(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER — The glow of the cellphones followed the pack of players through the tunnel, their screens illuminating the walls as they documented the moment they walked into Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The finalists for Saturday’s Class 5A — Pomona, Eaglecrest — and 4A — Pine Creek, Pueblo South — football championships visited the venue on Tuesday for a walk-through and press conference. One theme emerged: Yes, Saturday will be all business for each team, but it’s also a memory for the players. Something to be remembered.
“Please take the time to relish the opportunity and appreciate everyone who has played a part to enable you to be here today,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Bud Ozzello told the players. “This memory will never be forgotten.”
Said Pomona coach Jay Madden: “I hope you know how lucky you are to be sitting in those seats you’re sitting in right now. … Enjoy every second of it. Because it’s going to go by in a hurry. This week’s gonna fly.”
This year’s Championship Saturday marks the 13th year that the 4A and 5A games have been held at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Pomona will be making its fourth appearance at the venue, and third-consecutive. Pine Creek will play there for the fifth time since 2011.
Pine Creek coach Todd Miller was actually asked if being in another title game “becomes boring at some point.”
“It never becomes boring,” Miller replied. “This game is too important, and it changes. This team is new and for these guys, it’s new. For these seniors, it’s a new experience and it’s an exciting experience. And for those parents and those fans, it’s a special time.
“Even though we’ve been lucky enough to able to do this experience before, this year is unique.”
Neither Eaglecrest nor Pueblo South has ever played at Mile High. Eaglecrest hasn’t played in a title game since 1993, and Pueblo South has never played for a football championship.
“This is special,” said Eaglecrest coach Mike Schmitt. “I know for you boys, having the opportunity to play on a professional field? Man, there ain’t nothing like it. There ain’t nothing like it.”
Pueblo South football coach Ryan Goddard joked that he’d “never seen this many cameras in my entire life” during the press conference.
“I talked to our kids before we got up here, about, ‘Enjoy the moment, enjoy the experience. This is the moment to get out and take as many photos as you possibly can,'” Goddard said. “I think they took full advantage of that. It’s good to get up here.
“I brought every senior we had,” he continued. “That wasn’t by mistake. I wanted to get these guys up here and give them an opportunity to see see what they were going to be playing in. It’s a special moment, it’s about the experience. These guys have put in so much work, so much time, so much effort. It’s nice to be able to reward them with this.”
The 4A title game will kick off at 11 a.m., with the 5A matchup following at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online, or at the stadium.
The games will also be streamed live on the NFHS Network, and air on the radio on Orange and Blue 760.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)