CASTLE ROCK — Chaparral wants a winning football program so badly that it’s willing to lose its lunch.
The hungry Wolverines can’t be considered quiet or under the radar anymore after Thursday night’s 21-10 victory against district rival Highlands Ranch at Douglas County Schools Stadium.
The victory in the Class 5A Southern League lifted Chaparral to 6-1 overall, 5-1 league, and a half-game behind leader and undefeated ThunderRidge, which the Wolverines meet next weekend. Highlands Ranch (5-2, 4-2) lost its second game in a row.
According to Chaparral quarterback Jerry Slota, who completed his first eight passes, a boot camp of sorts that began almost immediately after the past season’s 2-8 woeful effort wasn’t questioned by a single Wolverine.
“We were working so hard, kids were puking,” Slota said. “This whole year, we’ve been working as a team and doing things together.”
Chaparral was complete Thursday in taking the lead, winning the line of scrimmage, mixing it up on offense and sitting on Highlands Ranch’s talented skill corps.
Slota scored two touchdowns on short runs, including the game-winner early in the fourth quarter.
The Wolverines’ defense did the rest, twice stopping the Falcons deep inside Chaparral territory.
Chaparral head coach John Vogt realizes so much is ahead for his team, but its start has been convincing.
“No one has followed us all year, and I told people in preseason that they’ve worked their hearts out, they’re physical, they’re fast, they play good defense, we run the ball, we kick the ball,” he said.
Slota began by playing a lot of pitch-and-catch with receivers Jordan Serena, a sophomore, and Matt Newton. Mixed with steady rushing by David Zimmerman, Chaparral scored on its opening drive, made it 14-3 early in the second quarter on Zimmerman’s 13-yard run and had only one three-and-out when the game was in the balance.
On the series it did, the Falcons muffed the punt and the Wolverines used it to up their lead on Slota’s 1-yard run in which he got caught in the line but kept his legs moving to bounce off and get outside.
All the while, the Wolverines defense kept the dangerous Jace Davis in check, pressured Falcons quarterback Mitch Kahl and stiffened when necessary.
“We knew we had to execute and everyone’s doing their jobs,” Slota said.
The Falcons moved the ball but generated only an opening-series field goal and a second-quarter scoring pass from Kahl to Davis.
Said Vogt, “We’ve learned toughness and we play tough.”
Highlands Ranch 3 7 0 0 — 10
Chaparral 7 7 0 7 — 21
C — Slota 2 run (Page kick). HR — FG Gomes 32. C — Zimmerman 13 run (Page kick). HR — Davis 18 pass from Kahl (Gomes kick). C — Slota 1 run (Page kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
