COLORADO SPRINGS – Week four is about separating the contenders from the pretenders – yep, it’s Cliche Season, too.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Pueblo Central (3-0) vs. Harrison (3-0) – If the Wildcats win again as part of #5football Game of the Week. we might have found a theme…. Pueblo Central took care of business against Sierra in Week 2, 45-28, and the Wildcats head back on the road to the exact same place for week 4. Marcus Duran and Nico Martin have proven to be special offensive players for the Wildcats. Harrison has no problem on offense but these Panthers are grinders, 69 points total so far this season and their largest point differential was a 21-0 win over Pueblo Centennial last week. Orlando Westbrook and Aumerie Shedrick are names you know for Al Melo’s squad and don’t expect them to disappear on Friday night. I’m looking at a grinder of a game between two evenly matched teams in week four.
Pueblo West (3-1) vs. Pine Creek (3-1): A rematch of last season’s 4A Semifinals, anyone remember that one? Pine Creek does. They shutout the Cyclones 28-0 to end their season. That was the end of a strong senior class for Pueblo West, the last game Monte Pinkerton coached for West and the last game he Eagles won in the 2017 season. Clint Buderus is now in charge of Pueblo West and after a shaky start, the Cyclones are 3-1 heading into their second biggest game of the season. No offense to West but not many people saw them topping Pueblo East in a grinder of a game and they’ll try and tangle the class of 4A. Pine Creek will be especially nasty come Friday, coming off their first loss of the season, falling to Valor Christian 28-7 last Friday. Good news for Pine Creek? A loss to the best 5A team won’t hurt their RPI at all and they only dropped one spot in the 4A rankings to #2. We’ll see if the Cyclones can shock the world again and top Pine Creek Friday night.
Pueblo South (0-3) vs. Palmer Ridge (2-2): How good is Palmer Ridge? How good is Pueblo South? We’re going to find out where each team stands after Friday night. Palmer Ridge was the odds-on favorite to win 3A but now have two losses after falling to Pueblo East in week two (rebounded well vs. Sand Creek last week, 63-0) but they have fallen against their two biggest opponents so far this season (also lost to Pine Creek in week zero). Pueblo South is still looking for their first win of 2018 but head coach Ryan Goddard doesn’t have the same weapons he did last year. The Colts appear to be getting much better, taking Discovery Canyon to overtime last Saturday and fell 42-41. South is primed for their first win of the season, could it be in big upset fashion vs. Palmer Ridge? We’ll find out.
Fountain-Fort Carson (1-3) vs. Overland (1-3): – FFC built a schedule that would leave no doubt in the 5A RPI standings but you need to win those games for the schedule to help you out. The Trojans are winless since topping Horizon in week zero. FFC only has 13 points in the last two games to speak of, they’ll need to get the offense going to get off the schnide.
St. Mary’s (2-1) vs. Manitou Springs (1-2): Throw out the record books when these two small school rivals hook up. It’s a lean season so far for the Mustangs and the Pirates have found their mojo again under head coach Archie Malloy. Love rivalry games and this one is always a good one.
Other Games to watch:
Vista Ridge vs. Rampart
Sierra vs. TCA
Thunder Ridge vs. Doherty
Mesa Ridge v.s Widefield
Thursday night football scores and highlights:
Pueblo East: 52
Discovery Canyon: 24
Coronado: 38
Palmer: 6
