By KEN HAMRICK, Courier Sports Editor
ALAMOSA – The 2024 high school football season begins this week and all schools in the San Luis Valley are in action.
Here are brief outlines of all the games this week:
#7 CENTAURI (0-0) AT #6 MEEKER (0-0)
This week: The Centauri Falcons will travel to Meeker on Friday with a game scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
Last year: The Falcons finished with a 7-3 record, won the league championship, and made the Class 1A state playoffs. The Cowboys finished with a 7-4 record, also made the state playoffs, and reached the semifinals.
Next week: Centauri hosts Pagosa Springs next Friday starting at 7 p.m. Meeker hosts Wiggins next Friday at 6 p.m.
CENTER (0-0) AT NORTH FORK (0-0)
This week: The Center Vikings will travel to Hotchkiss on Friday to face the North Fork Miners with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
Last year: The Vikings had a record of 1-8. The Miners finished 5-4.
Next week: Center hosts Olathe next Friday at 1 p.m. North Fork has one slot available.
LAS ANIMAS (0-0) AT SANGRE DE CRISTO (0-0)
This week: The Sangre de Cristo Thunderbirds are switching from a 6-man to an 8-man team this season and will open the season with a game against the Las Animas Trojans. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Last year: The Thunderbirds finished 3-7 and the Trojans had a record of 1-8.
Next week: Sangre the Cristo will play against Soroco next Saturday. The game will be played at Buena Vista and will start at 1 p.m. Las Animas will host Walsenburg next Friday at 7 p.m.
MANZANOLA (0-0) AT ANTONITO (0-0)
This week: The Antonito Trojans host the Manzanola Bobcats on Friday from 1 p.m.
Last year: The Trojans played a reduced schedule after reviving their program and finished with a record of 0-4.
The Bobcats finished with a score of 2-7.
Next week: Antonito travels to Bethune next Saturday, kick-off is at 11am. Manzanola plays in the Primero next Friday at 7pm.
#10 MONTE VISTA (0-0) AT ALAMOS (0-0)
This week: The Alamosa Mean Moose will host the Monte Vista Pirates on Friday. The game will be played at Adams State University’s Rex Field and will begin at 7 p.m.
Last year: The Mean Moose won four games and lost six. They finished in a three-way tie for the Tri-Peaks League title, but are returning to the Intermountain League this year. They made the Class 2A state playoffs.
The Pirates finished 6-3 in 2024, but narrowly missed the playoffs.
Next week: Alamosa hosts Banning Lewis Academy and Monte Vista travels to Rye. Both games are next Friday and start at 7 p.m.
OLATHE (0:0) AT DEL NORTE (0:0)
This week: The Del Norte Tigers host the Olathe Pirates on Friday starting at 7 p.m.
Last year: The Tigers finished with a record of 3-6. The Pirates did not play football last year.
Next week: Del Norte has a week off. Olathe travels to the center, kickoff is at 1 p.m.
SANFORD (0-0) AT #10 WEST GRAND (0-0)
This week: The Sanford Mustangs travel to Kremmling to face the West Grand Mustangs. Kickoff on Saturday is at 5 p.m.
Last year: Sanford went 6-4 and made it to the eight-team playoffs. West Grand went 8-2 and also made it to the state championship.
Next week: Sanford travels to Swink next Saturday, kickoff is at 2 p.m. West Grand travels to Calhan next Friday, kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SARGENT (0-0) AT LAKE COUNTY (0-0)
This week: The Sargent Farmers travel to Leadville to face the Lake County Panthers, kicking off at 6 p.m.
Last year: The Farmers finished with a 4-5 record. The Panthers have revitalized their program this season.
Next week: Sargent hosts Hayden next Friday at 7 p.m. Lake County plays Clear Creek in Idaho Falls next Thursday at 7 p.m.
#10 SIERRA GRANDE (0-0) AT CHERAW (0-0)
This week: The Sierra Grande Panthers travel to Arkansas Valley to play against the Cheraw Wolverines. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Last year: The Panthers were 7-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 6-team playoffs. The Wolverines had a record of 2-8.
Next week: Sierra Grande hosts Deer Trail next Friday at 4 p.m. Cheraw hosts Flagler next Friday at 7 p.m.
