Sand Creek’s Scorpions may not be the only pests running around Colorado football fields (don’t forget Pueblo County’s Hornets), but the longtime cellar-dwellers from Colorado Springs have suddenly turned into, well, little buggers.
Break out the Raid.
During their first 11 seasons, the Scorpions, who have one of the state’s unique and cooler mascots, were a woeful, Detroit Lions-like 27-83.
In seven years of Class 3A, the 4-6 mark in 2003 was easily Sand Creek’s best. The program began in 1997 and had consecutive 3-7 marks, followed by four in succession of 2-8. A two-year run in 4A produced another 3-7 before its 5-5 slate in 2005 became its benchmark.
The Scorpions promptly reverted form from 2006-07 in a mandated move to 5A, going 0-10 and 1-9, respectively.
Plus, Sand Creek had four coaches in a calendar year.
However, this season’s shift to 4A has brought something different — the Scorpions are 5-0 in a silent sting few expected.
“I (coached) against Sand Creek for a lot of years,” Scorpions head coach Ryan Leaming said. “From an outsider’s perspective, I thought they had very good kids who just needed some leadership. Hopefully, I’m bringing that.”
In his first season calling the shots after 10 as an assistant at Fountain- Fort Carson, Leaming, a 1989 graduate of nearby Coronado who became a walk-on at Colorado State for Earle Bruce, credits the tutoring of no-nonsense Trojans coach Mitch Johnson as vital in his apprenticeship.
Inside every assistant coach is a head coach awaiting his turn. And Leaming didn’t blink at taking over a program that had won only 25 percent of its games.
“I had the confidence I could turn it around, but I didn’t think it would happen this quickly,” he said. “It’s hard to change a culture. I saw Mitch do it for years. I saw the blueprint.”
Leaming followed the directions down to tying football shoes the right way as well as heading to and from the practice field.
“We had to change everything,” he said.
It has worked. Sand Creek, which plays home games in the aptly dubbed Scorpion Pit and is 4-0 in the Pikes Peak League, starts 19 seniors. Running back Dominique Harris averages 100 yards rushing and has thrown three touchdown passes. The defense runs to the ball. The veer offense has been steady.
For the record, Scorpions’ opposition this season is a combined 5-20. But they better have their tails sharpened as the second-half slate includes three teams in The Denver Post/9News 4A poll as well as defending state champion Pueblo West.
It begins Friday at home against Fountain-Fort Carson.
“I’m not so sure anybody in 4A has the second half that we do,” Leaming said.
Part II of 2008’s regular season begins today for all of Colorado’s 285 teams and includes The Denver Post game of the week, Friday’s ThunderRidge-Highlands Ranch matchup in the 5A Southern, as well as the following marked for your viewing pleasure:
Today.
Another week, another interesting 5A Big 8 matchup, Pomona against Chatfield. . . . Defending 5A champion Grandview has won 16 games in a row and next gets Overland in the Centennial.
Friday.
Apparently, the time is now for the 3A Tri-Valley. Defending state champion Berthoud will be at Fort Morgan and Windsor will be at Roosevelt. . . . Bishop Machebeuf, 4-1 and fighting back from also-ran status, has a huge step in front of its Buffaloes — longtime 2A power Faith Christian awaits in the Flatirons. . . . In Colorado’s big hills is a big game, Aspen at Grand Valley, in the 2A Western Slope. . . . Here’s where Eaton’s ambitious nonleague schedule should come in handy — the Brush Beetdiggers will make a visit in the 2A Patriot. . . . Two-time 1A defending state champion Akron has won 31 games in a row. On deck is Highland in the 1A North Central.
Saturday.
Odd matchup at an odd time, 5A nonleague with Grand Junction at Cherry Creek, 6 p.m. . . . No looking ahead for Kent Denver, which has Bennett in the 2A Colorado. A week away is rugged Platte Canyon. . . . Calhan is a spirited 4-1 and will meet longtime power Limon in the 1A South Central.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
