AURORA | A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports from Sept. 13-18:
• A strong cross-city boys soccer matchup takes place at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 13 when Cherokee Trail visits Rangeview in a battle of a Cougars program on the rise and one of Aurora’s most established programs in coach Vic Strouse’s Raiders.
• The Grandview football team will try to get back on track against ThunderRidge on Sept. 13 when the Wolves play their first home game of the 2012 season at 7 p.m. at Legacy Stadium. Grandview is 1-1 after a win in California and loss to Chaparral, while ThunderRidge is also 1-1.
• Cross country runners love the Liberty Bell Invitational, because the fast meet hosted by Heritage High School is known as the best place to set personal records. Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill are set for the meet, which is Sept. 14 at 3:45 p.m.
• Several of Aurora’s top volleyball powers will be at the Eaglecrest Invitational Sept. 13-14, as the host Raptors will be joined by a 12 other teams, including Cherokee Trail and Grandview — along with visiting Mary Carrilo from California. The Wolves won last season’s tournament, with Eaglecrest coming in third and Cherokee Trail seventh. Pool play begins at 4 p.m. Sept. 13 and resumes at 8 a.m. Sept. 14. The championship match is scheduled for 2 p.m.
• Friday Night Lights for Week 3 is quality, as two games in particular highlight the Aurora slate for Sept. 14. In a crosstown matchup of 2-0 city teams, Gateway visits Cherokee Trail at 7 p.m. at Legacy Stadium as the Cougars celebrate homecoming. Cherokee Trail hasn’t allowed a point in two contests and Gateway has given up just one touchdown. Regis Jesuit is off to a 2-0 start and plays at parochial school rival Mullen at 7 p.m. The teams last met in the 2010 5A state championship game won by the Mustangs.
• The Jesuit Classic boys soccer tournament returns to Regis Jesuit Sept. 14-15, as it’s again the Raiders’ turn to host the four-team get-together after it was last in Aurora in 2008. Rockhurst High School (Kansas City, Mo.), Marquette University High School (Milwaukee) and Gonzaga College High School (Washington D.C.) all visit Regis Jesuit, which is off to a 2-0-1 start under new head coach Rick Wolf. Marquette is the No. 15-ranked team in the nation in the Sept. 11 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
• The boys golf season has already reached the postseason, as two Class 5A regional tournaments are scheduled for Sept. 17. Aurora Central, Gateway, Hinkley and Rangeview are part of 19 teams playing for state berths at Arvada’s Indian Tree Golf Course at 8 a.m., while Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland, Smoky Hill and two-time defending state champion Regis Jesuit are at CommonGround G.C. at noon.
• Grandview plays at Cherry Creek on Sept. 18 in a game that puts the winner in good position in the chase for the Centennial League softball title, with Cherokee Trail and Eaglecrest also contending. The Wolves and Bruins split two games last season. The game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Village Green Park.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555