LAKEWOOD — It hasn’t been all sunshine-and-rainbows for Chatfield football this season.
The Chargers — last year’s Class 4A state champions — started the season 0-4 in the first year playing in 5A. Chatfield has been able to gain some positive momentum with back-to-back wins the last two weeks.
“Last week I said that game was something to build on,” Chatfield coach Kris Rosholt said of the Chargers’ win last week against Dakota Ridge. “Our boys took it and ran with it.”
Chatfield took a 42-28 win over Arvada West in a game that featured sunshine, rain, lightning and rainbows at Jeffco Stadium on Friday.
“It is super big for momentum,” Chatfield sophomore running back Brock Narva said of a second straight win for Chatfield. “Every game is our biggest game from here on out. We all played well tonight.”
A-West (2-4, 0-1 in 5A Jeffco) and Chatfield (2-4, 1-0) were aiming to get off on the right foot when it came to league play. The Wildcats and Chargers both game into Jeffco Stadium with below .500 non-league records, but knew a conference win could turn the tide in a hurry.
Chatfield jumped out to an early 21-0 first-half lead on A-West. Narva did the scoring damage in the first quarter for the Chargers. Narva had touchdown runs of 3 and 2 yards in the first quarter to give Chatfield a 14-0 lead.
“To win in 5A football you have to be able to run the ball,” Rosholt said. “That is something we knew we needed to get better at. It has been a focal point the last couple of weeks.”
Junior linebacker Avery DeWeese had a big interception of A-West quarterback Ethan Cook that set the Chargers up on the Wildcats’ 23-yard. Four plays later Narva scored his second touchdown with 3 minutes left in the quarter.
“I have not been great in pass coverage. I’m more of a power guy, but tonight I saw my opportunity,” DeWeese said of his interception. “I think it was a statement of leadership. I want to lead these guys.”
Chatfield junior quarterback Jake Jones threw a great fade to junior Colin Mote with 10:26 left in the second quarter to push the Chargers’ lead to 21-0. The Wildcats were in good position to get on the scoreboard on the next drive, but Cook was intercepted in the end zone by senior Blake Cowgill.
“Every week we want to win the turnover margin. That is huge,” DeWeese said. “If our defense can give our offense more opportunities that the whole point.”
Minutes later the game went into a 30-minute lightning delay.
The delay seemed to give A-West a much-needed spark. Cook hit senior Brady Witherspoon for a 49-yard touchdown with 4:45 left before halftime to cut Chatfield’s lead to 21-7.
A-West had another good chance for a score before halftime, but a hit by junior Cole Roybal on Cook forced a fumble and DeWeese fell on the loose ball for the recovery on the Chargers’ 18-yard line.
Chatfield answered the bell after halftime with a drive that ate up nearly half of the third quarter. Narva capped off a 60-yard, 9-play scoring drive with his third touchdown of the game with a 2-yard run. The Chargers led 28-7 with 6:41 left in the third quarter.
“Our offensive line really played well tonight. They were getting on their blocks downfield,” Narva said.
After a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cook to senior Andrew Martinez, Chatfield was able to answer again with an 82-yard scoring drive that Jones finished with a short touchdown run on the final play of the fourth quarter.
Cook hooked up with senior Brady Witherspoon for touchdowns of 9 and 44 yards in the fourth quarter. Chatfield senior Zane Aplanalp scored on a short touchdown run for the Chargers for their final score.
Chatfield heads to NAAC next week. The Chargers face Pomona (1-5, 0-1) on Thursday, Oct. 6, in Arvada.
“We are going to keep rolling and plugging away,” DeWeese said.
A-West will play its homecoming game next Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Wildcats face Lakewood with a 7:30 pm kickoff start.