Littleton – Bruce Stoeklen has 10 boys and they’re all pigs.
Hogs, actually. Thick slices of beef that look more like men than boys and compose the offensive line of Class 5A Columbine, which for the past 12 years has made an art out of playing “ugly” football.
Bigger, quicker and stronger is the Hogs’ formula. Domination, selflessness, unity, hunger and humility are their creed.
“From Day One, it’s been, ‘We’ll go as far as the line will take us,”‘ Stoeklen said Tuesday, surrounded by his Hogs during film sessions.
Stoeklen has been the Rebels’ offensive line coach the past nine years. That’s long enough to see the Rebels win three state championships since 1999 and coach local heroes Dusty Hoffschneider, Zach Kennelly and Garrett Collins, who opened up express lanes for a host of ball carriers.
Stoeklen has also been around long enough to poke a little fun at his current group – the Rebels’ biggest offensive line in memory.
“Offensive linemen might not be the most talented guys on the field, but we work the hardest,” Stoeklen said.
The shout of “Hog Pride” is how they break their huddles, and Hog Valley is their place on the practice field, where extra money in the football budget usually goes toward blocking sleds, chutes and anything else that makes oxen out of boys.
What about the rest of the team?
“They get the new footballs and the nice new cones,” 12th-year head coach Andy Lowry said.
Columbine’s starting front six of Ryan Miller (left tackle), Joel Busch- mann (left guard), Ryan Steele (center), Steven Hughes (right guard), Ty Rogers (right tackle) and Jacob Smith (tight end) weigh a combined 1,578 pounds.
Moving “with one heartbeat,” as Buschmann says, the pulverizing Rebels look something like the Great Wall of Colorado.
Although size is crucial, the Rebels pride themselves on speed off the ball and stamina.
Hoffschneider, a senior nose guard at Wyoming, was a two-time defensive player of the year and three-time state wrestling champion. At 5-feet-8 and 257 pounds, he is the embodiment of Columbine’s typical lineman – thick, quick and aggressive.
“The coaches forced us to be tougher, to hit (opponents) in the mouth,” Hoffschneider said. “You continue to do that every play and it takes away their emotion.
“We could run the same play over and over. You run for 400 yards on a team and you will just beat them to death.”
In Friday’s 34-28 playoff victory over Cherry Creek, the Rebels’ Three Horsemen backfield of Jordan Baum, Jeff Cicchinelli and John Fink ran for a combined 478 yards against a fast Bruins defense. Lowry called it the Hogs’ best performance to date.
“The thing with the Hoggies from the other positions is that you’ll never hear your specific name said,” said Matt Ground, a 6-2, 265-pound senior. “But if you all work together, you hear the Hogs are good.”
Real good.
“They just steamroll you,” Cherry Creek coach Greg Critchett said. “It’s really impressive. It’s tough to say that as an opponent.”
The Hogs are looking to do better Friday as Columbine (10-1) faces an offensively similar opponent in top-ranked Douglas County (10-1), which has two Colorado commitments on its line in Steve Fendry and Eric Lawson.
Six of the 10 Hogs are seniors, which means most of them were on the sideline when an undefeated Columbine squad rolled to the 2002 state title. Practicing with that group, seeing them work in the weight room and watching them celebrate a championship is what drives the current Hogs.
“You want to be like them,” said Ryan Shucard, a 5-10, 250-pound senior. “You want to stay a Hoggie and be a good one.”
CLASS 5A QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
Douglas County (10-1) at Columbine (10-1)
The visiting Huskies have an opportunity to jump from knock-off to the real deal by way of head-to-head confrontation Friday night.
In a considerable 5A turnaround under coach Jeff Ketron – Douglas County won just its sixth league title less than a month ago – the Huskies climbed to the upper echelon of the class this season through the benefits of improved weight training, execution of superior offensive line play, a commitment to power rushing and playing tough defense … or just what Columbine has done since Andy Lowry took over the program in the early 1990s.
Douglas County, in winning its 10th consecutive game, outclassed Thomas Jefferson 63-27 in the preliminaries, mostly with defense. The Huskies recorded five turnovers, and need more of the same when attempting to deal with Columbine’s rushing wave, the most consistent 5A offensive force since the Rebels won the first of their three titles in 1999.
Columbine’s lone blemish in 2005, 39-33 in overtime to Arvada West, included four lost fumbles.
As usual, Andy Muns is primed to get dozens of carries behind a Douglas County front that includes Eric Lawson and Steve Fendry.
The Rebels will operate with J.T. Baum, who had 291 yards last week in outlasting Cherry Creek 34-28, and Jeff Cicchinelli among several capable ball-carriers behind what should be coined as The Great Wall of Colorado, a massive offensive line featuring Joel Buschmann.
No need to pack a lunch for this one – few stoppages and a steady pace are norms for both.
Grandview (8-3) at Gateway (9-2)
The first meeting between crosstown Aurorans is creating a buzz.
The host Olympians, from the American League, and the Wolves, from the Centennial, will bring an interesting mix of skill players to Aurora Public Schools Stadium.
As in past years, Gateway is not big across its fronts, but the Olys’ overall speed, quickness and motivation rivals any 5A team. Greg Bolling, one of the few juniors to make The Denver Post’s 2004 All-Colorado team, has switched from wide receiver to quarterback and been marvelous in running the veer, even throwing the ball downfield. Running back Brian McCarty can do it both inside and outside.
To date, Gateway’s inability to two-platoon hasn’t been a giant problem – its desire and gritty performance is steady.
The Wolves enjoy considerable size, notably Ethan Davis on defense. Their linebackers, such as Alex Mann, are extremely active.
As for getting it done on the ground, Aubrey Quarles and Ben Miller are a tandem as good as any duo in the state, an outstanding 1-2 punch of speed and power. Tight end Sam Sewell is a viable target, and Grandview responded nicely in a 33-14 thumping of Montbello after staggering in its regular-season finale against Cherry Creek.
Note: Grandview, which won its first 5A playoff game, is adept at either style – lining it up and playing tough-guy ball within the tackles or getting outside to run up and down the field.
Arvada West (9-2) at Fort Collins (9-2)
Purple will continue to reign Friday night. It is included in both schools’ colors.
One of these two programs have made the semifinals the past three years.
The road show for the A-West Wildcats comes with the billing of 5A’s top offense – their 464 points lead 5A. They have one of Colorado’s most wide-open attacks, an effective array of rushing, passing, scrambling, returning and making up lots of things on the fly.
Quarterback Sean McDougal is the undisputed leader, although he also has runner-receiver L.D. Briscoe, who languished a year ago at Smoky Hill; a receiving corps headed by Trevor Zott and Ryan Hill; and an underrated offensive line that has been consistent.
The A-West defense may have taken some hits and can be had when attempting pass coverage, but it rolls with the lead, creates turnovers and gives its offense chances.
Quietly, Fort Collins seems to be into its own resurgence. Of all big schools, the Lambkins have won the most titles (12) and their 18-6 mark the past two seasons, including a share of the 2005 Front Range crown, is their best combined showing in a decade.
Brian Bello, Ryan Larson and Matt Yemm are the offensive leaders, a quick, speedy, talented bunch capable of fast and long strikes.
Defensively, the Lambkins have battled some injuries, but came through last week in a 14-6 victory over Regis, one in which they yielded only two field goals and caused four turnovers.
Mullen (9-2) at Bear Creek (10-1)
It’s appropriate they saved the next dance for each other.
In a 2005 opener, Bear Creek earned a 36-35 victory in double overtime. Plus, Mullen’s Dave Logan and Bear Creek’s Tom Thenell have had some of the most interesting coaching encounters the past decade, multiple thrillers in the regular season and postseason.
The host Bears, a week after knocking off A-West in a regular-season finale, had a modest 14-3 victory over Arapahoe in the preliminaries. It was only the second time in 11 games in 2005 that they failed to score 31 or more points.
They don’t appear to be overly worried. Riley Newcomer, Aromous Robinson and Jake Spitzlberger can get hot quickly, key figures in an offense that has displayed the ability to grind it out or strike quickly.
Bear Creek’s lines, too, have been tight, notably on defense.
As for defending state champion Mullen, it has won seven of its past eight postseason games, the most recent by a younger team still looking to hit its regular stride, yet as lethal on both sides as any in the field.
Its two losses, both on the final play, are by a combined four points. The Mustangs also fell to Cherry Creek 24-21.
Devin Aguilar, Clint Brewster and Phillip Morelli have proven the most interesting of the skill corps, with tackle Chris Guarnero the rock up front.
As far as stoppers, Mullen’s defense contains the likes of Chris Carney, Josh Dorsey and Ricky Brewer, and is athletic in the trenches, deep down the field and from sideline to sideline.
Pull up a chair – this one could take awhile.
