Programs on their third coach in three years usually aren’t very good.
dzܲԳ as an exception. The No. 2 Eagles (12-1) chase a third consecutive Class 3A championship Saturday at District 20 Stadium in Colorado Springs against No. 1 (13-0) under their third coach in as many years, Andy Watts.
Credit Pueblo East’s talent-laden, 17-man senior class — which boasts running back Bryson Torres, wideout/safety Luke Padula and linebacker Cruz Trujillo — as the reason the Eagles have been able to sustain such recent success, racking up 36 wins in the last three seasons.
But standing in the way of another Pueblo East coronation is dangerous Discovery Canyon, which defeated the Eagles 41-26 in Week 3 and has won three out of the last four regular-season meetings.
And though Pueblo East has ended Discovery Canyon’s season in the playoffs the last three years, the Thunder are in the midst of the best fall in program history as they chase their first title.
Leading Discovery Canyon’s triple-option attack that has averaged more than 40 points per game is senior Josh Tomjack (1,029 yards, 18 touchdowns), junior Trevor Ivy (807 yards, 11 TDs) and senior quarterback Tyler McFarland (760, 11 TDs), who also has 14 TDs passing, to just two interceptions.
But with all the veteran players on both teams, the title will likely come down to the play of a sophomore quarterback. Pueblo East’s Luc Andrada has dazzled so far this fall with 1,742 yards and 12 touchdowns passing, but he will be tested mightily by a Thunder defense that looked strong in a 17-7 semifinal win over last week.
Managing big swings of momentum will also play a factor in a battle between two familiar foes. Pueblo East jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead over Discovery Canyon in last year’s 28-10 playoff win; and the Thunder used a 14-0 third quarter to seal the victory over the Eagles in the teams’ most recent showdown.
Kickoff on Saturday is at 1 p.m.
