Broomfield – Viewed from the stands, Jim Bratten’s football teams can be identified by a bruising, downhill rushing offense with a play-action pass mixed in at just the right, backbreaking time.
But take a closer look at the players on the sideline for a better sense of his style as a head coach.
“He demands respect from his players, and he doesn’t want a couple of guys sitting down at the end of the bench with their helmets off,” said Desi Lopez, a former all-state defensive end under Bratten in the early 1990s who joined Bratten’s staff for one season. “He is an old-school kind of coach.”
Bratten, a former University of Colorado quarterback and longtime Jefferson County fixture, enters his second season as head coach of the Holy Family Tigers.
The Tigers start the 2007 season ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News rankings.
Just as it was at Arvada High School from 1978 through the ’80s, at Pomona from then until 1999, and finally for a couple of years at Standley Lake, discipline is evident when Holy Family is on the football field.
Bratten did take a few years off to watch his youngest son, Steve, play linebacker at Kansas.
“I’ll never regret that,” Bratten said. His eldest son, Dave, is the college scouting coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
Bratten’s philosophy can push less- skilled teams into winning seasons and the playoffs. Combined with the talent and size on Holy Family’s roster, the result can be games like the Tigers’ 34-20 victory over La Junta last Friday, a game in which they racked up 519 yards rushing.
“Watching a football team run the ball is beautiful. That game was a thing of beauty,” said Del Bishop, the defensive line and special-teams coach at Holy Family. Bishop coached at Pomona when Bratten was at Arvada. The two teamed up on the Panthers’ staff before reuniting at Holy Family.
With big beef on the lines such as Quincy Anderson (6-feet-1, 245 pounds) and Marcus Harvey (6-3, 250), and playmakers like R.J. Balzen and Andy Maul in the backfield, the Tigers plan to craft many works of art this season.
But there might be a different feel to this season, as if things have come full circle or everything has properly aligned. Don’t, however, believe that Bratten will go home every night and eat ice cream, something he tells his players after a particularly good outing.
“This is a good team,” Bratten said. “But we’ve got work to do.”
Bratten developed his old-school mentality early on. He was an all-everything quarterback at Magnolia High School in Anaheim, Calif., and opted to play for the Buffaloes instead of UCLA.
At CU, one of Bratten’s favorite targets was Cliff Branch, who went on to play for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders for 14 years. Bratten graduated in 1971, after severing his ACL during the final game of his senior (1970) season against Air Force. The injury forced him out of the Liberty Bowl against Tulane and eventually into the operating room for knee replacements in the early 1990s.
He flirted with the idea of playing professional ball in Canada before taking an assistant job at Thornton’s Skyview, then called Highland, under Bob Cortese. Bratten took his first head coaching gig back in Southern California before his arrival in the Jeffco.
Bratten planned to retire from coaching when he assumed the role of Holy Family’s athletic director five years ago, a position he still holds. But he heard the call.
“I had every intention on retiring from coaching,” Bratten said. “But the more I watched the games, the more I missed.”
It was easy to get excited as Holy Family followed a 2A state title with another in 2005. Bratten saw a program with a winning foundation, and he didn’t want the retirement of longtime coach Mike Gabriel to interrupt that progress.
“I didn’t want a massive change. We wanted to maintain that integrity, that tradition,” Bratten said.
This could be the year Bratten snares that elusive championship ring. It might have something to do with Holy Family’s other CU connection.
Bratten’s quarterback, for the second season, is senior Drew Hawkins, brother of Buffs starting quarterback Cody Hawkins and son of CU head coach Dan Hawkins.
But for Bratten, it’s all about the players.
“I want them to have a great high school experience,” the coach said. “I’m not worried about recruiting or summer camps. I want each team to achieve the highest level it can.”
Top 10
1. Holy Family
Loaded with talent, experience and depth. The hardest part for the Tigers might be picking which 11 guys take the field.
2. Platte Valley
The Broncos reached the title game a year ago and could do it again, despite some major personnel changes. Neither size nor speed is a concern.
3. Erie
Eight returning starters on offense from last year’s salty 8-2 team bodes well. These Tigers will run and will be nasty if the defense comes together.
4. Faith Christian
The defending champs never rebuild, they just retool and reload. Get ’em early, because November football is a tradition that won’t be leaving anytime soon.
5. Trinidad
The Miners made a great run last season and return a large group of starters who know how to approach the big games.
6. Kent Denver
With solid running backs, receivers and linebackers, the Sun Devils will be hot to handle.
7. Denver Christian
The Crusaders will want to control the tempo and the ball, and the powerful ground game should help with that cause.
8. Platte Canyon
The Huskies’ ground game is a thing of blue-collar beauty. Their defense? A black-and-blue beauty.
9. Colorado Springs Christian
As expected, the Lions have talented athletes to run the show. Will the young horses up front give them the lanes and protection?
10. Brush
This is a major rebuilding season for the Beetdiggers, but it is hard to rule out this program.
Players to watch
R.J. Balzen, Holy Family, Sr., RB, 6-1, 210: The Tigers have lots of talented ball carriers, but at his size, he’s not one defenders want to see often.
Jarod Barros, Erie, Sr., RB, 5-9, 180: Terrific athlete will be the first punch in Erie’s three-back attack.
Adonis Brown, Bishop Machebeuf, Sr., RB, 5-10, 195: His beauty is in his work ethic and speed. Utah, Arizona State, UNC and CSU have shown interest.
Seve Carbajal, Faith Christian, Sr., QB, 5-10, 175: He has one state title and now must get a lot out of some newer players for the Eagles to defend their lofty perch.
Mark Cerf, Faith Christian, Sr., LB, 5-10, 195: Without a mammoth line in front of him, Cerf’s talent will get more chances to impress.
Parker Guttersen, Platte Valley, Sr., TB-CB, 6-0, 180: He intercepted six passes in the 2006 postseason alone. He is part of a cornerback tandem that could shut down opponents.
Drew Hawkins, Holy Family, Sr., QB-S, 6-2, 180: He has the size, strength and pedigree – older brother Cody is CU’s starting QB – to be special. A standout supporting cast will only help.
Seth Lobato, Eaton, Jr., QB, 6-5, 200: Lobato has the size desired in a quarterback and a year of experience under his belt.
John Linderink, Denver Christian, Sr., RB-LB, 6-0, 175: He could be a stud quarterback, but he’ll do more damage getting the ball with a running start.
Gil Martinez, Trinidad, Sr., OL-DL, 6-1, 280: Martinez is an immovable object in the interior defensive line and an irresistible force on offense.
Drew O’Cain, C.S. Christian, Sr., K-P, 6-3, 185: This former soccer player was 10-for-10 this summer in field-goal attempts from 50 yards.
Corey Orth, Buena Vista, Sr., DE, 6-5, 235: He’s good now, but at 6-5, 235, and with tremendous upside, Wyoming is betting he’ll become even better.
Dan Palmer, University, Sr., RB-SS, 6-2, 215: Palmer rushed for 1,800 yards last season, running around defenders when he wasn’t running them over.
Michael Reilly, Kent Denver, Sr., WR-DB, 6-2, 175: The life of Reilly: Wyoming has already offered a scholarship to this catch-and-run standout.
Gabe Santistevan, Trinidad, Sr., RB, 5-10, 180: He is a throwback. His hard-nosed style allowed him to rack up 1,400 yards rushing despite playing part of the season with a broken toe.
Ben Wegener, Platte Canyon, Sr., RB-QB-DB, 5-9, 160: Mush! Mush! Mush! The Huskies run like crazy, and Wegener is committed to the cause.
Best games
Here are 10 games you don’t want to miss:
AUG. 31
Brush at Fort Morgan: This first game will be pivotal for a rebuilding Brush team, and Fort Morgan wants to start off in the right direction as well in an I-76 rivalry.
SEPT. 14
Eaton at Platte Valley: An early-season test could determine who takes control of the Patriot League.
SEPT. 21
Faith Christian at Erie: An early test for these league rivals, but a victory for Erie over this powerhouse would be a huge confidence builder.
SEPT. 28
Holy Family at Faith Christian: Always a classic showdown between rivals, these teams often see each other in the postseason as well.
SEPT. 28
Platte Canyon at C.S. Christian: Both squads have something to prove, not only to themselves but to the rest of the league.
SEPT. 29
Kent Denver at Denver Christian: A grind-it-out battle for familiar teams looking to make a move toward the league title.
OCT. 5
Roaring Fork at Gunnison: This midseason matchup will play a large part in determining the winner of the Western Slope League.
OCT. 12
Roosevelt at Brush: Two programs that expect to reach the playoffs. The loser of this game might miss out.
OCT. 26
Salida at Buena Vista: The season finale could determine who continues into November and who goes home for the season.
OCT. 26
Trinidad at Manitou Springs: The visiting Miners have the potential to make this game the final hurdle for an undefeated regular season.
