(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Even when Rob Royer was playing football at Rampart in the late 1980s and early 90s, the rivalry with Liberty stood out. Now that he looms as head coach of the Rams, it remains competitive and he and his players will get a dose of it as early as possible.
That’s where Zero Week can make things fun.
The ending of last year’s showdown, if anything, fueled the fire between the two teams and it seems as if they couldn’t wait to take the field against each other.
All summer long, football players at both schools have practiced through the heat, preparing for the chance to either set things right or prove that the result was anything but a fluke.
And given the opponent, it makes the start of the season fun for both sides.
“It’s exciting, we’ve all been waiting all summer to get things going,” Rampart senior receiver Joey Williams said. “We’re just ready to be there, especially with a team like Liberty, who beat us last year.”
In one of the wildest endings in the state season, the Rams scored a go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left to take a one-point lead. With a long way to go, the Lancers were able to capitalize on every opportunity they got, which included a pass interference call that helped moved them down the field.
(Josh Watt/CHSAANow.com)
Hunter Wierenga was able to connect on a field goal for the 34-32 win, leaving Liberty elated and Rampart stunned.
But now that the 2015 is in the history books, Royer is excited about his getting his players back on the field where they’ll get another shot at the Lancers. All the better that it comes on the very first week that teams are able to compete in regular season contests.
“We had our camp at the end of the summer and (Zero Week) allows us to have a bye week in week five to get ready for league,” Royer said. “The fact that it’s Liberty adds another little bonus in it.”
Just up the road from Rampart, Lancers coach Marc Sites is also getting his squad prepared for Saturday night’s showdown.
But for Sites, Zero Week adds a challenge for him that he didn’t face last year. The Lancers didn’t play until week one, when they beat Cheyenne Mountain 27-0. This year, he’s feeling the pressure of a week taken away from game prep.
“There are lot of unknowns, a lot of variables that are out there,” Sites said. “Trying to squeeze what you would normally do in three weeks into two weeks has been a challenge.”
But when game time rolls around, the Lancers will be ready to play. And with two schools so close in proximity facing off, it could easily have the feel of an organized game between neighborhood kids.
“Besides Air Academy, Liberty and Rampart are the two oldest high schools in District 20,” Sites said. “The kids all know each other, they live next to each other in the neighborhoods so it makes for an exciting way to start the season.”
Rampart and Liberty will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at District 20 Stadium.