Before we get started, I have a correction to address:

In Tuesday’s 14ners, I listed Braddock Hewitt as a competitor from Banning Lewis. That’s incorrect. Hewitt is a boys cross country runner at Thomas MacLaren, who are the Highlanders. Thomas MacLaren’s boys team also won its division at the Liberty Bell Invitational.

My apologies to Braddock and Thomas MacLaren.

Monument Valley Park will be filled with runners from all corners of the state as the Coronado Cougar Classic cross country meet welcomes a bevy of schools this weekend.

Marissa Kraus will have a story featuring the Cougars and their upcoming home meet. Below, we’ll highlight other notable competitions taking place this week.

Three football games to watch

La Junta (2-1) at The Classical Academy (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

This doesn’t involve a pair of local teams, but a win Friday would be noteworthy for the Titans.

TCA, last year’s 2A state champions, has not lost since Nov. 11, 2023, to eventual state champs Delta in the quarterfinals. The Titans have a 16-game winning streak, which is tied for second most in the state along with 8-man team Haxtun, which also has won 16.

A win would tie the Titans with 5A’s Cherry Creek, which has 17 consecutive wins but doesn’t play again until Sept. 25 at Pine Creek. The Titans own a three-game winning streak against La Junta and, during that streak, have outscored the Tigers 98-7.

Cañon City (1-2) at Cheyenne Mountain (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

The Red-Tailed Hawks snuck past the Tigers last season with a 15-14 victory to build a four-game winning streak. Minus the “sneak,” Cheyenne Mountain hopes to replicate that success this season and improve to 4-0 for a second consecutive year.

Cheyenne Mountain enters averaging 43.6 points and has scored at least 28 in every contest. Outside of allowing 54 against Coronado in a 61-54 win last week, the Red-Tailed Hawks allowed 22 points in their previous two games.

The Tigers scored their first win of the season in their Week 3 42-8 victory against Summit. Cañon City scored all 42 points in the first half and had running clock the remainder of the game.

Sierra (1-2) at Harrison (0-3), 7 p.m.

The Harrison School District 2 rivals clash on the gridiron with the Panthers vying for a victory and with the Stallions fighting to move to .500 for the first time since 2023.

These teams split their previous two meetings with Harrison earning a 46-6 victory in 2024 and Sierra winning 52-27 in 2023. Prior to 2023, the Panthers dropped the Stallions 12 consecutive times.

Other contests to watch

Boys soccer

Vanguard at Woodland Park, 6 p.m. Thursday

The Coursers have 28 goals in four games. The Panthers have allowed eight strikes in five contests. Something has to give, right?

Woodland Park freshman keeper Liam Rawson has 32 saves in 280 minutes and has allowed just seven goals. The Coursers have three players with seven or more goals: Deven Jain (nine), DJ Gerber (eight) and Isai Savelkoul (seven), who have 24 of Vanguard’s 28 strikes.

The Coursers also allowed more than a goal just once this year, in their 2-0 loss to Manitou Springs.

Softball

Air Academy at Widefield, 3:30 p.m. Friday

The Gladiators have called the road home since their Sept. 6 12-0 victory against Smoky Hill. Widefield has amassed a 7-1 record and has not lost at home since Sept. 25, 2024, which came against rival Mesa Ridge.

Now, the Gladiators, ranked No. 9 in 4A, host the Kadets, ranked No. 6, and hope to earn a statement victory against Air Academy.

Both teams have immaculate pitching as Kadets’ ace Bailey Williams is 6-0 and has 42 strikeouts in 37 innings. Olivia McEwen, the Gladiators sophomore righty, has 69 Ks through 57 innings.

McEwen set the school strikeout record last year with 130 and, with an average of seven strikeouts per game and 12 games to go, McEwen is on pace for 159, which would break her mark.

Palmer Ridge at Cheyenne Mountain, 4 p.m. Monday

Another battle of area top-10 4A teams, this one involving No. 3 Palmer Ridge at No. 7 Cheyenne Mountain.

This Monday, the Red-Tailed Hawks handed Air Academy (ranked No. 6) its first loss and look to cool off Palmer Ridge, which defeated 4A’s three-time reigning champions Lutheran.

The Bears will face Air Academy and Falcon prior to their tilt with the Red-Tailed Hawks and could notch their 13th win of the year with a pair of victories prior to Monday’s game.

Girls volleyball

Air Academy at Palmer, 6 p.m. Thursday

Palmer cooled off a bit since its 5-0 start and have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. However, the Terrors’ recent losses came against 4A No. 6-ranked Pueblo County and a formidable Falcon team.

The Terrors hope to recover against the Kadets, who own a four-game winning streak against Palmer and are 8-1 all time against the Terrors. Air Academy, which had a nine-day break from its previous win to the tilt with the Terrors, have earned victories via sweeps and a five-set contest in four games.

Two things to know

Ben Mueller hits Palmer Ridge’s first-ever hole-in-one

Eisenhower Golf Course might be Ben Mueller’s favorite. The Palmer Ridge golfer sank a hole-in-one during the Air Academy Invitational on Monday to earn the school’s first ace.

Mueller’s hole-in-one on No. 3 was a 153-yard shot and helped the Bears senior finish tied for seventh with a 2-over-par 74.

Banning Lewis football earns comeback victory, looks for first win streak since 2023

The Stallions entered their game on the road against Sterling as 17-point underdogs, per Mile High Sports’ pregame predictions. The Stallions did trail by three scores in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to stop Banning Lewis, which earned a 22-21 victory for its first win.

The Stallions (1-2) face North Fork (2-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday and would improve to 2-2 with a victory. Should the Stallions win, it would mark their first winning streak since Banning Lewis’ first playoff appearance in 2023 where it finished the season 10-1.

Gazette Prep football rankings

Rank, team, record

5A

1, Fountain-Fort Carson, 3-1

2, Pine Creek, 2-1

4A

1, Palmer Ridge, 3-0

2, Vista Ridge, 4-0

3, Sand Creek, 4-0

4, Cheyenne Mountain, 3-0

5, Doherty, 2-1

3A

1, Discovery Canyon, 3-0

2, Lewis-Palmer, 2-1

3, Coronado, 1-2

4, Harrison, 0-3

2A

1, The Classical Academy, 3-0

2, Woodland Park, 2-1

3, Banning Lewis, 1-2

1A

1, Ellicott, 3-0

2, Colorado Springs Christian, 2-1

3, Peyton, 2-1

This week’s football games

Thursday

Mesa Ridge at Heritage, 6 p.m.

Palmer at Liberty, 6 p.m.

Air Academy at Standley Lake, 7 p.m.

Coronado at Pueblo Centennial, 7 p.m.

Friday

Peyton at Holyoke, 6 p.m.

Widefield at Sand Creek, 7 p.m.

Sierra at Harrison, 7 p.m.

Cañon City at Cheyenne Mountain, 7 p.m.

Lakewood at Fountain-Fort Carson, 7 p.m.

La Junta at The Classical Academy, 7 p.m.

Valley at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m.

Calhan at Swink, 7 p.m.

Lewis-Palmer at Holy Family, 7 p.m.

Doherty vs. Rampart (at District 20 Stadium) 7 p.m.

Hanover at Manzanola, 7 p.m.

Falcon at Ponderosa, 7 p.m.

Longmont vs. Palmer Ridge (at Don Breese Stadium), 7 p.m.

Ellicott at Center, 7 p.m.

Manual vs Mitchell (at Garry Berry), 7 p.m.

Florence at Colorado Springs Christian, 7 p.m.

Pine Creek at Arapahoe, 7 p.m.

Saturday

North Fork at Banning Lewis, 11 a.m.

Pueblo County at Discovery Canyon, noon

Before we get started, I have a correction to address:

In Tuesday’s 14ners, I listed Braddock Hewitt as a competitor from Banning Lewis. That’s incorrect. Hewitt is a boys cross country runner at Thomas MacLaren, who are the Highlanders. Thomas MacLaren’s boys team also won its division at the Liberty Bell Invitational.

My apologies to Braddock and Thomas MacLaren.

Monument Valley Park will be filled with runners from all corners of the state as the Coronado Cougar Classic cross country meet welcomes a bevy of schools this weekend.

Marissa Kraus will have a story featuring the Cougars and their upcoming home meet. Below, we’ll highlight other notable competitions taking place this week.

Three football games to watch

La Junta (2-1) at The Classical Academy (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

This doesn’t involve a pair of local teams, but a win Friday would be noteworthy for the Titans.

TCA, last year’s 2A state champions, has not lost since Nov. 11, 2023, to eventual state champs Delta in the quarterfinals. The Titans have a 16-game winning streak, which is tied for second most in the state along with 8-man team Haxtun, which also has won 16.

A win would tie the Titans with 5A’s Cherry Creek, which has 17 consecutive wins but doesn’t play again until Sept. 25 at Pine Creek. The Titans own a three-game winning streak against La Junta and, during that streak, have outscored the Tigers 98-7.

Cañon City (1-2) at Cheyenne Mountain (3-0), 7 p.m. Friday

The Red-Tailed Hawks snuck past the Tigers last season with a 15-14 victory to build a four-game winning streak. Minus the “sneak,” Cheyenne Mountain hopes to replicate that success this season and improve to 4-0 for a second consecutive year.

Cheyenne Mountain enters averaging 43.6 points and has scored at least 28 in every contest. Outside of allowing 54 against Coronado in a 61-54 win last week, the Red-Tailed Hawks allowed 22 points in their previous two games.

The Tigers scored their first win of the season in their Week 3 42-8 victory against Summit. Cañon City scored all 42 points in the first half and had running clock the remainder of the game.

Sierra (1-2) at Harrison (0-3), 7 p.m.

The Harrison School District 2 rivals clash on the gridiron with the Panthers vying for a victory and with the Stallions fighting to move to .500 for the first time since 2023.

These teams split their previous two meetings with Harrison earning a 46-6 victory in 2024 and Sierra winning 52-27 in 2023. Prior to 2023, the Panthers dropped the Stallions 12 consecutive times.

Other contests to watch

Boys soccer

Vanguard at Woodland Park, 6 p.m. Thursday

The Coursers have 28 goals in four games. The Panthers have allowed eight strikes in five contests. Something has to give, right?

Woodland Park freshman keeper Liam Rawson has 32 saves in 280 minutes and has allowed just seven goals. The Coursers have three players with seven or more goals: Deven Jain (nine), DJ Gerber (eight) and Isai Savelkoul (seven), who have 24 of Vanguard’s 28 strikes.

The Coursers also allowed more than a goal just once this year, in their 2-0 loss to Manitou Springs.

Softball

Air Academy at Widefield, 3:30 p.m. Friday

The Gladiators have called the road home since their Sept. 6 12-0 victory against Smoky Hill. Widefield has amassed a 7-1 record and has not lost at home since Sept. 25, 2024, which came against rival Mesa Ridge.

Now, the Gladiators, ranked No. 9 in 4A, host the Kadets, ranked No. 6, and hope to earn a statement victory against Air Academy.

Both teams have immaculate pitching as Kadets’ ace Bailey Williams is 6-0 and has 42 strikeouts in 37 innings. Olivia McEwen, the Gladiators sophomore righty, has 69 Ks through 57 innings.

McEwen set the school strikeout record last year with 130 and, with an average of seven strikeouts per game and 12 games to go, McEwen is on pace for 159, which would break her mark.

Palmer Ridge at Cheyenne Mountain, 4 p.m. Monday

Another battle of area top-10 4A teams, this one involving No. 3 Palmer Ridge at No. 7 Cheyenne Mountain.

This Monday, the Red-Tailed Hawks handed Air Academy (ranked No. 6) its first loss and look to cool off Palmer Ridge, which defeated 4A’s three-time reigning champions Lutheran.

The Bears will face Air Academy and Falcon prior to their tilt with the Red-Tailed Hawks and could notch their 13th win of the year with a pair of victories prior to Monday’s game.

Girls volleyball

Air Academy at Palmer, 6 p.m. Thursday

Palmer cooled off a bit since its 5-0 start and have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. However, the Terrors’ recent losses came against 4A No. 6-ranked Pueblo County and a formidable Falcon team.

The Terrors hope to recover against the Kadets, who own a four-game winning streak against Palmer and are 8-1 all time against the Terrors. Air Academy, which had a nine-day break from its previous win to the tilt with the Terrors, have earned victories via sweeps and a five-set contest in four games.

Two things to know

Ben Mueller hits Palmer Ridge’s first-ever hole-in-one

Eisenhower Golf Course might be Ben Mueller’s favorite. The Palmer Ridge golfer sank a hole-in-one during the Air Academy Invitational on Monday to earn the school’s first ace.

Mueller’s hole-in-one on No. 3 was a 153-yard shot and helped the Bears senior finish tied for seventh with a 2-over-par 74.

Banning Lewis football earns comeback victory, looks for first win streak since 2023

The Stallions entered their game on the road against Sterling as 17-point underdogs, per Mile High Sports’ pregame predictions. The Stallions did trail by three scores in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to stop Banning Lewis, which earned a 22-21 victory for its first win.

The Stallions (1-2) face North Fork (2-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday and would improve to 2-2 with a victory. Should the Stallions win, it would mark their first winning streak since Banning Lewis’ first playoff appearance in 2023 where it finished the season 10-1.

Gazette Prep football rankings

Rank, team, record

5A

1, Fountain-Fort Carson, 3-1

2, Pine Creek, 2-1

4A

1, Palmer Ridge, 3-0

2, Vista Ridge, 4-0

3, Sand Creek, 4-0

4, Cheyenne Mountain, 3-0

5, Doherty, 2-1

3A

1, Discovery Canyon, 3-0

2, Lewis-Palmer, 2-1

3, Coronado, 1-2

4, Harrison, 0-3

2A

1, The Classical Academy, 3-0

2, Woodland Park, 2-1

3, Banning Lewis, 1-2

1A

1, Ellicott, 3-0

2, Colorado Springs Christian, 2-1

3, Peyton, 2-1

This week’s football games

Thursday

Mesa Ridge at Heritage, 6 p.m.

Palmer at Liberty, 6 p.m.

Air Academy at Standley Lake, 7 p.m.

Coronado at Pueblo Centennial, 7 p.m.

Friday

Peyton at Holyoke, 6 p.m.

Widefield at Sand Creek, 7 p.m.

Sierra at Harrison, 7 p.m.

Cañon City at Cheyenne Mountain, 7 p.m.

Lakewood at Fountain-Fort Carson, 7 p.m.

La Junta at The Classical Academy, 7 p.m.

Valley at Manitou Springs, 7 p.m.

Calhan at Swink, 7 p.m.

Lewis-Palmer at Holy Family, 7 p.m.

Doherty vs. Rampart (at District 20 Stadium) 7 p.m.

Hanover at Manzanola, 7 p.m.

Falcon at Ponderosa, 7 p.m.

Longmont vs. Palmer Ridge (at Don Breese Stadium), 7 p.m.

Ellicott at Center, 7 p.m.

Manual vs Mitchell (at Garry Berry), 7 p.m.

Florence at Colorado Springs Christian, 7 p.m.

Pine Creek at Arapahoe, 7 p.m.

Saturday

North Fork at Banning Lewis, 11 a.m.

Pueblo County at Discovery Canyon, noon