As the prep season enters September, several area schools have entered the Colorado High School Activities Association’s weekly rankings or boast unblemished records.

This week’s contests will also feature multiple undefeated area schools competing to remain perfect.

Below are some of the notable contests taking place this week in the Pikes Peak region.

Three football games to watch

Palmer Ridge vs. Doherty (at Garry Berry), 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Doherty has a tough task on its hands when 4A’s No. 4-ranked Palmer Ridge travels from Monument.

In the schools’ first meeting on the gridiron last season, the Bears cruised to a 42-0 win at home. Now, the Spartans hope home-field advantage will assist in defeating the Bears, who have not lost a regular-season road game since 2019.

Palmer Ridge rushed for 330 yards in the season opener, a 42-14 victory over No. 8 Ponderosa. Jackson Mabe ran for 189 along with four rushing touchdowns for the Bears.

Liberty at Widefield, 7 p.m. Friday

Both teams will enter this matchup hungry for their first win following losses in their season openers.

Liberty lost 28-20 to Doherty despite a two-touchdown fourth quarter against the Spartans. Widefield dropped its contest 28-15 to Cheyenne Mountain after building an 8-0 first-quarter lead.

The Gladiators’ defense will need to find a method to stop the Lancers’ run game. Elijah Takemoto rushed for 97 yards and a score for the Lancers in the opener.

Evanston (Wyo.) at Vista Ridge, 7 p.m. Friday

The Wolves will aim for a second consecutive 3-0 start and hope to make it two wins in as many years against their out-of-state opponent.

Both of Vista Ridge’s wins have come via double digits including a 50-20 victory last week against Montbello where the Wolves had two rushers and a receiver earn 100 yards or more.

Micah Nocita (130) and Deron Tiggett (136) combined for a pair of touchdowns and 266 of the Wolves’ 390 rushing yards in last week’s win. Aidan Vanaman hauled in a game-high six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.

More contests to watch

Girls volleyball

Widefield at Vanguard, 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Widefield’s last 4-0 start occurred in 2009 when the Gladiators started 5-0. The Gladiators aim to continue their 2025 success when they travel to 2-0 Vanguard.

The Coursers defeated the Gladiators 3-0 last season in their first meeting and won each set by at least four points. This year, the Gladiators have dropped just two sets, which came in a 3-2 (25-21, 25-27, 17-25, 25-19, 16-14) win against Woodland Park in the season opener Aug. 21.

Katie Walderon and Leila Brown helped lead the Gladiators in their win against the Panthers and will need to play a prominent role against the Coursers, who have Ava Davis, Jenna Henson and Olivia Dommer ready to block Widefield’s top hitters.

Palmer at Sand Creek, 6 p.m. Thursday

The Terrors own a 3-0 record for a second consecutive season and will look for the school’s first 4-0 start in the MaxPreps era, which dates back to 2007 for Palmer. Last season, the Scorpions spoiled the Terrors’ attempt at 4-0 and escaped with a 3-2 (18-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-15, 20-18) road win.

In three matches this season, the Terrors haven’t allowed a match to reach a fifth set and Blythe Hatley continues to pace Palmer with three kills per set.

Boys soccer

Air Academy at The Classical Academy, 6 p.m. Thursday

In their previous four meetings, Air Academy and TCA are 2-2. The Kadets won last year’s match 4-2 with 2024 Peak Performer boys soccer player and Air Academy graduate Ben Brown scoring two goals on the Titans.

Air Academy, the defending 4A state champions and No. 1-ranked team in CHSAA’s preseason polls, has just four road losses since 2022 with the Titans owning one of those – a 1-0 victory against the Kadets in 2023.

Three things to know

Palmer Ridge softball atop 4A poll

Success continues to find the Bears who, prior to their game against Discovery Canyon on Wednesday, own a 6-0 record. The Bears have 63 runs through six games and have scored seven or more in five of six contests.

Corinna Arellano leads Palmer Ridge in several categories such as: batting average (.600), on-base percentage (.609), home runs (3), hits (12), slugging percentage (1.250) and is tied for first in RBIs (11).

Also in 4A’s rankings are Cheyenne Mountain (third), Air Academy (fourth) and Widefield (sixth). Pine Creek, which also has a 6-0 record prior to its Wednesday matchup, is ninth in 5A. The Classical Academy is 3A’s lone rep and holds the eighth spot.

Colorado Springs Christian School’s Orawiec, Sand Creek’s Mangrum lead state in respective categories

In two games, a pair of Pikes Peak region football players have crushed opposing defenses.

Ethan Mangrum has 401 yards on 38 carries for the Scorpions and the junior running back, along with an unmovable offensive line, have helped Sand Creek build a 2-0 record. Mangrum also has seven total touchdowns, which is second in the state behind Eagle Valley’s Keaden Lake with eight.

For CSCS, Michael Orawiec is tied for first in receiving yards and exploded for a career-high 206 on eight catches in a 36-19 win against Holyoke in the opener Aug. 22. The Lions senior also finished with three touchdowns against the Dragons.

Cheyenne Mountain’s boys cross-country runner Aiden Le Roux holds second-fastest time in Colorado

Le Roux’s time of 15 minutes, 18.9 seconds set at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede on Aug. 22 remains the second-best time in the state in cross country.

The Red-Tailed Hawks senior and Cheyenne Mountain head to the Joe I. Vigil Invitational on Saturday in Alamosa where Le Roux won the event as a junior at 15:28.90.

Gazette Prep football rankings

5A

Rank, team, record

1, Fountain-Fort Carson, 1-1

2, Pine Creek, 1-1

4A

1, Palmer Ridge, 1-0

2, Mesa Ridge, 1-0

3, Vista Ridge, 2-0

4, Sand Creek, 2-0

5, Falcon, 2-0

3A

1, Discovery Canyon, 1-0

2, Lewis-Palmer, 1-0

3, Coronado, 1-0

4, Harrison, 0-1

2A

1, The Classical Academy, 1-0

2, Woodland Park, 1-0

3, Manitou Springs, 0-1

1A

1, Peyton, 1-0

2, Colorado Springs Christian, 1-1

3, Ellicott 1-0