palmer Ridge while the Kadets dropped a contest to Durango at home.

This will be a tough challenge for the Kadets, who are 0-5 all-time against the Wolves and in those matchups have been outscored 267-20.

Since 2019, Vista Ridge has lost back-to-back contests twice and looks to avoid two losses in a row as they currently hold the No. 9 spot in CHSAA’s 4A RPI poll.

Flag football

Second round and quarterfinals, 9 a.m. Saturday

The first-ever flag football playoffs will continue this weekend, and several teams remain alive with a chance at the 4A and 5A titles.

A pair of victories this weekend would place the winners in the semifinals Nov. 2 with a chance to compete at Jeffco Stadium and Trailblazer Stadium.

The Classical Academy enters the weekend as 4A’s top seed and Vista Ridge has the No. 3 seed and expects to advance in the playoffs.

Softball

State softball tournaments, 10 a.m. Friday at Aurora Sports Park

The Pikes Peak region has teams representing 5A, 4A and 3A at the state tournament this weekend.

After a thrilling performance at regionals, Vista Ridge earned a spot in the 5A tournament as the 16 seed.

Palmer Ridge has the highest seed of all area teams at No. 10 and is in the 4A bracket with Cheyenne Mountain, which earned the No. 14 seed.

The Classical Academy earned the No. 12 seed and will compete for the 3A title this weekend in Aurora.

Pikes Peak region football power rankings

5A

1) Pine Creek (5-3)

2) Fountain-Fort Carson (4-4)

4A

1) Palmer Ridge (7-1)

2) Sand Creek (6-2)

3) Mesa Ridge (5-3)

4) Vista Ridge (5-3)

3A

1) Discovery Canyon (5-2)

2) Cañon City (4-3)

3) Harrison (4-3)

2A

1) The Classical Academy (7-0)

2) Woodland Park (7-0)

1A

1) Peyton (6-1)

2) Colorado Springs Christian (4-3)