Gazette Preps fast forward: Undefeated teams battle in crucial league football matchup; mammoth contest in 1A volleyball headline the week
This week’s slate features two undefeated teams battling for playoff position on the gridiron and a meeting between 1A juggernauts on the volleyball court.
Postseason action also begins soon as boys tennis and flag football prepare for the twilights of their respective seasons.
Below are some of the top contests happening in the Pikes Peak region.
Three football games to watch
Sand Creek (6-0) at Cheyenne Mountain (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Two of the hottest area teams will clash in a matchup between I-25 League squads that score at a rapid clip.
Sand Creek will enter this contest averaging 53 points and features Ethan Mangrum, who is 79th in the nation in total touchdowns at 19 and is second in Colorado with 1,088 rushing yards. Mangrum also has 14 consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
The Red-Tailed Hawks, which earned the No. 7 slot in the latest Colorado High School Activities Association 4A polls, average 44.6 points and have scored 41 or more in all but one contest.
Sam Hawker leads the Red-Tailed Hawks’ passing and rushing attack while also serving as the kicker. In the Red-Tailed Hawks’ six games, he’s 28 for 31 in extra points.
Falcon (2-4) at Widefield (2-4), 7 p.m. Friday
Falcon has not played on its home turf since Sept. 12 and this serves as the Falcons’ final of three consecutive road games. Widefield’s last game away from C.A. Foster Stadium was Sept. 19 and this is the last of three consecutive home contests.
For the Falcons, they hope to continue their success against the Gladiators, who have never defeated them on the football field (0-6) and who Falcon defeated 28-26 in 2024. But the Gladiators, who scored 99 points in 10 games last season, have 99 in six matchups this year and hope that turnaround can buoy Widefield to success.
Air Academy (3-3) at Liberty (2-4), noon Saturday
The Kadets started the year 0-2 but have a 3-1 record in their last four games. But the Lancers hope to avenge a 14-0 loss to Air Academy from 2024 where the Kadets scored 14 first-half points and shut out the Lancers for the first time in 21 meetings.
Liberty started the season 0-2, bounced back to win two in a row and is on a two-game losing streak. Should that trend continue, the Lancers would collect their first victory since Sept. 18 when they beat Palmer 43-6.
More notable contests to watch
Girls volleyball
Colorado Springs School at Pikes Peak Christian, 6:30 p.m. Thursday
The Kodiaks previously dominated this matchup and had 13 consecutive wins over the Eagles. However, Pikes Peak Christian won the previous two meetings and has won seven in a row ahead of their matchup.
Pikes Peak Christian finished September at 10-1 and, outside of its 2-0 (25-22, 25-23) loss to Wray, the Eagles dropped just two sets in their 10 wins.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Eagles rank 10th in 1A’s RPI and are second in the 1A Black Forest League behind Evangel Christian Academy.
Boys soccer
Fountain-Fort Carson (5-3-2) at Pine Creek (4-2-3), 7 p.m. Thursday
The Trojans are 1-1 this month with the team being on the happy and sad side of a 3-2 final score. Fountain-Fort Carson heads to Pine Creek with a 3-0-2 road record and has not lost away from home since an 8-0 loss in the opening round of the 5A playoffs Oct. 30, 2024.
Meanwhile, Pine Creek’s lone home loss this year came to undefeated Cherry Creek, which defeated the Eagles 3-0. Pine Creek’s Eagles, aside from those three goals by Cherry Creek, have ceded just seven goals in nine games and have one or fewer goals in eight of their 10 games.
Rampart (5-3-1) at Doherty (4-6), 7 p.m. Thursday
The Spartans are 2-1 in their last three games and have either won or lost those contests 3-2. But they’ll face a Rampart team that has not allowed more than one goal in its past four games and owns a three-match win streak.
Rampart has allowed just 15 goals but faces a Doherty squad that boasts Rodrigo Saldarriaga, who has 13 of the Spartans’ goals.
Two things to know
Boys tennis individual state tournament begins Oct. 16
As area players compete at regionals, which began Wednesday and end Friday, they jockey for position in next week’s state individual tournament.
Cheyenne Mountain will host the 4A region 6 tournament which begins Thursday. Area teams at the regional are: Air Academy, Cheyenne Mountain, Mesa Ridge, Palmer, Sand Creek, Vanguard and Widefield.
Those who advance in their regional will head to the state tournaments at Pueblo City Park in Pueblo (4A) or Denver Tennis Park in Denver (5A). Pine Creek’s Braylon Desquitado was the only Pikes Peak region player to advance to last year’s state championship round and nearly finished with a state title.
Flag football brackets to be seeded Sunday
This year, a 20-team single-elimination bracket will take place in 4A and 5A with the finals occurring at Trailblazer Stadium on Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. for 4A and 6:45 p.m. for 5A.
The Classical Academy advanced to last season’s 4A championship where the Titans were runners-up to Mountain View.
TCA and Mountain View are No. 1 and 2 in 4A’s RPI as of Wednesday afternoon while Air Academy (ninth), Vista Ridge (14th) and Palmer (16th) also hold spots in the postseason picture. In 5A, Doherty ranks 13th with a 9-4 record.
Gazette Prep football rankings
Rank, team, record
5A
1, Fountain-Fort Carson, 5-1
2, Pine Creek, 3-3
4A
1, Palmer Ridge, 6-0
2, Sand Creek, 6-0
3, Cheyenne Mountain, 6-0
4, Vista Ridge, 6-1
5, Air Academy 3-3
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, 5-0
2, Banning Lewis, 3-2
3, Woodland Park, 2-3
1A
1, Ellicott, 4-2
2, Colorado Springs Christian, 3-2
3, Peyton, 3-3
This week’s football games
Thursday
Regis Jesuit at Fountain-Fort Carson, 7 p.m.
Pueblo West at Mesa Ridge, 7 p.m.
Douglas County at Pine Creek, 7 p.m.
Alameda vs. Mitchell (at Garry Berry Stadium), 7 p.m.
Friday
The Classical Academy at Denver West, 4 p.m.
Pueblo East at Sierra, 6 p.m.
Durango at Palmer Ridge, 6 p.m.
Woodland Park at Lamar, 6:30 p.m.
Sand Creek at Cheyenne Mountain, 7 p.m.
Rye at Ellicott, 7 p.m.
Lewis-Palmer at Harrison, 7 p.m.
Pueblo County at Coronado, 7 p.m.
Manitou Springs at La Junta, 7 p.m.
Palmer at Pueblo South, 7 p.m.
Falcon at Widefield, 7 p.m.
Pueblo Centennial vs. Discovery Canyon (at District 20 Stadium), 7 p.m.
Florence at Banning Lewis, 7 p.m.
Bethune at Hanover, 7 p.m.
Colorado Springs Christian at Peyton, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Air Academy at Liberty, noon
Montrose vs Doherty (at Garry Berry Stadium), 1 p.m.
St. Mary’s at Calhan, 2 p.m.
Vista Ridge vs. Rampart (at District 20 Stadium) 6 p.m.
