Denver High School Football 2026: East & South Preview

East High School and South High School open their 2026 football campaigns on August 21 with direct paths to the CHSAA Class 5A state finals in mind.

July marks the start of official preseason workouts across Denver Public Schools, giving coaches eight weeks to install schemes before the first Friday night lights. The timing matters because the CHSAA calendar locks playoff brackets by mid-October, leaving little room for late adjustments once the regular season begins.

East High, located on Colfax Avenue in the Park Hill neighborhood, returns 14 lettermen from last year’s 9-3 squad that reached the quarterfinals. South High, situated blocks from Washington Park, adds new strength and conditioning sessions at the school’s on-site weight room to address a 2025 rushing attack that averaged just 112 yards per game. Both programs share the All-City Stadium on 8th Avenue for home contests when their own fields are unavailable.

CHSAA data shows 142 Denver metro teams registered for football this fall, with 38 of them classified in 5A. Average ticket prices for regular-season games sit at $8 for adults and $5 for students, while state final admission at Empower Field climbs to $15. The championship weekend is set for November 20-22 at the downtown venue that hosted last year’s 5A title game before a crowd of 11,400.

Key Position Battles

East’s offensive line returns three starters who allowed only 1.2 sacks per game in 2025, but the quarterback spot remains open after graduation. South must replace its top two receivers and will test three candidates during the first week of August practices on the school’s grass fields. Defensive depth charts at both schools list 22 players competing for 11 starting spots, a number that reflects the 68 total athletes who reported for summer lifting sessions last month.

Schedule and Ticket Outlook

The full Denver Public Schools football schedule drops July 15 through the district athletics office. Fans can purchase season passes for $45 at the DPS headquarters on 14th Street before the first game. Those planning to attend the state finals should note that parking at Empower Field costs $20 on game days and that CHSAA will release single-game tickets on November 1.

Coaches at both East and South have scheduled joint scrimmages for August 14 at All-City Stadium to fine-tune timing before league play opens the following week.