With reporters gathered out in front, Pine Creek coach Todd Miller reached across one of his stout linebackers in Brett Alvey, to hand the microphone to another big-bodied talent in Jerry Lydiatt.
Even without words, a lot of the pieces on the Eagles’ 2022 roster — including their two 6-foot and change, 225-pound linebackers — appear impressive as the team makes the move to the state’s largest classification this fall.
But no question, the challenge ahead for the Colorado Springs power is grand.
Last week, Miller and a few of his top players fielded questions centering around the prospects of their upcoming season at the Broncos/CHSAA Fall Sports High School Media Day at Empower Field at Mile High. The hot topic was how the Eagles thought they’d adapt moving up to 5A after years of sustained success in 4A.
Lydiatt, like his coach and the teammates to either side of him, didn’t bat an eye.
“The expectation is to win and to chase Cherry Creek,” the senior said, referring to the Denver program which has won the last three fall 5A state titles. “Chase the top 5A dogs and make a name for ourselves.”
With the prospect of facing larger teams, he added: “Yeah, it’s a good challenge though. It’s a challenge but not something we’re scared of or can’t do.”
Miller’s team comes into the classification touting eight straight seasons of double-digit wins (minus the shortened pandemic season in 2020).
Pine Creek won the 4A title in 2019, 2016, 2014 and 2013.
Last season, it reached the 4A state semifinals without their starting QB Josiah Roy, who was injured in a 10-7 win over Loveland the round before. They were dispelled by eventual state champ Chatfield 28-21 after being held scoreless in the second half.
“Like Loveland we were down most of the game, we come back with a second-string quarterback, scored, and we fight at the goal line and win,” recalled the coach’s son, Mason Miller. From then to now the message is to “just compete, keep on competing, that’s all we can do.”
Ahead of its Week 1 game in Las Vegas against the LV Wildcats, Pine Creek was ranked seventh in the preseason CHSAA coaches polls.
Cherry Creek and Valor Christian, the teams in the title game three of the past four seasons, were ranked 1-2. Grandview (No. 3), Regis Jesuit (No. 4), Columbine (No. 5), Ralston Valley (no. 6), Legend (No. 8), Arvada West (No. 9) and Arapahoe (No. 10) filled out the rest of the top 10.
“We’re extremely honest with our players, I don’t know if we’re the most-talented team,” the coach said with a grin. “But we can be the best team. That’s the goal.”
