AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Nov. 1-3:
• The Class 5A state football playoffs kick off with an all-Aurora first rounder between Gateway and Regis Jesuit on Nov. 1. The 20th-seeded Raiders (4-5) pay a 6 p.m. visit to Aurora Public Schools Stadium to take on the No. 13 Olys (7-2) in battle of former Continental League cross-city rivals. The winner gets either No. 4 Valor Christian or No. 29 Legacy.
• The Class 5A state gymnastics meet runs Nov. 2-3 at Thornton High School, where the Overland co-op team — filled with gymnasts from several Aurora schools — takes aim at a second straight 5A state championship. The team championship starts at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 2, while individual event finals (for the top 16 scorers in each event) are at 2 p.m. Nov. 3.
• Five games in the Class 5A state football playoffs on Nov. 2 including Aurora teams, including home contests for No. 3 Cherokee Trail (7 p.m. vs. No. 30 Mountain Range), No. 9 Grandview (7 p.m., Stutler Bowl vs. No. 24 Fairview) and No. 12 Rangeview (6 p.m., APS Stadium vs. No. 21 Horizon), while No. 19 Overland (7 p.m. at No. 14 Mullen in a game televised by ROOT Sports) is away.
• Eaglecrest and Smoky Hill play in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A boys state soccer playoffs Nov. 3, with the fourth-seeded Buffaloes playing host to No. 12 Pine Creek at 11 a.m. at ‘The Swamp’ at Smoky Hill High School. At 1 p.m., No. 17 Eaglecrest visits Stutler Bowl for a contest against Centennial League rival and 9th-seeded Cherry Creek. The winners of both contests advance to play each other at 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Legacy Stadium.
• Twelve Class 5A volleyball regionals are scheduled for Nov. 3, as 36 teams — including five from Aurora — vie for 12 spots in the 5A state tournament at the Denver Coliseum. Aurora has three host sites at No. 2 Eaglecrest, No. 6 Cherokee Trail and No. 7 Grandview — which has No. 18 Regis Jesuit in its group — while No. 27 Rangeview plays in Region 10 at Legend. Matches are schedule for 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at all locations, with the host teams playing first and third.
• Eaglecrest faces Chatfield at 1 p.m. Nov. 3 at Jeffco Stadium in the last Class 5A state football 1st round playoff game. The 22nd-seeded Raptors (5-4) have dangerous athleticism and seek an upset of the 11th-seeded Chargers (6-3).
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555