For Palmer Ridge and Ponderosa, it’s time to jump into the deep end. Both teams open their football seasons on Thursday night and they’ll meet at EchoPark Stadium in massive Week 1 showdown.

This battle is our spotlight game to watch in a very loaded schedule of high school football games over the next three days.

The Bears are coming off a loss in the 2023 Class 4A state title game and will also have a fresh look on the field. Gone are quarterback Derek Hester and wide receiver Jimmer Weir.

Avier Elvira is back after rushing for 844 yards and seven touchdowns. His workload will likely increase as Palmer Ridge once again looks massive on the offensive line, a strength for the team for the last several years.

The playmakers on the field might just belong to Ponderosa, however. Marcus Price led the Mustangs with 1,113 passing yards and 10 touchdowns and should be even better as a senior this season.

But the biggest factor in the game might be Ponderosa wide receiver Max Mervin, who could emerge as one of the most dynamic playmakers in the state this fall.

With a loaded Week 1 slate, this Thursday night tilt might just be the game to watch this weekend.

Class 5A

(5) Legend at (9) Grandview, Friday 7 p.m.

A trip to Fruita Monument did the Titans very well to start the year. Legend rolled to a 41-0 win over the Wildcats thanks a well-balanced offensive attack.

The Titans rushed for over 200 yards as a team, but Jaden Lawrence’s team-high mark was just 59 yards. Ryken Banks scored three rushing touchdowns in the win.

Grandview is making its 2024 debut. The Wolves were eliminated by Chatfield in the 2023 5A playoffs but are hoping to put together another solid playoff run this season. They did lose Liam Szarka to graduation, but junior running back Chris Blanks had a good sophomore year, rushing for 553 yards and six touchdowns.

Class 3A

(8) Lewis-Palmer at (10) Rampart, 7 p.m. Friday

The lone Friday game between two top 10 3A teams comes out of northern Colorado Springs. Rampart looked strong in a 39-0 win over Falcon in Week Zero. Camden Bruns rushed for two touchdowns while Konnor Marko threw for one. Marko was an efficient 5-for-7 for 153 yards on the day.

The voters of the Colorado Preps football rankings like Lewis-Palmer heading into the year and Jayden Pagano is a big reason why. As a junior, he rushed for 1,276 yards and 19 touchdowns and he has high expectations for his senior season.

Class 2A

(4) Eaton at (2) The Classical Academy, Friday 7 p.m

Eaton made an unexpected run to the 2A semifinals last year and the only reason that TCA didn’t follow suit was because of a walk-off safety against eventual state champion Delta.

The Reds return senior quarterback Connor Davey, a dual-threat player who threw for 1,628 yards and rushed for another 453. He’ll be the catalyst as Eaton looks to regain its state championship form.

TCA is another highly-rated team that has title ambitions this fall. Quarterback Andrew Brown threw for 1,479 yards last year and is one of three returning players who rushed for at least 400 yards on the season.

Class 1A

(2) Limon at (6) Colorado Springs Christian, Friday 7 p.m.

Is Limon really in a rebuild or is at all smoke and mirrors by coach Mike O’Dwyer? The Badgers have won two straight 1A titles, but Wray is the team heading into 2024 as the perceived top team.

Skylur McCready is the top returning offensive player as he rushed for 416 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Senior quarterback Jace Velasquez is in a position to lead the Lions to a memorable season. He threw for 1,487 yards and 13 touchdowns last year and has been the steady presence as CSCS has made the playoffs for two straight seasons.

8-man

Rocky Ford at (6) Byers, Friday 7 p.m.

Word out of Byers is that the Bulldogs are a tough football team this season. Quarterback Chase Long threw for 1,562 yards and 22 touchdowns last season while Kaleb Willoughby rushed for 1,674 yards and 25 touchdowns. This could make Byers a tough team to slow down through the course of the season.

Rocky Ford drops to 8-man from 1A in 2024. Isaiah Gallegos-Vazquez should be comfortable under center after throwing for 558 yards and rushing for another 200 in 2023.

6-man

(1) Stratton at (2) Cheyenne Wells, Friday 7 p.m.
For the last two seasons, Stratton and Cheyenne Wells have opened the season against each other. They’ve also closed the season against each other as they’ve met in the 6-man title game the last two seasons.

The Eagles have been the dominant high school team in Colorado for the last two seasons. Stockton Fye will look to keep that trend alive. He ran for 570 yards, 13 touchdowns last fall and will likely take over the role that Cyler Notter held as the primary ball carrier last season.

Trey Scheler had a strong junior year, running for 1,201 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’ll be one of the top runners in all of 6-man this season.