8 Colorado high school football games to watch in Week 4

CLASS 5A

Castle View (2-1) vs. Douglas County (2-1)

When/where: 6 p.m. Thursday at Echo Park Stadium

Last meeting: Castle View 37, vs. Douglas County 16, Sept. 19, 2024

Streaming: NFHS Network

The Battle of the Rock gets renewed for the 14th straight year, with both teams looking for a critical nonconference win. Castle View has won two straight in this rivalry and eight of the last 10, but the schools have split the last four. Douglas County is coming off a humbling 42-21 loss at Rock Canyon, but features an explosive offense averaging 35.3 points per game. Castle View has won two straight since a loss to Mullen in the opener. This one’s a toss-up.

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Mullen (1-2) vs. No. 2 Valor Christian (3-0)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Valor Stadium

Last meeting: Valor Christian 46, at Mullen 20, Sept. 20, 2024

Mullen’s brutal nonconference schedule has the Mustangs taking on a top-five team for the second straight week. Jeremy Bennett’s squad hung with No. 4 Ralston Valley well into the fourth quarter last Friday, and now the Mustangs get a rested Valor squad coming off a bye and playing its first home game of the season. The Eagles’ two-QB rotation of senior Dawson Olk and sophomore Titus Huard has been effective so far. But a salty Mullen defense awaits.

No. 4 Ralston Valley (3-0) vs. ThunderRidge (2-1)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Halftime Help Stadium

Last meeting: Ralston Valley 39, vs. ThunderRidge 2, Sept. 19, 2024

Streaming: NFHS Network

We’re three weeks into the Jay Madden Era at T-Ridge, and the Grizzlies have a pair of impressive wins on their ledger (at Columbine, vs. Arapahoe) and one head-scratching loss (21-11 at Cherokee Trail). Consider this visit from the fourth-ranked Mustangs their biggest test yet. Ralston Valley has won three straight by double digits to start the season, and has a home showdown with Valor Christian lurking next week. Trap game alert.

No. 7 Pine Creek vs. Arapahoe (1-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at LPS Stadium

Last meeting: Pine Creek 34, vs. Arapahoe 13, Sept. 20, 2024

Streaming: NFHS Network

First-year head coach Trevor Hudson has Creek firing on all cylinders since a rain-soaked Week 0 loss to Valor Christian, with back-to-back routs of Cherokee Trail and Loveland. Junior quarterback Brady Walden was near perfect in the latter, completing 9 of 11 passes for 155 yards and two TDs before subbing out of a 42-0 rout. The always-stingy Arapahoe defense (16 points allowed/game) should offer plenty of resistance.

No. 10 Rock Canyon (3-0) vs. No. 9 Grandview (2-2)

When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Stadium

Last meeting: Grandview 42, at Rock Canyon 17, Sept. 20, 2024

Streaming: NFHS Network

Nick Artinger wasn’t the biggest name to take a new job in the 2025 head coach hiring cycle, but it’s hard to argue with what he’s produced through three weeks at Rock Canyon. The Jaguars are averaging 43.3 points and 423.3 yards per game after rolling over Chaparral, Fossil Ridge and Douglas County. But the degree of difficulty goes up a notch this weekend with a trip to Aurora, where a battle-tested Wolves squad features a dangerous offense of its own.

CLASS 4A

No. 6 Durango (2-1) vs. 3A No. 9 Palisade (2-1)

When/where: 4 p.m. Thursday at Stocker Stadium

Last meeting: Durango 32, vs. Palisade 14, Sept. 20, 2024

Streaming: NFHS Network

Two of the Western Slope’s top programs meet in what amounts to another measuring stick game for both. Durango took down a pair of Farmington, N.M., teams before going on bye, and allowed just seven total points while doing it. Palisade has a pair of impressive road wins (40-7 at Delta, 24-7 at Resurrection Christian) and stayed closed to 4A No. 3 Montrose well in the second half of an eventual 37-20 loss. Upset the Demons, and this could be the start of a long Bulldogs run.

3A No. 10 Thompson Valley (2-1) vs. Loveland (2-2)

When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Patterson Field

Last meeting: Thompson Valley 20, vs. Loveland 0, Sept. 20, 2024

Thompson Valley flipped this cross-town rivalry on its head the past two seasons, shutting out Loveland two years in a row to end a streak of 16 straight Red Wolves victories. If the Eagles are going to make it three straight, they’ll need to correct whatever went wrong in last week’s stunning 24-0 loss to Timnath. Loveland is coming off a shutout loss of its own — 42-0 at 5A No. 7 Pine Creek — but a 72-0 win at Mountain View the week before showed it can score in bunches.