Top 10 Colorado Football Games for September

With the blank slate of a new football season – Zero Week notwithstanding – it can be difficult to quantify the top matchups for the first month of the season. But there are several that we believe will be just as good on the field as they are on paper.

Here are 10 of the many must-see contests for September.

Longmont (Longmont) at Pueblo East, 7 p.m., Sept. 3
Last season, this was a cross-classification game. This year, it's potentially a 3A championship preview. Longmont, a runner-up and semifinalist in Class 4A the previous two seasons, has moved down to 3A and should be an immediate factor. The No. 4 Trojans received six first-place votes. Top-ranked Pueblo East, meanwhile, will look to keep it going after a 13-1 championship season the culminated with a 57-31 win against Roosevelt (Johnstown).

Regis Jesuit (Aurora) at Mullen (Denver), 7 p.m., Sept. 9
One of the state's most longstanding rivalries will reprise in this one, with Regis Jesuit aiming to defeat their parochial school rivals for the fourth straight season. Regis, ranked No. 8 in the CHSAANow.com season-opening poll, is coming off a trip to the quarterfinals and looking to gain steam in coach Danny Filleman's second season. Mullen and star running back Marcus McElroy Jr begins the season ranked third but lost to No. 2 Pomona on Zero Week.



Windsor at Pine Creek (Colorado Springs), 1 p.m., Sept. 10
No one will accuse Windsor of not playing an ambitious schedule the year after winning it all in 4A. The top-ranked Wizards open against No. 6 Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs) this week before taking on No. 2 Pine Creek in Week 2. Pine Creek won it all in 2013 and '14, and the Eagles appeared bound for a three-peat until having a 37-game winning streak snapped against Loveland in the semifinals. Windsor, with quarterback Brad Peeples and linebacker Corte Tapia back in the fold, are under the guidance of interim head coach Skylar Brower.

Holy Family (Broomfield) at Fort Morgan, 7 p.m., Sept. 16
Fort Morgan was undefeated entering the 3A semifinals last season but fell to eventual champion Pueblo East. The No. 3 Mustangs will seek to build on the 12-1 season, and the return of top back Tate Kembel (1,893 yards, 29 touchdowns) will be a good start. Holdovers from Holy Family's 2014 squad will recall Fort Morgan's upset on the Tigers home turf in the opening round of that season's playoffs. The Tigers, who defeated Mountain View (Loveland) on Zero Week, begin the season ranked ninth.

Pomona (Arvada) at Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch), 7 p.m., Sept. 23 (Altitude)
It doesn't get any bigger than a rematch of last season's epic big-school championship game, does it? Valor's 29-26 win was a classic and each team figures to be firmly in the title mix again this season. Both played on Zero Week – and on television – as Pomona edged Mullen on Altitude and top-ranked Valor lost to Saguaro (Ariz.) on ESPN. Saguaro is ranked 18th in MaxPreps' XCellent 25.

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) at Grandview, 7 p.m., Sept. 23
Grandview put a halt to Cherry Creek's 6-0 start last season and the No. 5 Wolves would be happy to put another dent in Creek's ledger. The return of 5A top rusher Hayden Blubaugh (2,386 yards, 28 touchdowns) will fuel a Grandview ground attack that could meet its match against the No. 4 Bruins' stout defense. Creek returns standout defensive end Jonathan Van Diest.

Kent Denver (Englewood) at La Junta, 7 p.m., Sept. 23
Each team entered the 2A semifinals unbeaten last season and is aiming to get right back in the mix. Kent Denver will have to replace its top three rushers from an 11-1 squad – including quarterback Rob Casey – but the Sun Devils typically retool quickly under coach Scott Yates. La Junta is in a similar situation but returns Dax Bender among a few additional playmakers. On the same night, No. 3 Platte Valley (Kersey) and No. 6 D'Evelyn (Denver) square off in a matchup that is equally compelling.

Bennett at Burlington, 7 p.m., Sept. 23
With its top passer, rusher and receiver back – in addition to top tackler Cody Burghart – Burlington is optimistic about challenging for the 1A crown. The Cougars will navigate through a challenging schedule, including this showdown with the No. 6 Tigers. Bennett brings back junior running back Jesse Rodriquez, who averaged 9.4 yards per carry last season. The matchup of No. 8 Platte Canyon (Bailey) at top-ranked (and defending champion) Buena Vista on Sept. 17 serves as an honorable mention.



Heritage (Littleton) at Denver South, 7 p.m., Sept. 24
After a strong 8-3 showing in 5A last season, Heritage has moved to the 4A ranks and begins the season ranked No. 5. The Eagles will face a stern test in this one, as the third-ranked Rebels return top back Marcus Lindsay and a bevy of additional talent, including quarterback Amon Wright. South and coach Tony Lindsay have been knocking at the door the past several seasons, having gone 37-12 over the past four.

Akron at Sedgwick County (Julesburg), 7 p.m., Sept. 30
This matchup is small-school heaven, as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in 8-man clash in a rematch of last season's title game. Sedgwick County won that one 36-6, and you can bet Akron has been yearning for a shot at revenge from the moment the schedule was released. Sedgwick County was a perfect 13-0 last season after going 5-5 the season prior. Akron QB Levi Basler ran for 15 touchdowns last season and threw for 11. … Another small-school game to watch is top-ranked 6-Man squad Fleming at No. 4 Arickaree/Woodlin on Sept. 16.