A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Aug. 30-Sept. 5:
• Friday Night Lights kicks off on Aug. 30 as a full slate of football is scheduled around Aurora. The matinee is intriguing, as Smoky Hill and new coach Justin Hoffman pay a 4 p.m. visit to Aurora Public Schools Stadium to go against Hoffman’s old team, Gateway, which is now under the guidance of Ashour Peera. The Olys won last season’s contest. Another all-Aurora opener involves the city’s two sets of Raiders as Rangeview visits Regis Jesuit in a 7 p.m. contest at Lou Kellogg Stadium. Cherokee Trail, last season’s 5A runner-up, opens on the road vs. Chatfield at 7:30 p.m. at Jeffco Stadium.
• The Smoky Hill boys soccer teams opens the season with an East Coast swing Aug. 29-30 where coach Kersten Mullan’s Buffaloes — last season’s Class 5A state runners-up — face off against Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach, Va., on Aug. 29 and Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, Va., on Aug. 30.
• The Regis Jesuit Jam volleyball tournament is set for Aug. 30-31 at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse as the Raiders and defending champion Cherokee Trail battle it out in a challenging early season tournament. Chaparral, Highlands Ranch and Arapahoe are among the teams entered in the Gold Bracket along with Regis Jesuit and Cherokee Trail. Overland and Hinkley play in the less loaded Silver Bracket.
• Cherokee Trail and Grandview play in the 12th annual Erie Festival of Champions softball tournament Aug. 30-31 in a good early season test that includes some quality Colorado teams, as well as some from Oklahoma, such as nationally-ranked power Broken Arrow. The Wolves play Broken Arrow on Aug. 30.
• Grandview visits Doherty at 3:15 p.m. Aug. 31 in a rematch of last season’s 5A volleyball state title match won by the high-powered Spartans in three sets. Doherty still has dynamic Haleigh Washington, but the Wolves return Morgan Montgomery, Alyssa Svalberg and a slew of other seniors seeking to make a statement to open the season.
• The annual Aurora City Championships Cross County meet is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Aurora Sports Park as city teams square off against each other in a meet that celebrates its 33rd running. The Smoky Hill boys and Grandview girls are the defending champions.