AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Oct. 18-24:
• Eight Aurora cross country teams take their shots at state qualifying Oct. 18 in consecutive Class 5A regionals at Clement Park, with Aurora Central, Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill entered in Region 1 (Girls 4 p.m., Boys 5:30 p.m.) and Cherokee Trail, Gateway, Grandview, Overland and Regis Jesuit set for Region 2 (Boys 3:30 p.m., Girls 4:30 p.m.). The top five teams and 15 individuals from each regional advance to the state meet.
• The Rangeview and Prairie View volleyball teams square off for the EMAC title Oct. 18, when the teams put their undefeated league records on the line in a 6:30 p.m. match at Prairie View. Rangeview is 14-2 overall and 7-0 in the EMAC going into the match, while the ThunderHawks are 12-5 and 6-0.
• Eaglecrest and Cherokee Trail square off in football on Oct. 18 in a 7 p.m. rematch at Legacy Stadium of a game that the Cougars won just 14-13 last season. Cherokee Trail, currently ranked No. 8 in 5A in the Denver Post media poll, tries to go to 7-1, while Eaglecrest looks to improve to 5-3.
• The Class 5A state softball tournament heads to the Aurora Sports Park again Oct. 19-20, with three Aurora teams involved. Eaglecrest, Cherokee Trail and Grandview will all be on hand for opening round games at 10 a.m. at Complex B. Eaglecrest faces Douglas County, Cherokee Trail goes against Loveland and Grandview squares off with Arvada West. First round winners play again at 2:30 p.m., with semifinals set for 10 a.m. Oct. 20 and the championship at 2 p.m.
• Friday Night Lights for Week 8 on Oct. 19 offers some key Centennial League battles as Grandview plays host to league-leading Cherry Creek at Legacy Stadium at 7 p.m., the same time Overland (4-3) and Smoky Hill (4-3) will tangle at Stutler Bowl. Playoff positioning is on the line in both contests, as well as the Continental League contest of Mountain Vista at Regis Jesuit.
• The first round of the 5A and 4A boys soccer playoffs are scheduled for Oct. 24, but matchups won’t be issued by the Colorado High School Activities Association until Oct. 21. Aurora teams assured of state berths are Vista PEAK in 4A, in addition to Centennial League champion Smoky Hill and Rangeview, Aurora Central and Gateway from the EMAC. A handful of other city teams — such as 10-win squads from Aurora Central and Eaglecrest — have chances to be selected with at-large bids.
• Field hockey reaches the semifinal round on Oct. 24, with games scheduled for 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. at All-City Stadium in Denver. Aurora’s lone qualifier, Regis Jesuit, would play the earlier contest against either Cherry Creek or Mountain Vista if the Raiders upset Colorado Academy in the first round Oct. 17.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
