Let’s review — Grandview won the 2007 Class 5A football championship, the first for the Wolves.
It was delightful for a program that was a byproduct of brisk southeastern Denver-area growth that threatens to reach Kansas, has brewed with considerable talent for more than a decade and fit nicely into the Centennial League, Colorado’s clear leader in big-school championships of the modern era.
But have we had a top-ranked 5A team with a quieter first month than the Wolves of Aurora?
Coach John Schultz wasn’t offended by the suggestion. He pointed to what has turned into his team’s lighter schedule in the first half of the regular season, a new mind-set of defending a championship and an offense that has yet to yield a steady, stable diet of moving the ball.
“We’re still finding ourselves,” Schultz said.
The Wolves are there. Apparently, we have to look, just as they are.
Through four games, Grandview’s competition is a combined 5-11. 4A Central (G.J.), first-time 5A member Cherokee Trail and Smoky Hill, which hasn’t had a winning record since 1990, went down by a combined 118-18. Last week, the Wolves got all they wanted before finally outlasting nearby rival Eaglecrest 17-15. Next is Fort Collins (1-3).
Just showing up for the season after a title as No. 1 isn’t going to get it done, no matter who they face.
“There’s a little bit of overconfidence,” Schultz admitted. “You can’t overlook anyone; you can’t just get off the bus and have the other team lay down for you. The opposite will happen.”
Plus, settling on a quarterback and replacing a regular option at running back with several can prove difficult. Schultz is convinced “mixing it up” on offense is imperative, but the Wolves have just 17 completions through 16 quarters and only two players who have more than two receptions.
Good thing the defense has been stellar. Grandview, featuring safety Matt Tucker, has held teams to minus-23 yards rushing over the first three games. Still stopping and popping people as they did a year ago, the Wolves’ athletic defenders gamble, know how to pressure, move laterally and prevent big plays — and have returned three interceptions and a fumble for touchdowns.
“We have nothing to complain about there,” Schultz said.
It will get interesting in the not-so-distant future for Grandview. Overland (where Schultz was an assistant), Arapahoe, Cherry Creek and Mullen await, as does dealing with another phase of today’s student-athlete, an astute observation the coach has been monitoring for years.
“The whole focus point of doing it is in the summer,” he said. “Now, school has been going on for a month and there are challenges of getting the team in the right rhythm. The kids are staying up late, they have tests, homework after practice . . . (generating) the energy level is a whole new challenge.”
One of Week 5’s challenges figures to be in 3A, where defending champion Berthoud will host midrange newcomer Roosevelt in The Denver Post game of the week.
Others to watch as Colorado hits midseason are:
Today.
Some suspected it would be a real big-school possibility for years — ThunderRidge, fresh from 4A, can go to 5-0 with a victory over Ponderosa in the 5A Southern. . . . Arvada West, knocked off late last week, can’t worry about it. Columbine is next in the 5A Big 8. . . . The Eagles’ kingdom for a test — 4A top-ranked Heritage has romped over four foes by a combined 162-6 and next gets winless West, which has been stomped 222-0.
Friday.
Pomona and super senior running back Donovan Bowens put 41 points on Bear Creek last week. The Panthers will be at Big 8 newbie Regis. . . . It’s lesson time. Pueblo’s Bell Game, between Central and Centennial, will be played for the 107th time and involve a crowd of five figures. Every other school should be as fortunate. . . . Here’s why 1A ball has been wonderful for some time. Holyoke’s Dragons will be at Akron, which is seeking its 31st consecutive victory.
Saturday.
Platte Canyon will be at Denver Christian in the 2A Colorado. . . . The ultracompetitive 5A Front Range will have a crucial matchup, Fairview at Poudre, in a kickoff before lunchtime (how come?). . . . Some team needs to take control of the 5A Central Metro, which has no teams above .500. Perhaps it will be the East-George Washington winner. . . . The 3A Metro lead will be at stake when Summit travels to D’Evelyn, a battle of the undefeated.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
