Name: Shawn Mitchell
School: Class 3A Harrison Panthers, South Metro League.
Record: 6-4 overall, 3-3 league; 30-42 career, 0-2 in postseason.
Coaching résumé: Assistant at Harrison from 1996-99; head coach since 2000.
Life lines: Age 34. Born in Cambridge, Neb., raised in Fort Lupton. Graduated from Fort Lupton High School, 1991, and Colorado College, 1995. Degrees in history, political science and education. Teaches social studies at Harrison.
Back in his day: Offensive lineman for Blue Devils from 1987-90, all-Tri-Valley League as a senior. Defensive lineman at Colorado College from 1991-94.
What he has done lately: Down by six points Saturday against rival Woodland Park in the third quarter of their regular-season finale and, possibly, their season-ender, the Panthers got the spark they needed when Mychael Pennington returned a fumble 59 yards for a touchdown. Harrison took the lead, tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter – including the second of two in the game by Demetrius Gilmore, who added 149 yards rushing – and won 28-13, ensuring its first winning season since 2002.
“It might be the best half we played this season,” Mitchell said.
The Panthers were due. Mainly against substantial southern-area competition, they had no winning seasons in the 1990s and made the playoffs only twice in 17 years entering 2006. However, their recent victory clinched 3A’s only wild-card berth.
“The resiliency of these kids … I’m so proud of them,” Mitchell said.
It goes beyond football. Star lineman Fermin Vialpando, a popular Harrison figure in all positive areas of the local prep experience, died from heart complications during a game Oct. 6. His teammates, who dedicated the rest of their season to Vialpando, have won three of their past five games.
In citing overwhelming support from the Colorado community, Mitchell said he and his players, who will be at Alamosa this weekend for 3A’s first round, have had trouble coping with grief “on so many levels, but you learn.”
As far as the Panthers are concerned, Vialpando still suits up with them.
“They know the best thing to do is play honorably,” Mitchell said, “and give the kind of effort Fermin did.”
Note: The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week award, in its 11th year, will have 10 honorees during the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. The regular season is complete; previous winners in 2006: Lakewood’s Mark Robinson, Pueblo East’s Rick Upchurch, Cherokee Trail’s Monte Thelen, Wheat Ridge’s Reid Kahl, Pueblo County’s Jeff Wilson, Limon’s Mike O’Dwyer, Akron’s Brian Christensen, Mountain Vista’s Ric Cash and Fort Lupton’s Bob Hudson. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 31 game against the San Francisco 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High and receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; Marcia Neville, KCNC-4; and Andy Lindahl, KOA 850 AM.
