In Chatfield’s second year in Class 4A, the Chargers are expected to be a state championship contender after making a semifinal run last season.
Coach Bret McGatlin’s squad looked the part during Thursday night’s Week 3 showing at Jeffco Stadium, as the No. 4 Chargers ran past Wheat Ridge 52-7 thanks to overpowering play in the trenches and four rushing touchdowns on 235 yards on the ground from senior standout Ben Frenette.
“I always know that to win championships, you’ve got to run the football well, so we always work hard on our running game and we pride ourselves on it even though we run a tempo offense,” McGatlin said. “I was a little disappointed we didn’t get our passing game going early, and I think we need to work on that because it’s really important for us to be balanced.”
Frenette catalyzed Chatfield with a 42-yard scoring scamper to make it 7-0 in the first quarter, but the Farmers responded early in the second quarter by marching the length of the field and capping the drive with a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Anthony Tate to senior wideout Naishon Thomas.
“We definitely gave up some plays in the first half that we felt were uncharacteristic of us,” McGatlin said. “We have four seasoned defensive backs, and we got beat a couple times in the secondary, which is rare for us.”
But after Tate’s touchdown toss, the game completely belonged to Chatfield.
Frenette tacked on a couple more scoring runs in the second quarter and junior Charlie Wildermuth hit a late field goal to give Chatfield a 24-7 lead heading into the locker room.
The Chargers continued to extend their advantage in the second half, using a Frenette 75-yard touchdown run on the third quarter’s first play from scrimmage en route to the blowout victory. Chatfield seniors Chandler Callejo and Brandon Andersen also chipped in scoring runs.
Chatfield (2-1) takes on longtime Jeffco rival and Class 5A No. 8 Columbine next Friday, Sept. 22, while Wheat Ridge (1-3) enters a bye week and is in action next at home against Dakota Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 28.
“A team like (Columbine) is always one of the most physical teams you play every year,” McGatlin said. “They’re bigger than anyone I’ve seen, so we’ve got to play our best football and we’ve got to match their physicality to have a shot to win it. Our guys are excited for it, because it’s always a big week in our community.”
Next Thursday, tune in to Denver South at Heritage on the Game of the Week.
