State action is underway this week as the boys tennis team dual tournament began Wednesday and the boys state golf tournament starts Monday.

For regular-season contests, a pair of rivals head to the gridiron to battle with one school seeking its 10^th consecutive victory in the matchup. And cross country is about a month away from its state meet, but a flock of runners return to Monument Valley Park this weekend as prep for the final race of the year continues.

Below are a few notable contests happening this week in the Pikes Peak region.

Three football games to watch

Mesa Ridge (1-4) vs. Widefield (2-3) (at C.A. Foster Stadium), noon Saturday

Widefield entered this rivalry matchup with a better record than Mesa Ridge in 2023, but the Grizzlies managed a 66-14 victory in that contest and have fared well in this game since 2014.

Mesa Ridge will play for its 10^th consecutive win against Widefield and has scored 60-plus in the two previous meetings. Although the Grizzlies have just one victory, their four losses come to 4A’s top 18 in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s RPI poll, including a 35-7 loss to No. 4 Palmer Ridge on Friday.

The Gladiators rank 17^th in RPI and have momentum entering this tilt after earning a 31-27 victory over 3A’s No. 7-ranked and previously unbeaten Discovery Canyon (4-1) last week.   

Banning Lewis (2-2) at Woodland Park (2-2), 7 p.m. Friday

This contest features the tale of twos. Banning Lewis began the season 0-2 and has won two consecutive games. Woodland Park started the year 2-0 and has dropped its past two contests.

The Panthers combined for 95 points during their win streak and have just 21 since. After the Stallions scored 26 in their opening games, Banning Lewis has won a pair of tight contests.

Woodland Park earned a 43-7 victory in 2024 in the first meeting between these schools, but Banning Lewis has allowed 30-plus points just once in 2025.

Liberty (2-3) at Vista Ridge (4-1), 7 p.m. Friday

While Vista Ridge held No. 5 Pueblo West to 20 points last week, the Cyclones forced a shutout and handed the Wolves their first loss of the season.

Now, the Wolves will channel that energy toward Liberty, which Vista Ridge scored a season high against in 2024 in a 54-35 victory. The Lancers enter Friday’s matchup as winners of two of their past three games and average 21 per game.

Vista Ridge has allowed just 11.3 points in three home contests in going 3-0.

Other notable contests to watch

Boys soccer

Fountain-Fort Carson at Vista Ridge, 6 p.m. Thursday

The Trojans opened the year 0-2-1 and went three games without a goal. Now, Fountain-Fort Carson is 4-3-2 and has scored a goal in its past five matches.

Fountain-Fort Carson will have its prowess tested against a Vista Ridge team that the Trojans last beat in 2011. The Wolves own a seven-match win streak against the Trojans and earned a 3-2 victory against Fountain-Fort Carson in 2024.

Of their 15 goals allowed this season, the Wolves have ceded nine in their last three games in an 0-2-1 stretch.

Atlas Prep vs. Mitchell (at Garry Berry South field), 2 p.m. Saturday 

The Gryphons’ lone meeting with the Marauders took place last season and Atlas Prep earned a 4-0 victory at home.

Christian Juarez dominated the game and netted all four goals in the matchup. But the 2025 grad can’t help the Gryphons slink past the Marauders’ back line, who allow just under two goals per match.

Mitchell also features a dynamic attack and has eight or more goals in three games this year. Salvador Hernandez Santaella has 12 of the Marauders’ 33 strikes and scored six in an 11-1 win against Pueblo East.

Girls volleyball

Fountain-Fort Carson at Pine Creek, 6 p.m. Thursday

This contest has been a struggle in the past for the Trojans. In their 19 all-time meetings, the Eagles have won each contest and have dropped just two sets to Fountain-Fort Carson since the teams began play in 2008.

However, the Trojans have plenty of size to combat Pine Creek’s Morgan Holloman, who is seventh in the 5A Colorado Springs Metro League with 71 kills.

The Trojans have four players with 10 or more blocks. Riley O’Hara leads that group with 20 along with 32 kills.

Discovery Canyon at Lewis-Palmer, 6 p.m. Thursday

Lewis-Palmer has dropped just one set to Discovery Canyon since Oct. 20, 2022, and has a six-match winning streak against the Thunder.

Discovery Canyon’s last victory against Lewis-Palmer happened on Oct. 4, 2022, when the Thunder swept the Rangers. Discovery Canyon looks to bounce back from its three-game losing streak this season and a loss to Palmer Ridge on Tuesday where the Bears swept the Thunder.

Lewis-Palmer aims for its second three-game winning streak this season and could move to .500 (7-7) with a win.

Cross Country

Courser Lightning Invitational, 3 p.m. Saturday (at Monument Valley Park)

More than 20 schools will head to Monument Valley Park this weekend with the state meet less than one month away.

Coronado, The Classical Academy, Banning Lewis and Thomas MacLaren are among the swath of schools headed to downtown Colorado Springs for the second time in three weeks.

As of Wednesday, weather will reach the 70s Saturday, but wind is expected to play a role in the race as well with forecasts predicts “strong winds” could start around 12:30 p.m.

One thing to know  

Coronado’s Lyrik Smith, Thomas Buckmiller in national top 25 for offense

One of the nation’s most dynamic offenses has a pair of players in the top 25 of their respective categories. Coronado quarterback Thomas Buckmiller ranks 20^th in passing yards with 1,929, 23 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Buckmiller is one of two players in the top 20 of passing yards to play five or fewer games this season.

For Lyrik Smith, the Cougars wide receiver and recipient of several of Buckmiller’s passes, he’s No. 22 in the nation with 814 yards and eight touchdowns.

Gazette Prep football rankings

Rank, team, record

5A

1, Fountain-Fort Carson, 4-1

2, Pine Creek, 3-2

4A

1, Palmer Ridge, 5-0

2, Sand Creek, 5-0

3, Cheyenne Mountain, 5-0

4, Vista Ridge, 4-1

5, Air Academy 3-2

3A

1, Discovery Canyon, 4-1

2, Coronado, 3-2

3, Lewis-Palmer, 2-3

4, Cañon City, 2-3

2A

1, The Classical Academy, 4-0

2, Woodland Park, 2-2

3, Banning Lewis, 2-2

1A

1, Ellicott, 4-1

2, Colorado Springs Christian, 3-2

3, Peyton, 3-2

This week’s football games

Thursday

Rampart at Durango, 6 p.m.

Denver West at Mitchell, 7 p.m.

Friday

Falcon at Montrose, 6 p.m.

Cheyenne Mountain at Centaurus, 6:30 p.m.

Palmer Ridge at Air Academy, 7 p.m.

Peyton at Rye, 7 p.m.

Doherty at Pueblo West, 7 p.m.

Florence at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m.

Elbert at St. Mary’s, 7 p.m.

Lincoln at The Classical Academy, 7 p.m.

Hanover at Kiowa, 7 p.m.

Pine Creek at Legend, 7 p.m.

Fountain-Fort Carson at Douglas County, 7 p.m.

Simla at Calhan, 7 p.m.

Liberty at Vista Ridge, 7 p.m.

Banning Lewis at Woodland Park, 7 p.m.

Buena Vista at Ellicott, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Mesa Ridge vs. Widefield (at C.A. Foster Stadium), noon