Cherry Creek, Ralston Valley headline heavyweight semifinal field in Class 5A football state playoffs | Colorado Sunshine
Where good news shines
Then there were four.
After a banner weekend of Class 5A football, the final four of the state playoffs is set.
No. 1 Cherry Creek (12-0) meets No. 5 Valor Christian (10-2) at the Stutler Bowl at 1 p.m. Saturday. No. 2 Ralston Valley (12-0) meets No. 3 Mountain Vista (12-0) at North Area Athletics Complex in Arvada at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The final four shows a combined record of 46-2.
Cherry Creek advanced to the semifinals with a 49-28 win over Fairview. Valor Christian beat Legend, 31-30. Mountain Vista beat Arvada West, 36-21. Ralston Valley routed Mullen, 41-14.
(“Colorado Sunshine” celebrates the good news in sports. Suggestions are encouraged through sports editor Paul Klee at paul.klee@gazette.com.)
5-star Riverdale Ridge standout Brihanna Crittendon announces commitment to Texas
Tyler King
tyler-king@denvergazette.com
Updated 5 days ago
Another girls basketball star from the state of Colorado is leaving home. Riverdale Ridge senior Brihanna Crittendon, a 5-star recruit in the class of 2026, announced Wednesday that she has committed to Texas over JR Payne’s CU Buffaloes, Tennessee and...
Tyler King
Reporter
Former Manual High basketball star Micheal Ray Richardson dies at age 70
Wire Reports
wire-reports@gazette.com
Updated 2 weeks ago
Micheal Ray Richardson, a star basketball player at Manual High in the 1970s and later a four-time NBA All-Star, died of cancer Tuesday at the age of 70, according to reports. Richardson played for the New York Knicks, Golden State...
Wire Reports
Reporter
Lewis-Palmer, Coronado secure 3A playoff berths, prepare for road matchups
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 2 weeks ago
The final fall season playoff brackets are set and Lewis-Palmer along with Coronado will join the football postseason fray. Colorado High School Activities Association released 3A brackets Sunday and the 16-team, single-elimination playoff begins this week. The 3A finale will...
Marcus Hill
Reporter
Girls volleyball roundup: Defending 3A champion Village wins regional, six more area schools advance to state tournament
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 2 weeks ago
Village followed a rocky start to the season with a ticket to the upcoming state tournament at Denver Coliseum. In their second year of play, the Mountaineers collected their second consecutive regional crown Saturday and dropped just one set en...
Marcus Hill
Reporter
Boys soccer roundup: Pine Creek, Cheyenne Mountain advance to semis; defending 4A champs Air Academy ousted in quarters
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 2 weeks ago
Just two Pikes Peak region boys soccer teams remain in the playoffs after wins Saturday and both advanced to the semifinals via shutouts. In 5A, Pine Creek ventured to Englewood High School to face an undefeated Cherry Creek team that...
Marcus Hill
Reporter
Mesa Ridge scores season high, beats Loveland 54-22 in 4A playoff opener
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 2 weeks ago
Jerimi Calip said the only win he cares about for Mesa Ridge is the last one. And it was quite the victory for the Grizzlies on Friday night. Cameron-Ozzie Tertulien led Mesa Ridge’s high-octane offense with three touchdowns as the No....
Marcus Hill
Reporter
Broncos star J.K. Dobbins returns to Houston, not far from where he is a ‘hometown hero’ in tiny La Grange
Chris Tomasson
chris.tomasson@gazette.com
Updated 3 weeks ago
LA GRANGE, Texas — Mya Grounds used to be a regular visitor at grocery stores in this small Texas town, but that has changed in recent years. Grounds has nothing against fellow customers and calls them “very friendly.” It’s just...
Chris Tomasson
Reporter
Cheyenne Mountain’s Raegan McRae wins 4A girls individual title, Red-Tailed Hawks girls place fifth
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 3 weeks ago
As Raegan McRae crossed the finish line Saturday, she fulfilled a former coach’s words. McRae collapsed into a trainer’s arms at Norris Penrose Event Center, placed first in the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships with a time of 18...
Marcus Hill
Reporter
CHSAA to eliminate RPI system, will use MaxPreps rankings for playoff seeding starting with 2026-28 cycle
Marcus Hill
marcus.hill@gazette.com
Updated 1 month ago
Say goodbye to the Ratings Performance Index ranking system. This is the last season Colorado will use it to configure playoff seeding. The Colorado High School Activities Association’s board of directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to move from the current...
Marcus Hill
Reporter
CU Buffs’ men and women off to hot starts in fall season | Golf Insider
Chris Schmaedeke
chris.schmaedeke@denvergazette.com
Updated 2 months ago
The University of Colorado golf programs are thriving in the fall season. The men’s and women’s teams have racked up individual wins, high team finishes and record-setting performances on the course. On the men’s side, sophomore Zeqian “Michael” Fang battled tough conditions...
Chris Schmaedeke
Reporter
PREV
PREVIOUS
Warren Schaeffer's return as Colorado Rockies manager in 2026 is the right call | Kevin's Take
Warren Schaeffer will return to manage the Colorado Rockies in 2026. It was the right call for a franchise that needs all the leadership it can find to pull itself out of a dark, dismal hole at the bottom of the National League West. There will be plenty who will scoff at the move, saying […]
Colorado opponent lookahead: Buffs close the season against a Kansas State team targeting bowl game
Two disappointing Big 12 teams will have something very different to play for Saturday in Manhattan, Kan. As Colorado (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) closes the season against Kansas State (5-6, 4-4), the Buffaloes will be searching for a win to avoid their worst record in Deion Sanders’ three seasons, while the Wildcats will be trying […]