Colorado High School Coaches Association/MaxPreps Fab Five football rankings, Week 7
About the CHSCA/MaxPreps polls: Head coaches are invited to vote on the top teams in their classification. Five points are awarded for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, etc., to determine the total points. *Received first-place votes.
Class 5A
1. *Mullen
2. Pomona
3. Fairview
4. Chaparral
5. Fort Collins
Others receiving votes: Chatfield, Columbine, Arvada West, Ponderosa, Grandview.
Class 4A
1. *Greeley West
2. Pine Creek
3. Monarch
4. Wheat Ridge
5. Heritage
Others receiving votes: *Montrose, Fountain-Fort Carson, Durango, Loveland, Pueblo West, Longmont, Liberty.
Class 3A
1. *Steamboat Springs
2. *Mountain View
3. Pueblo County
4. Pueblo Central
5. Valor Christian
Others receiving votes: Canon City, D'Evelyn, Conifer, Windsor, Falcon, Silver Creek.
Class 2A
1. *Faith Christian
2. *Olathe
3. Holy Family
4. Florence
5. Pagosa Springs
Others receiving votes: Platte Valley, Kent Denver, Erie, Platte Canyon, Aspen, Strasburg.
Class A
1. *Akron
2. Yuma
3. Rye
4. Burlington
5. Wray
Others receiving votes: Limon, Lyons, Highland, Byers, Wiggins.
Class A 8-Man
1. *Merino
2. Dayspring Christian
3. Antonito
4. Walsh
5. Caliche
Others receiving votes: Cheyenne Wells, Swink, Sanford, Simla, Norwood, La Veta, Miami-Yoder, Dove Creek.
Class A 6-Man
1. *Otis
2. Idalia
3. Hi-Plains
4. Eads
5. Peetz
Others receiving votes: Fleming, South Baca.
On the schedule
Want to catch a game this week? Here are a few that are worth the drive:
Thursday: It's that time of the season when league and playoff races begin to take shape. This week will help determine which teams can begin thinking about the postseason and which can begin looking ahead to winter sports. The top game this day pits Class 4A Foothills League leader Liberty at league hopeful Castle View. The visiting Lancers are the league's only unbeaten, with Castle View and Lewis-Palmer a game back.
Friday: Pomona, ranked second in Class 5A, took over sole possession of first place in the Big 8 League last week with a huge win against Chatfield. This week, the Panthers can help put one of their challengers and chief rival in Arvada West in the rear view mirror. Arvada West joins Columbine and Chatfield in a crowded field that's one game behind the Panthers.
Take your pick from among three top games in Class 3A: D'Evelyn will be at Conifer, with the winner keeping pace with Metro League leader Valor Christian; Tri-Valley League leader Mountain View will be at Berthoud, which is a game back in the league standings along with Windsor and Northridge; and Canon City and Falcon will fight it out to stay in striking distance of Southern League co-leaders Pueblo Central and Pueblo County.
Class 2A offers a beauty on the Western Slope, as defending state champion Olathe will be at Aspen. The winner remains undefeated in league along with Gunnison. Meanwhile, the best game of the weekend could be in Yuma (6-0), where the second-ranked Indians will play host to fifth-ranked Wray (5-1) in the three-headed monster that is the North Central League. Three-time defending champion Akron also will have its say in league matters.
The leaders in the South (Eads) and West Central (Otis) meet in the 6-Man ranks in a playoff quality matchup.
Saturday: The champion in the Class 2A Colorado League figures to be crowned when Platte Canyon travels to Kent Denver, while the top spot in the 8-Man I-70 Division is at issue between Cheyenne Wells and Simla. Thomas Jefferson is undefeated in Class 5A Central Metro League action, and the Spartans play host to George Washington. The Patriots are a game back in the standings with Denver East and Rangeview.
