Season Opener Sets the Stage
Grand Junction High School’s Tigers will kick off the 2026 campaign in Week Zero when they host Central High School’s Warriors at Stocker Stadium, a venue that has witnessed many of their historic battles.
The Tigers arrive unbeaten in league play from the 2025 season, finishing 5‑0 and finishing the year with a perfect record. Yet this year they must adjust to a move from the 4A to the 5A classification, confronting tougher opponents and a more demanding schedule.
Central, by contrast, struggled through a 2‑8 campaign last year, but the team still carries a 3‑3 edge in the all‑time series against the Tigers. Their most recent encounter ended 36‑29 in favor of Grand Junction, a reminder of how tightly contested the rivalry has become.
Head coach Landon McKee has spoken about the need to sharpen an offense that will be tested by stronger defenses in the new league, while senior standout Izaak Martinez has voiced confidence that the team is ready to meet Central’s challenge head‑on.
After the Stocker Stadium clash, the Tigers will travel to Aurora to face Smoky Hill, while the Warriors are slated for back‑to‑back road tests against Montrose and Fruita Monument, setting up a busy stretch that could define the early momentum of both programs.