Highlights this week - November 4

FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

The announcement of the state brackets had several area coaches working late Sunday to prepare for this weekend.

"We're spending a lot of time doing what we have been doing in practice and really looking at film closely," said Fountain-Fort

Carson coach Mitch Johnson, whose Trojans will host their quarterflnal. "It's a scouting report that just really shows up what we need to correct and serves as a guideline for the players."

The 4A No. 7 seed Trojans (9-1) will have plenty of tape to watch on No. 10 Ralston Valley (7-3), their 7 p.m. Friday foe.

"We played them in zero week, and we ended up winning that ball game," Johnson said. "We thought (Ralston Valley) would have been seeded eighth, so we didn't think we were going to have to face them again. They're a much better team than they were in zero week, but so are we."

Also in 4A, No. 1 seed Pine Creek (10-0) hosts No. 16 Broomfield (6-4) at 7 p.m. Friday. The multi-weapon offense (Josh Chance, Vance Garman, Connor Stevens) is complemented by a stout defense.

No. 9 Sierra (8-2) is not unfamiliar with playing on the road, and will visit No. 8 Heritage (9-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.

"We went on the road last year, and we were kind of expecting it this year," Sierra coach Joe Roskam said. "We feel lucky to be here.

"We got a tough draw for the first round, but they're not supermen. Everybody's beatable."

In 3A, No. 7 Cañon City (9-1) will rely on tailback Damon McCain, who ran for 2,496 yards and 29 touchdowns in 10 games, against visiting No. 10 Summit (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The 2A Tri-Peaks champion Florence Huskies (9-1) host No. 12 Aspen (8-2), coached by former Doherty coach Mike Sirko, at 1 p.m. Saturday. Hitting the road is No. 9 Manitou Springs (8-2) at No. 8 Pagosa Springs (5-5) for a 1 p.m. Saturday game. No. 15 The Classical Academy (8-2) plays at No. 2 Faith Christian (10-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.