LITTLETON — This has been an unusual season for Heritage.
“It is different,” head coach Mike Griebel said.
To what end? After a decade in the Centennial League and two more in the Continental, facing Class 5A opponents almost exclusively and annually taking on their southern suburban city’s other two high schools, the Eagles are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory.
After making the 5A quarterfinals in 2007, they are in a new class (4A), a new league (West Metro) and desperate for competition (they have surrendered just six points in 28 quarters).
Saturday’s 50-0 whipping of John F. Kennedy in their final regular-season home game at Littleton Public Schools Stadium was indicative of how it has been in 2008.
The victory was the seventh consecutive of the season for the Eagles (6-0 in league), top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News Class 4A poll, and their fifth shutout in a row. Only South, which scored in the second game of the season — against the Eagles’ second-line defense — has been able to reach the end zone against Heritage.
All told, Heritage has outscored seven foes by an aggregate 331-6. After a 17-0 victory in Florida to begin the season, the Eagles have crushed six in-state foes 314-6, the past five 266-0.
While the Eagles will next get Abraham Lincoln, they know Dakota Ridge and Wheat Ridge await to close out their regular season.
Keeping things in perspective and maintaining patience have yet to be problems for Heritage.
“It’s no factor,” Eagles junior quarterback Mitch Griebel said. “Our team’s always up. They know our tough games are coming up. This way, our younger guys can have fun every game. It’s fun, and we’re enjoying it. You get to make plays.”
Griebel returned two punts for touchdowns Saturday and threw for another touchdown.
Still, the Eagles would be excused for offering their kingdom for competition.
“We’ve been working them in practice, been hitting more than we ever have,” Mike Griebel said. “We’re knocking the crap out of each other. We’re just trying to get better every week and I think we are. This is a very centered group. We don’t want them looking ahead, but they can’t wait for the big games.”
John F. Kennedy 0 0 0 0 — 0
Heritage 29 21 0 0 — 50
H — Delbaugh 30 run (Vadelius kick). H — Griebel 69 punt return (Vadelius kick). H — Griebel 70 punt return (Vadelius kick). H — Kisselman 23 pass from Griebel (Vadelius kick). H — Zimmerman 9 run (Vadelius kick). H — Delbaugh 41 run (Vadelius kick). H — Delbaugh 1 run (Vadelius kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
