Wayne McGinn took over for a legend as the football coach at Loveland.
The team was a perennial power under John Poovey for 35 seasons until he retired in 2012, winning four state championships. It was something McGinn got to experience up close as a defensive assistant in the 1982, 1983 and 1984 seasons.
“When I was there as an assistant, I saw that,” McGinn said of the history of excellence.
At that time, McGinn said, he could see himself wanting to eventually take over for someone like Poovey. But he got an offer to become a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University, and spent the next 23 years in college football — including an eight-year stint as the head coach at Adams State University.
In 2012, he returned to the high school arena as an assistant at Pueblo Central. A year later, he was back at Loveland.
In his first season, McGinn’s team reached the Class 4A quarterfinals. Two years later, they reached the state championship game, and finished as runner-up.
Since the 2016 season, Loveland has gone 21-3. Last season, they advanced to the quarterfinals again, falling to emerging rival Broomfield in overtime.
It was something McGinn and his team remembered all offseason.
“We had that sour taste in our mouth the whole summer,” McGinn said.
So last Thursday’s matchup, pitting No. 2 Loveland against No. 3 Broomfield was a big one. And McGinn’s team made a statement with a 47-0 win.
Previous stops: Loveland assistant (1982-84); Texas Christian University grad assistant (1985-86); Western State assistant (1987-99); Adams State head coach (2000-07); CSU-Pueblo offensive coordinator (2008); Pueblo Central assistant (2012); Loveland head coach (2013-present).
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(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Question: Why did you want to become a coach?
McGinn: Oh man, I just loved sports. I just couldn’t see myself not being a part of sports all my life. I just wanted to be part of sports, and help young players become better players. And I love the competition, being competitive.
Question: What was it like following a guy like Poovey at Loveland?
McGinn: I remember thinking at the time, “I’m crazy to follow him.” But somebody had to do it.
It was scary. I’ll be honest with you, it was scary. Because Coach Poovey was a great coach, and the program was just winning all the time. When I was there as an assistant, I saw that. Before I got the job at TCU, I could see myself: “Someday, I want to take over for John Poovey.” In my own way, you know?
I learned a lot from him. It’s hard to follow in the footsteps of a legend, because he was just so successful. But I was just myself. I was going to do it the way I wanted to do it, and maybe it’s not exactly the same as John, but I learned a lot from him.
Question: This season, you guys started off the year beating Broomfield 47-0. Is that a perfect way to start off the year?
McGinn: Well, it’s definitely a good way to start off the year. We had that sour taste in our mouth the whole summer. Our kids worked really hard this summer.
Our kids really performed well. They just came ready to play. They were focused. It’s still — this morning, I was thinking, “Did we really do that?” Broomfield’s a very good team, and they won their first game pretty handily. I was going into that game as, “Either way, we’re going to get better.” Our kids were focused, and they came out ready to play.
A total of ten teams jumped into this week’s football rankings. They are: Montrose and Monarch (4A); Fort Morgan (3A); Eaton and D’Evelyn (2A); Holyoke and Cornerstone Christian (1A); Rangely and Soroco (8-man); and Briggsdale (6-man).
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Longmont 16, Vista Ridge 15, Ponderosa 11, Standley Lake 10, Brighton 9, Pueblo West 8, Grand Junction Central 3, Mesa Ridge 2, Greeley West 1, Heritage 1, Hinkley 1, Wheat Ridge 1.
Dropped out
Vista Ridge (8), Longmont (9).
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Erie (6)
2-0
104
1
W
2
Palmer Ridge (3)
1-1
90
2
W
3
Pueblo East (1)
2-0
77
3
W
4
Palisade
1-0
71
4
W
5
Holy Family
2-0
56
6
W
6
Discovery Canyon
2-0
54
9
W
7
Thomas Jefferson (1)
2-0
45
8
W
8
Durango
1-1
31
7
L
9
Mead
1-1
27
5
L
10
Fort Morgan
1-0
14
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Frederick 12, Harrison 12, Roosevelt 4, Canon City 2, George Washington 2, Lewis-Palmer 2, Pueblo Centennial 1, Skyview 1.
Dropped out
Pueblo South (10).
Class 2A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Bayfield (12)
2-0
128
1
W
2
La Junta (1)
2-0
104
2
W
3
Platte Valley
2-0
84
3
W
4
Resurrection Christian
2-0
83
6
W
5
Rifle
1-0
73
7
W
6
Kent Denver
1-0
66
4
W
7
Basalt
1-0
31
8
W
8
Bennett
1-0
29
10
W
9
Eaton
1-0
26
–
W
10
D’Evelyn
1-0
22
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Faith Christian 18, Salida 13, Alamosa 12, The Classical Academy 7, Delta 6, Englewood 5, Berthoud 3, Aspen 2, Bishop Machebeuf 1, Pagosa Springs 1, University 1.
Dropped out
Faith Christian (5), The Classical Academy (9).
Class 1A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Strasburg (8)
2-0
114
1
W
2
Limon (4)
1-0
108
2
W
3
Centauri
1-0
91
4
W
4
Burlington
0-1
90
3
L
5
Peyton
1-0
62
6
W
6
Wray
0-1
55
5
–
7
Crowley County
2-0
48
8
W
8
Meeker
1-1
27
9
W
9
Holyoke
2-0
17
–
W
10
Cornerstone Christian
1-0
11
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Monte Vista 10, Colorado Springs Christian 7, Buena Vista 6, Yuma 6, Paonia 5, Hotchkiss 2, Cedaredge 1.
Dropped out
Paonia (7), Monte Vista (10).
8-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Sedgwick County (10)
1-0
100
1
W
2
West Grand
2-0
89
2
W
3
Merino
2-0
72
7
W
4
Akron
2-0
62
8
W
5
Sargent
1-0
46
9
W
6
Holly
1-1
39
3
L
7
Caliche
1-1
35
5
L
8
Hoehne
0-1
29
4
L
9
Rangely
2-0
23
–
W
10
Soroco
2-0
12
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Fowler 9, Sanford 9, Haxtun 6, Norwood 5, Simla 3, Byers 2, Hayden 2, Mancos 2, Pikes Peak Christian 2, Custer County 1, Dayspring Christian 1, Vail Christian 1.
Dropped out
Fowler (6), Sanford (10).
6-man
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Stratton/Liberty (8)
1-0
89
1
W
2
Otis (2)
1-0
78
2
Bye
3
Kit Carson
1-0
75
3
W
4
Prairie
0-1
47
4
L
5
Arickaree/Woodlin
1-0
46
8
W
6
Peetz
0-1
44
5
Bye
7
Cheyenne Wells
1-0
43
7
W
8
Flagler/Hi-Plains
1-0
23
9
W
9
Fleming
0-1
17
6
L
10
Briggsdale
1-0
15
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Cotopaxi 8, La Veta 5, Idalia 3, Weldon Valley 2, Genoa-Hugo 1.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Chaparral (5)
6-1
99
2
5-1
2
Cherokee Trail (5)
5-1
96
4
5-0
3
Fort Collins
4-1
81
8
4-1
4
Fossil Ridge
1-1
62
1
1-1
5
Eaglecrest (1)
3-0
54
5
1-0
6
Valor Christian
3-0
52
7
2-0
7
Castle View
3-2
32
3
3-2
8
Chatfield
3-0
27
10
2-0
9
Rock Canyon
1-4
25
6
1-4
10
Cherry Creek
1-2
16
9
1-1
Others receiving votes:
Ralston Valley 8, Broomfield 7, Bear Creek 6, Loveland 6, Rocky Mountain 6, Mountain Vista 5, Pine Creek 5, Regis Jesuit 5, Liberty 4, Fruita Monument 3, Grandview 2, Legend 2, Rampart 2.
Dropped out
None.
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Lewis-Palmer (10)
1-0
100
1
1-0
2
Holy Family
4-2
59
2
4-2
3
Ponderosa
6-1
51
7
4-1
4
Niwot
0-0
48
3
0-0
5
Erie
2-1
41
–
1-1
6
Palmer Ridge
1-1
38
5
0-1
7
Air Academy
2-3
25
8
2-3
8
Evergreen
1-2
23
4
0-2
9
Cheyenne Mountain
1-1
17
9
1-1
10
Discovery Canyon
1-1
16
–
1-0
Others receiving votes:
Eagle Valley 16, Pueblo West 15, Battle Mountain 11, Berthoud 10, Coronado 10, Mullen 10, D’Evelyn 9, Longmont 9, Canon City 8, Thomas Jefferson 8, Montrose 6, Kennedy 5, Frederick 4, Golden 3, Mead 3, Palisade 2, Roosevelt 1, Silver Creek 1, Woodland Park 1.
