A look at some of the key games, tournaments and happenings in Aurora prep sports between Oct. 25-30:
• The Class 5A football regular season concludes Oct. 25, as the eight teams in the playoff picture through eight weeks try to keep or improve their position. The Centennial League standings could shuffle depending on the results of Cherry Creek vs. Eaglecrest (4 p.m., Legacy Stadium), Cherokee Trail vs. Overland (7 p.m. Stutler Bowl) — with the winner taking second place — and Grandview vs. Smoky Hill (7:30 p.m. Legacy Stadium). A Hinkley win over Aurora Central at 6 p.m. at APS Stadium would officially end the T-Birds’ playoff drought, while Vista PEAK makes a 7 p.m. visit to Englewood trying to keep hold of a 3A playoff spot.
• The Overland co-op gymnastics team heads to Region 3 at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at Arvada West High School seeking to earn a team spot in the Class 5A state meet Nov. 1-2 at Thornton High School. Host Arvada West appears to be Overland’s toughest regional competition, while Bear Creek, Denver East, Evergreen, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Palmer Ridge, Pueblo Central, Rock Canyon and Thomas Jefferson will also compete.
• The Class 5A state cross country meet is scheduled for Oct. 26 in Colorado Springs as seven Aurora teams — four girls, three boys — and two individual qualifiers race at the Norris Penrose Equestrian Center. The 5A girls race is slated for 11 a.m., while the 5A boys run at 1 p.m.
• Volleyball teams tune up for the upcoming postseason with Oct. 25-26 tournaments that close out the regular season. Grandview and Regis Jesuit, both league champions, take part in the Legend Tournament — which also includes Smoky Hill — in play beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 25. The championship match is at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 26, followed by the third-place match at 3 p.m.. Rangeview plays host to its own tournament beginning at 8 a.m.
• The second round of the Class 5A boys state soccer tournament is set for Oct. 30, with first-round survivors Smoky Hill, Rangeview and Grandview all set to play again at home against lower-seeded opponents. The top-seeded Buffaloes have a 6 p.m. time slot at Stutler Bowl with No. 17 Fossil Ridge as the opponent, while Grandview also plays at 6 p.m. at Legacy Stadium against Standley Lake. Game time for Rangeview’s second round contest against Denver East is to be determined, but could be as early as 4 p.m. at Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel.