Thirty-two teams enter today’s beginning of Colorado’s Class 5A playoffs.
Thirty-one aren’t like Highlands Ranch.
The Falcons aren’t defending champion, top-ranked and undefeated Mullen. They aren’t 32nd-seeded Boulder, nor any of the other 29 in between.
No, Highlands Ranch is as unusual as Colorado, an interesting, contrasting suburban melting pot of savvy and inexperience. It is big and small, new-wave and traditional.
Highlands Ranch is 2009’s “how is it doing this?” team. The Falcons must have come from somewhere, but even coach Darrel Gorham admitted in the midst of his team’s surprising run that he had no clue this would happen — only two starters returning and not that much size or speed, yet a 7-2 record, the big-school bracket’s 11th seed and a bunch of head-turning and -scratching that easily has made them the 5A story of 2009.
And yet, it continues.
Plus, Gorham said, “we’re not that tired. We’re still refreshed.”
They should be — instead of finishing near or at the bottom of the Southern League, bracket advancement is a distinct possibility.
It didn’t begin so well. Highlands Ranch struggled and was dominated in its opener against Mountain Vista, which is stout defensively. But then the magic began. The Falcons won seven of their next eight games, none by more than 13 points and most of them nail-biters, including 10-6 over Rampart, 21-20 over ThunderRidge, 13-12 over Doherty and 20-17 over Douglas County.
The victories against ThunderRidge and Douglas County were the program’s first over their district rivals, and its 38-26 takedown of Chaparral occurred when the Wolverines were ranked fifth.
The Falcons’ only loss during the span was 13-12 to Ponderosa.
“And we started seven sophomores against Douglas County,” Gorham said. “We just had to get used to each other.
“Normally, you have to have something offensively, that quarterback who stands out or the running back standout, or on defense that stud lineman. We just have a bunch of kids working together.”
Say hello to some Falcons who have occupied those roles. Mike Brady. Tyler Gomes. Jerry Zavala. Steve Donatell. Troy Josey. Gorham said you could fill in any other name on the roster “because our kids don’t care who plays. They pull for whoever’s out there, they just want to win.”
Fittingly, Highlands Ranch will open the playoffs against the Bear Creek Bears, who disappointed with a 4-5 record, but can make things right quickly, beginning with the Falcons.
“Our kids are listening and learning and getting better,” Gorham said. “It’s exciting.”
Footnotes.
In the past week’s 45-0 victory over Green Mountain, Golden’s Ryan Stokes threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns. . . . Prairie View has three names you’ll enjoy — Chantry Cunning, Trask Green and Tyler Swing. . . . Columbine, which has ended Pomona’s season three years in a row, is on the same side of the bracket with the Panthers.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
