Top 5A Games of Week One
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The season is just weeks away from kicking off, bringing a sense of eagerness to programs and the fans as time approaches. The first set of games has some heavy-hitting matchups slated for late August, many of which are highly…
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Continue ReadingThe season is just weeks away from kicking off, bringing a sense of eagerness to programs and the fans as time approaches. The first set of games has some heavy-hitting matchups slated for late August, many of which are highly anticipated.
This article will briefly preview three of the top games of the first week while also mentioning five other exciting matchups.
Thursday, August 24th
Denver East at Smoky Hill
A significant number of players from both teams have shown tremendous skill and development during the offseason, making this an enticing match to start the season. This game will have a plethora of potential prospects on both teams, making it a prime game to have slated on the early end of the schedule.
For Denver East, players like Landen Holloway Landen Holloway 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Denver East | 2024 State CO (2024 LB), DJ Crowe DJ Crowe 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Denver East | 2025 State CO (2025 DE), Deion Giles-Ray Deion Giles-Ray 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Denver East | 2025 State CO (2025 DB), and Elijah West Duah (2025 RB) are a few must-see athletes on the Angels’ rosters. The Buffaloes will have RJ Hines (2024 CB), Bailey Bujanda Bailey Bujanda 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Smoky Hill | 2025 State CO (2025 OL), John Bass Jr John Bass Jr RB Smoky Hill | 2025 State CO (2025 ATH), and Zion Brake Zion Brake 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Smoky Hill | 2025 State CO (2025 QB) helping to lead the charge for Smoky Hill.
Friday, August 25th
Ralston Valley at Cherry Creek
The Ralston Valley Mustangs are preparing to kick off the fall following an impressive 2022-23 season that ended in an overtime battle against Valor Christian. Cherry Creek will head into this season with the goal of winning its fifth consecutive state title. This week one matchup will feature two of the top four programs in the classification, easily making it one of the more anticipated season openers for fans and scouts.
Ralston Valley will be led by Logan Madden (2024 QB), Peyton Knoebel Peyton Knoebel 6'4" | 275 lbs | OL Ralston Valley | 2024 State CO (2024 OL), Tyrese Johnson Tyrese Johnson DL Ralston Valley | 2024 State CO (2024 DE), and Jack Moran (2024 DE). Knoebel and Johnson committed to Air Force, while Moran committed to Colorado State. The Bruins have a roster loaded with talent that will feature USC commit Hayden Treter Hayden Treter 6'7" | 325 lbs | OL Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 OL), uncommitted Angelo Petrides Angelo Petrides 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 LB), Iowa State commit Andre Burton Andre Burton 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 OL), and Purdue commit Maxwell Parrott Maxwell Parrott 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Cherry Creek | 2024 State CO (2024 OL). These are just four of the handful of players on the roster with futures at the Power 5 level.
Saturday, August 26th
Valor Christian at Regis Jesuit
The Valor Christain Eagles will enter the 2023-24 season following their third consecutive season as the state runner-ups, making them one of the more powerful teams in the state.
The Eagles will have Princeton commit Asher Weiner Asher Weiner 6'5" | QB Valor Christian | 2024 State CO (2024 QB), Alexander Jordan Alexander Jordan 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Valor Christian | 2024 State CO (2024 DE/TE), Gabe Sawchuk Gabe Sawchuk 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Valor Christian | 2024 State CO (2024 RB/ATH), and Blake Kirschke (2024 LB) among the ranks of Valor Christian’s returning starters. Regis will look upon Penn commit Lawson Douglas Lawson Douglas 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Regis Jesuit | 2024 State CO (2024 DB), Jaden Thermidor (2024 RB), Albert Medina Albert Medina 6'0" | RB Regis Jesuit | 2024 State CO (2024 RB), and Peyton Lindell Peyton Lindell 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Regis Jesuit | 2025 State CO (2024 QB) to help lead the charge for the Raiders this fall.
Other Big-Time Games
Rock Canyon at Poudre | Thursday
Fossil Ridge at Loveland (4A) | Thursday
Arapahoe at Legecy | Friday
Chatfield at Cherokee Trail | Friday
Las Vegas (NV) at Pine Creek | Friday