LITTLETON — On Friday evening, before the start of the 4A game between Heritage and Dakota Ridge, the younger brothers of Eagles quarterback Mitch Griebel and wide receiver Shane Opitz stood along the sideline at Littleton Public Schools Stadium, playing catch and throwing touchdown bombs to each other.
But even with 40 minutes or so to work on their fantasies, the budding superstars still didn’t come close to matching the output of their older siblings. When the main event started, Dakota Ridge’s defense may as well have been comprised of 11-year-olds; in the opening half, Griebel completed four passes to Opitz — each good for a touchdown.
The four scores, of 30, 54, 4 and 76 yards, gave Opitz 21 TD receptions for the year, a state record, and sent the second-ranked Eagles (9-1) well on their way to a 56-24 rout.
“I told our kids we just got out-athleted,” Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalewicz said of Opitz afterward. “A couple of times there we had good coverage on him, and he just made the plays.”
One other pass came Opitz’s way — playing defensive back, the senior picked off a Dakota Ridge throw and returned it 68 yards for another touchdown.
“It’s indescribable; I don’t know how to put it into words,” Opitz said of his second five-touchdown performance of the season, equaling his total in a rout of Kennedy. “It’s a lot of fun, though.”
Although they played on different youth football teams, Griebel and Opitz have been playing a different kind of pitch and catch — in baseball — since the age of 5. But while the venue may not be the same, both players say just spending so much time together has led to an immeasurable sense of chemistry.
“He’s amazing,” said Griebel, who scored on a 68-yard run. “I feel I can just throw it up there and he’s going to come down with it — I trust him that much.”
The game actually began with someone other than Opitz scoring — Jimmy Ellis running 80 yards on the opening play from scrimmage. When Dakota Ridge (6-4) responded with a 43-yard field goal, Woitalewicz felt his team was still in good shape. The sensation ended quickly. It took Heritage two plays to score on the ensuing possession and three plays on its third.
After beating Wheat Ridge a week ago, Eagles coach Mike Griebel was worried about a possible letdown. Instead, he got a dominant effort that he hopes will carry over into next week’s state 4A playoffs.
“We have to show up,” Mike Griebel said. “It’s one-and-done from this point.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
