You don’t know Joe.
Nor do you know much of anything about Pueblo West.
You might have noticed the Cyclones when they jumped up from Class 3A last season and saw huge numbers put up by standout running back Justin Jackson. You probably remember, though, Pueblo West finished 2006 losing four of its last five games.
And when the Cyclones began this season with a loss to 3A Pueblo County and lost their prize running back to a torn tendon in his lower leg in Week 7, you probably stopped thinking about them altogether.
If only you had known Joe.
Joe Torres, also known as “the backup,” has carried the torch, and the Cyclones have kept churning their way to an unlikely Pikes Peak League title, 10-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A semifinals.
Seeded sixth, Pueblo West will try to add to its young history — the school opened in 1997 — when it takes on athletic stalwart and second-seeded Broomfield (12-0) on Friday at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium.
In six games as the featured back, Torres, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior, has rushed for 855 yards (142.5 per game) and 11 touchdowns.
That’s Joe.
“We know Joe is a good running back and knew it all along,” Cyclones coach Monte Pinkerton said.
Why didn’t you know that? Because Torres broke his leg before his junior season and was a spectator for most of the season.
Replacing Jackson — who ran for more than 1,500 yards in 2006 and topped the 1,000-yard mark in his fifth game this season — and the inevitable comparisons it would bring had Torres nervous.
But considering the family atmosphere Pinkerton preaches and creates, jumping in the spotlight — and running behind standout linemen Seth Allen and Craig Rush — made it easy.
Said Torres: “The important part for me was to think about it and say, ‘All right, you can’t be scared that you’re going to mess up. Be confident of your abilities. You got to be the man, OK? It’s your senior year.’ ”
His emergence speaks volumes about his character, but even more about the Cyclones, who could be your Cinderella playoff team if only Cinderella was known for hitting people as often and as hard as they do.
It’s hard to fathom, considering the lack of physicality — especially in the trenches — 4A teams south of Highlands Ranch have shown over the years. But the Cyclones limited high-scorers Dakota Ridge and Pueblo South to 10 points apiece in the playoffs and held league rival Fountain-Fort Carson to six points in Week 9.
“The thing that kind of caught us by surprise was that they’re a real, real physical team,” said Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalewicz, whose Eagles were a preseason No. 5 and never dropped out of the top 10 this season.
Most of the credit goes to standout senior linebacker Tony Chavarria, along with defensive tackle Zack Muñoz. Pinkerton, a Pueblo County graduate, also praises the work of his hard-hitting secondary, anchored by Victor Chavez, Zach Fillmore and Torres.
“We got a bunch of kids that just love to play football,” Pinkerton said. “It just takes its toll on people. Our guys just keep bringing it.”
They’ll have to bring all of it Friday against Broomfield, which features workhorse running back Ryland Snow, who has rushed for more than 2,200 yards this season. Like Dakota Ridge and Pueblo South, Broomfield’s offense hinges on line superiority.
The Cyclones, who have a capable passer in quarterback Chaz Vaughn, will come north from the Steel City with their toughness and underdog mentality.
And Joe.
