As far as prize fights go, they don’t get much better in terms of Colorado high school football than when Cherry Creek and Valor Christian meet for the Class 5A championship.
This will be the third time that Creek and Valor have met for the 5A crown and it will serve as a fitting rubber match for the two programs.
The Bruins (8-0 overall) won their first state title under Dave Logan back in 2014 when they ended the Eagles’ (7-0) run of five consecutive championships. Valor got revenge four years later and beat Creek 24-14 to give coach Ed McCaffrey his first, and only, state championship as Valor’s coach.
It was just a year ago that the Bruins got themselves back on top with a win over Columbine. With standouts like Julian Hammond and Myles Purchase back from last year’s championship team, Logan is excited about the chance to bring consecutive titles to Cherry Creek for the first time since winning three straight from 1994-96.
“This has been a good bunch,” Logan said at the state championship press conference. “It’s a great group of young men to coach. There are some outstanding senior leaders on this team that have been through some battles.
(Theodore Stark/tstark.com)
In reality, Logan point to any of his seniors when saying that. Hammond has thrown for 1,373 yards and 19 touchdowns and James Walker II has rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. But it’s hard to watch this team and not be in awe of what Purchase does on the defensive side of the ball. The Iowa State commit has set himself apart as of one of the best all-around players in the state.
“There are very few things that he can’t do,” Logan said. “He’s an excellent corner. He can play safety, he’s big in the kick and punt return game. He’s dangerous with his hands on the ball.”
Purchase picked off five passes this season, returning two of them for touchdowns. He also has two punt return touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns to his name.
He might have to show the ability to help in the run-stopping game, however. Lining up behind a beefy Valor offensive line is standout running back Gavin Sawchuk. The junior is averaging just shy of 10 yards per carry in his career. In 2020, it has taken him just six games to eclipse 1,000 yards and has been a nightmare for opposing defenses to stop.
“Gavin goes about his business,” coach Donnie Yantis said. “We talk about being a pro. Everything that he does, he’s meticulous about. His pass (protections), how he carries out his fakes, little things.”
The Eagles have shown the ability to go through the air as well when they need to. Sean McNair isn’t quite putting up the numbers typical of past Valor quarterbacks, but he’s found Landon Turnwall or Tyler Larson to either convert on third down or set up the running game for a key touchdown.
In all, it should be a game worthy of capping off an unusual 2020 football season. The Bruins and Eagles will kick at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the final state championship game of the year.
At first glance, the Class 2A football championship game between No. 5 Eaton and No. 7 Lamar is an unexpected matchup.
At least to those who have never seen the teams play. Those that have will certainly argue that the potential for each squad to advance to the finals was thriving since Week 1 of the football season. And even all the way through the playoffs.
For Lamar (7-1 overall), the success of the season almost felt as if it would go the way of a broken down play when Zane Rankin is handling the ball. There could be cause for concern at any moment and even a scare where things look they’re going off the rails. But the result somehow ends up positive.
Rankin has been the unquestioned heart of the offense all season and has battled through even the toughest of times. He tossed three interceptions in a game twice, once in a win over Elizabeth and once in Lamar’s loss to Pagosa Springs, its only loss of the season.
But he’s also thrown for five touchdowns in a game when Lamar beat Trinidad. He also had three 100-yard rushing performances through the course of the year.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
He hasn’t been alone as both Damian Ramos and Jesus Reyes have also been essential to the team’s success, even when things looked at times like they weren’t going according to plan.
“How you overcome adversity, that’s what this team is all about,” Rankin said early in the season. “We can battle through adversity and push through, that’s why this team is so good.”
To claim a state title, Lamar will have to beat another good team and a team that did what not a lot of people thought could be done.
Eaton was never scared of Resurrection Christian despite the fact that the Cougars defense hadn’t surrendered a point in the regular season. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around in the semifinal clash, Eaton had scored 27.
While Ethan Florez had been the standout back for Eaton during the course of the regular season, it was Juan Maravilla stepping up against Rez. He rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown in the win. Short yardage situations were also beneficial considering that quarterback Scott Grable could hand the ball to a tank in Tanner True. True scored two touchdowns on Saturday to help Eaton punch its ticket to championship weekend.
“The look on the players’ faces, it’s classic. It just brings tears to your eyes. Excited for them, that their hard work is playing off. You just love to see that look on their faces,” Eaton coach Zac Lemon told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show on Saturday.
Eaton’s last state championship came in 2000 when the team beat Roosevelt 21-7 to capture the 2A crown. It’s been a bit longer for Eaton’s opponent. Lamar’s last football title came when it beat Delta for the AA title back in 1961. It last played in the title game in 1963 leaving the program with a prolonged absence when it comes to football success. And absence that the players hope will be erased come Friday.
There may not be two teams with more different styles heading into championship weekend than Loveland and Palmer Ridge.
The contenders for the Class 4A football title each grabbed impressive wins over tough opponents in their semifinal games and remain alive heading into the season’s final days of play. But their methods in getting there are vastly different from each other.
Coming off three straight 3A titles, the Bears (6-0) continue to play their brand of football that features a high-flying, pass-heavy offense and combine it with a physical, unrelenting brand of defense.
In just six games, quarterback Luke McAllister threw for over 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s spoiled when it comes to target options as Kaden Dudley, Anthony Costanzo and Marcellus Reed have all proven to be top-notch talents this season.
(Paul Shepardson / Paul Shepardson Photography)
Cam Jones has been a big defensive presence as he leads the team in sacks with five and has even pulled down an interception. The team overall has forced 14 turnovers on the year which played a big factor in playoff wins over Pine Creek and Fountain-Fort Carson.
McAllister is trying to end his career the same way his predecessor Ty Evans did, but winning two state titles in a row and he knows that he has a group talented enough to get it done.
“I know my team has my back,” he said earlier this year. “I love this team and love the way they handle things.”
On the other side of the field, Loveland (8-0) may have the exact formula needed to slow down Palmer Ridge’s offense.
Loveland rushes for 340 yards per game and has a tendency to put together long sustained drives that end with points being scored. Zach Rakowsky leads the way, averaging 153 yards per game and he’s found the end zone 16 times.
It’s an old-school style of play that Loveland backs up with with a suffocating defense that has totaled nine sacks on the year and forced 20 turnovers in just eight games.
Loveland has been playing with postseason intensity since the final game of the year, a 27-26 overtime win against Skyline. The team rode its defense to a big win over Broomfield (the 2019 4A runner-up) in the quarterfinals before slowing down No. 1 Dakota Ridge – who had just put up 76 points a week earlier – to reach the state championship game.
“To get that kind of experience, you get more from the last five minutes of those games,” Loveland coach Jeff Mauck said after the Skyline win. “So much of who you are as a person is tested in those moments.”
He’s hoping those moments have tested his boys enough to be ready for a state championship game. The last time Loveland played for a state title was 2018 and the result was every bit as good as they had hoped for. They took down Skyline 62-14 to claim the programs seventh state crown.
The 4A football championship game will kick at 6 p.m. on Friday and will follow the 2A title game between Lamar and Eaton.
If last year was any indication, this year’s 6-man football championship game is going to be a fun watch.
After heading to Stratton/Liberty last year, Fleming looks to defend its state championship against the same Knighted Eagles team it downed 28-27 on a sunny, but windy day last November.
The Wildcats (7-0 overall) have played out the season looking like the defending champions and continued that momentum into the 6-man playoffs which began two weeks ago.
To get the state title game, Fleming had to survive the passing attack from one of 6-man’s most prolific offenses. Granada’s Dominic Coleman hasn’t been afraid to put the ball in the air at any point this season and has been effective in doing so. When it came to keeping up with an offense that had scored fewer than 49 points just once all season, Coleman was happy to take on the challenge.
He completed 18-of-25 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw two interceptions and found out very quickly that the defending champs meant business.
Fleming and Stratton/Liberty also met in the 2019 6-man title game. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Fleming’s offense was every bit as effective as it had been all season. Charles Hobbs showed off his big-play ability carrying the ball just four times for 148 yards and scoring three touchdowns. When a standout back is only tackled once all day, it tends to be a recipe for success.
The same could be said for Brady Kuntz. The senior caught three passes for 72 yards yards and scored twice.
With a fumble recovery and blocked field goal from Joel Muller, the Wildcats certainly have the personnel needed to grab another gold trophy this weekend.
But Stratton/Liberty (6-0) has to have revenge on its mind. The Knighted Eagles have to have the one-point loss in last year’s title game still fresh in its memory. The fact that it happened at home couldn’t have helped in the matter.
The rushing tandem of Alex Cruz and Riggin Williams is looking to provide every bit the threat that Hobbs will for the Wildcats. Cruz broke for 101 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s semifinal win over Cheyenne Wells. Williams rushed for just 66 yards but also scored twice for Stratton/Liberty.
Sophomore Logan Breyer made his presence felt defensively as he recorded three sacks. Cruz picked off one pass while Will Witzel had two interceptions to help the Knighted Eagles win the turnover battle.
This is Stratton/Liberty’s fourth straight appearance in the state title game and the team will be looking for its second title in that span. The Knighted Eagles beat Kit Carson 57-18 in 2018.
The 6-man championship game is the first of the seven state football championship games to be contested this week. The game is set for a 2 p.m. kick on Thursday.
For the last several years, the 8-man football championship game has felt more like a game show than anything else. The point of the contest? Seeing if anyone can stop Sedgwick County’s run of dominance in the championship game.
Come on down, Sanford. You’re the next contestant.
Since the 2015 season, the Cougars (8-0) have been nothing short of dominant and have rattled off five straight state championship in a row. In fact, in this entire six-year run, they’ve lost just two total games. Perkins County (Neb.) got them in 2016 and Merino got a 27-24 win during the 2018 regular season.
Other than that, Sedgwick County has rattled off win after win and that includes zero playoff losses in its last six tournament runs.
This year has shown to be no different.
Sedgwick County coach Chris Michel is trying to lead his team to a sixth straight state championship. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
The Cougars won their first three games by a combined score of 156-26. They finished the regular season strongly and then proceeded to win their first two playoff games by a 91-18 margin. And if history is any indicator, they have the experience needed in a state championship game to continue their historic run.
If the Cougars win this week, they’ll become just the second team in state history to claim six straight titles. Limon won six in a row from 1963-68. Valor Christian won five in a row from 2009-13.
If the 2020 postseason has done anything for Sanford, it has made the team battle-tested. The program was outscored its regular season opponents 244-46 before having to battle in the first two rounds of the 8-man tournament.
Sanford (7-0) beat Mancos 36-28 before edging Merino 16-14. Should Thursday’s state championship game remain close, Sanford is a team that has twice battled in close contests only to come away with the win, showing a high level of on-field maturity needed in that atmosphere.
The only catch is that the is the first football championship game that Sanford has ever played in. While their on-field composure has been clutch so far in the playoffs, the nerves that come with playing in a championship game is an entirely different beast and one the Cougars have been dealt with for six straight years now.
The 8-man championship game will the second state football title game to be played on Thursday and will follow Fleming vs. Stratton/Liberty in the 6-man game. Kick is scheduled for 6 p.m.
LITTLETON — It’s the million dollar question a lot of major college football programs across the country would like answered … Where will Columbine senior Andrew Gentry commit to continue his football career.
“Right now I really don’t have a timetable,” said Gentry, a 6-foot-8 and 310-pound offensive lineman who has well over 30 Division I offers on the table. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes until after the season on signing day (Dec. 18). If it feels right I’ll make that decision during the season as well.”
Columbine senior Andrew Gentry gets interviewed during the CHSAA Media Day on Aug. 9 at the UCHealth Training Center. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Gentry might go down as one of the most heavily recruited offensive linemen ever out of the state of Colorado, let alone Jeffco. He has already taken four official trips — Notre Dame, Virginia, BYU and Michigan. Gentry said Stanford would likely be his fifth and final visit during this fall season.
Some of the offers he has already received are from the likes of LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama, Miami, Penn State, UCLA, Kansas, Tennessee, Stanford, Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida and the list seems to go on-and-on.
“It’s been fun, but at the same time I’m looking forward to getting it over with at the same time,” Gentry said of the recruiting process. “I’ve kind of put it on back for now. I’m looking forward to enjoying my senior year, having fun with these guys for one last year and having a great season.”
Gentry will provide the majority of the experience on the offensive line. He is the lone returning all-conference selection up front for the Rebels, ranked No. 3 in CHSAA’s 5A football preseason rankings.
“Andrew isn’t only a behemoth, but Andrew wants to be the best,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry said of Gentry. “He wants to be the best person. He wants to be the best student. He is the hardest worker we have in the weight room. He has the potential to be one of the best football players ever to come out of this program.”
The Rebels’ vaunted running attack features the return of the Columbine’s Triple-H attack. The trio of Tanner Hollens, Adam Harrington and Braeden Hogan are all back for their senior season.
Columbine jumps into its 2019 schedule on the road against Denver East on Aug. 30 at All-City Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Nothing is given. We still have to fight for our positions,” Harrington said of Columbine’s Triple-H running back trio. “I do think those guys back we have a great talent pool.”
Hollens, Harrington and Hogan combined for 334 carries, 2,605 yards and 36 touchdowns on the ground last season.
“It’s a pretty special group of kids,” Lowry said of his tailback core. “They are fun kids and smart football players. All three of them will be going both ways for us. Those guys are going to have a little more on their plate.”
Lowry does have to replace two-year starting quarterback Logan DeArment. That won’t be an easy task. DeArment also played defensive back and was heavily involved with the Rebels’ kicking game.
“Logan (DeArment) was probably one of the top-3 quarterbacks we’ve ever had in our program,” said Lowry, who has guided the Rebels to five 5A state championships — 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2011 — for the last two decades.
Senior Jadon Holliday will get his chance to be the Rebels’ signal-caller behind center. Holliday did get some playing time last season in six games.
Columbine senior Jadon Holliday throws a pass during the Rebels’ practice Aug. 17. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Jadon, No. 1 just loves Columbine football, he has been dreaming about playing in this position his entire life,” Lowry said. “He is going to execute everything really, really well.”
Defensively, senior linemen Justin Lohrenz and Andrew Lauritzen provide a formidable one-two punch up front. Senior Luke Folsom returns as a first-team all-conference linebacker and senior cornerback Mikey Sanchez was an honorable mention selection last season.
“Defensively, I think it’s going to be the same as years before,” Lohrenz said. “We are going to be physical, play our gaps and do what the coaches say. We expect the same no matter what.”
One thing Columbine would like different this season is its ending. The past two seasons, the Rebels have a 23-3 record. However, back-to-back state semifinals losses over that span has been tough.
Columbine lost in overtime to Eaglecrest in 2017 and was edged by Cherry Creek last season at Jeffco Stadium. The Rebels’ two semifinal losses were by a combined four points.
“I see that Cherry Creek game as a huge motivator for us. It’s something in the weight room you think about while you are doing extra reps. It’s in the back of your head,” Gentry said. “We are tired of losing the close ones. Hopefully that is a motivation for us this year to push through.”
Columbine opens its season on the road against Denver East on Aug. 30 at All-City Stadium. The Rebels’ home opener isn’t until Sept. 13 at Jeffco Stadium against Fountain-Fort Carson.
“I’m hyped about this year,” Lohrenz said. “I’m excited to see who steps up and what teams are going to be the teams to beat this year. I’m just excited to get out on that field and play my senior year.”
The Rebels begin play in the 5A Metro West at Mullen on Oct. 4.
“It’s a grind. It’s a battle,” Lowry said of the 5A Metro West League that features the likes of Pomona, Ralston Valley, Arvada West, Lakewood, Mullen and Columbine. “Our league is one of the top leagues in the state. We just have to stay healthy, execute and play our best.”
Columbine senior running back Braeden Hogan, far right, looks for running room during an intra-squad scrimmage. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Dakota Ridge hopes to have a picturesque season following the Eagles’ run to the Class 4A Jeffco League title last year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — It all starts upfront for Dakota Ridge football this year.
“This will probably be the best offensive line we’ve had in six to seven years in terms of size, smart and experienced guys,” Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalewicz said during the Eagles’ team photo day during the first week of practice. “They (offensive line) have kind of adopted the motto of we want to run the ball when we want run the ball. It’s that mentality that other team might know what we are running, but come and stop us.”
Dakota Ridge senior Matthew Heitmann (51) helps anchor the Eagles’ offensive line this season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Seniors offensive linemen Matthew Heitmann and Izaak McWilliams were both all-conference selections in the Class 4A Jeffco League last season. The two will anchor a strong offensive front that also will include juniors Jason Soderlin and Kaden Arrastia.
“If you don’t having a strong offensive line nothing on offense is going to work,” said senior James Hess, a first-team defensive lineman last season, who added his individual goal is to break Dakota Ridge’s single-season sack record of 16.
The Eagles won the hotly contested 4A Jeffco League — edging out rivals Chatfield and Bear Creek — to qualify for the 16-team 4A state tournament a year ago.
Dakota Ridge lost pretty much every skill position starter from last year’s 6-5 team. In fact, of the 33 touchdowns the Eagles scored last season, 31 were scored by players who graduated last spring. Only junior Colin Stuhr and senior Kyle Cannon are back who found the end zone last fall.
However, Woitalewicz is confident his new batch of running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and quarterback Ben Gultig can get the job done.
“We lost almost every skill kid from last year, but we might be better skill-wise then last year besides the exception of maybe running back,” said Woitalewicz, referring to graduated starting running back Jared Garcia.
Garcia carried a big load late in the season as the Eagles went on their run to qualify for the postseason. Garcia had three straight 200-yard rushing games to close out the regular season.
Dakota Ridge junior Sean McNamara (34) will fill the shoes of Jared Garcia at running back. Jason Soderlin (67) and Izaak McWilliams (58) will help clear the way for the Eagles’ ground game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Jared was a big part of our offense last year, but this year I feel we have a lot of new and upcoming guys who are willing to do whatever it takes to lead us to some wins,” said Charlie Offerdahl, a returning second-team all-conference defensive back selection and one the Dakota Ridge’s senior captains.
Gultig will take over the quarterback duties this season. The junior did get some varsity playing experience last season when Ben Biffinger went out with an injury. Gultig went 9-for-12 passing for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Hernando High School in Florida.
“For Ben Gultig, this will be a good challenge for him,” Woitalewicz said of his junior stepping into the starting signal-caller role. “He got some varsity experience last year during our trip to Florida when our starting quarterback got a concussion. Ben was able to get in and play. He has been under the fire already a little bit.”
Dakota Ridge would like to start better than it did last season. The Eagles were 2-4 through their first six games before salvaging their season thanks to a four-game winning streak to close out the regular season to win the conference title.
Dakota Ridge senior Nico Capolungo (9) will be a key target for junior quarterback Ben Gultig. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Our plan for this year is just to go 1-0 each week,” Heitmann said. “We aren’t really focused on non-league or league games. We just want to win each week.”
The Eagles begin the season on the road in Colorado Springs. Dakota Ridge faces Rampart at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at District 20 Stadium.
“I think we need to win our first game to have a domino effect for the rest of our season,” Gultig said.
Non-conference games against Monarch, Vista Ridge, Ponderosa and Vista PEAK will get Dakota Ridge ready for the key league stretch.
Defending the 4A Jeffco League title is important to the Eagles and Woitalewicz in locking up another postseason berth.
“You win the league and that guarantees you a spot in the playoffs. You are relying on Coaches Poll, MaxPreps Poll … I’m not a math guy,” Woitalewicz joked. “Win the league you know you are in and that’s taking care of business No. 1.”
Dakota Ridge junior Ben Gultig (2) takes over the starting quarterback position for the Eagles. Dakota Ridge opens its season on the road against Rampart on Aug. 29 in Colorado Springs. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Green Mountain coach Jesse German talks with players during the first week of practice. The Rams open their season with the school’s homecoming game Sept. 6 at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — With 17 returning first-team, second-team or honorable mention all-conference selections to the Class 3A Mt. Metro League, Green Mountain’s football team could very easily be complacent coming into its 2019 campaign.
However, that isn’t the case for Rams’ coach Jesse German as he leads Green Mountain — ranked No. 6 in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 3A football rankings that is solely voted on by coaches this season — into its 44th season of football.
“This year we are team 44,” said German, who is in his second season at the helm of the Rams’ football program. “At our first team meeting we said we will not ride on their (last year’s team) coattails. My message to them is step it up.”
Green Mountain senior quarterback Trey Towndrow, left, will have plenty of player makers at his disposal this season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Despite having so much returning talent from last year’s squad that won a conference title and advanced to the second round of the 3A state tournament with a 9-3 record, German expects improvement.
“We have a lot of returners back, which is a plus. Now we expect them to play better than they did last year,” German said. “A big thing is if we can focus on ‘team’ the individual things will take care of themselves.”
The returning talent starts with quarterback/safety Trey Towndrow who begins his third season at the Rams’ starting signal-caller. He was the overall offensive MVP in the Mt. Metro League last season.
“It goes by so fast,” Towndrow said of starting his senior season. “I’m just excited to be here with these boys that I’m with. It should be fun.”
Towndrow passed for nearly 1,500 yards last season and also rushed for over 1,000 yards on the ground, scoring a dozen touchdowns.
“He is a real cool customer and kids feed off that, but he also has a lot of juice,” German said of Towndrow. “We’ll try to put him in the right situations. We are excited to see what he does this year. The sky is the limit.”
Green Mountain returns leading running back Quinn Meinert (1,103 yards and 13 touchdowns) and leading wide receiver Trey Corkin (735 yards and seven touchdowns).
Green Mountain hopes to get its hands on back-to-back Class 3A Mt. Metro League titles. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“There is definitely a different atmosphere,” Corkin said. “Last year was a big year for Green Mountain and we brought a lot of new energy. This year we are ramping it up to a whole new level.”
The Rams also returns their entire starting offensive line, a fact that hasn’t been overlooked by Meinert.
“It was definitely exciting for us,” Meinert said of the offensive numbers the Rams put up last year. “The offensive line, those rinos, are the hardest working guys out here.”
Defensively, Will Banks will anchor an impressive defensively line. As a junior, Banks led the team with eight sacks. Individual honors isn’t something Banks is looking to accomplish this season, it’s all about team.
“I’m really not focused on stats. No matter what I’m doing I want to help better the team. I just want to be there for this team,” Banks said. “I always knew our team had a lot of potential. We just really pushed ourselves last year, but now we are focused on this year. This year it’s all about year 44.”
Green Mountain had a 9-game winning streak last season after starting the year 0-2. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
One significant loss due to graduation for Green Mountain was Ryan Burdi, who led the team averaging nearly 14 tackles per game. Burdi was also a huge factor on special teams leading the Rams in kick off and punt return yards.
German said Green Mountain will change things around defensively to soften the loss of Burdi.
The Rams start with a huge season-opener against Harrison at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Jeffco Stadium. Not only will it be Green Mountain’s homecoming game, but Harrison handed the Rams a 34-21 loss last season in which Green Mountain got off to a 0-2 start.
Week 2 will be a trip to Palisade to try to get some revenge on the Bulldogs after last year’s loss. Palisade was No. 3 in CHSAA’s preseason 3A football poll.
“Everyone is looking forward to these first two games, but more importantly is that Sept. 6 game against Harrison,” Meinert said. “They are a physical team. Getting the hype going early in the season is kind of cool.”
German said he is counting on his seniors for leadership to help bring along the young players who will also contribute this season.
“It’s going to be a cool atmosphere playing at the Big House (Jeffco Stadium),” German said of the Rams’ opener being their homecoming game Sept. 6 at Jeffco Stadium. “Our community is really getting behind us. Our numbers are up from last year and there is a lot of support and I’m proud of our community.”
Green Mountain’s offensive linemen go through drills during practice. The Rams return a host of all-conference selections from last year on both sides of the football. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
There may be some good football games all around the state of Colorado as high school play opens up for real this week. But in terms of a pure rivalry that pits nearly all of a city’s kids against each other, it won’t get much better than Fairview-Boulder on Friday night at Recht Field.
