Looking around the practice field at Wheat Ridge High School recently, Parker Orms became nostalgic, if only for a brief moment.
Now in his fourth year of playing football for the Farmers, the senior running back/safety has seen a bit of everything during his time at Wheat Ridge.
“It’s amazing. We were just walking down actually and I remember I was a freshman walking down here, getting ready for our games,” he said. “Now it’s senior year. I’m excited.”
Orms is ready to get down to business, too. After helping the Farmers win a state championship his sophomore season, Orms’ junior season ended in a bitter disappointment.
Wheat Ridge struggled against the rest of the Class 4A Mountain Plains Conference in 2007, finishing 4-3, including a heartbreaking 14-10 loss to Dakota Ridge in the final game of the season that cost the Farmers a postseason berth.
Orms recalls that game all too vividly. With his team up by three points late in the fourth quarter, it was Orms’ fumble that gave the Eagles the ball back, and Eric Cain scored on a 57-yard run to end Wheat Ridge’s season.
“Every day I think about it … I’m glad we got them the fourth week; I marked it on the schedule,” Orms said of the teams’ re-match Sept. 20. “In the basketball game they were all cheering ‘fumble, fumble.’
“I haven’t been that disappointed in myself after a game ever. I just can’t wait to get a chance to play them and a lot of other teams, too.”
There will be a different supporting cast on the field this season.
“We did have some seniors last year, but very inexperienced seniors,” third-year coach Reid Kahl said. “Toward the end of the year we started playing a lot of the younger kids. We’re going to be a predominantly junior team this year.”
Charlie Land takes over for Ryan Routzon at quarterback. The junior will benefit from having some familiar targets to throw to, including senior Taylor Aversano and junior Eric Shannon.
“Charlie’s going to be fine,” Kahl said. “He’s smart, he’s a good athlete, he’s got a great arm. I have no worries about the quarterback position.”
The offensive and defensive lines have a handful of returners, led by seniors Eric Achatz, Tim DelBozque and Zak Wagner. Austin Livingston returns at fullback and linebacker, with Shannon back on the defensive line and Orms and Aversano returning at safety.
Orms was a standout at free safety as a junior, but was even more impressive at running back, where he tallied close to 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
“It’s exciting to know he’s on our side,” Kahl said. “He’s 10 or 12 pounds heavier than he was last year, maybe an inch taller and he’s faster. I ran him to death on offense last year, and I’ve got a couple other people who are going to be able to carry that load.”
Orms has already received football scholarship offers from Colorado State University, University of Wyoming and University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Wheat Ridge will be in a new-look conference without the likes of Ralston Valley, Standley Lake, ThunderRidge and Arvada. The 4A West Metro League will feature Dakota Ridge, Wheat Ridge, Golden and Green Mountain, with a strong Heritage squad joining the four holdovers, along with a number of schools from the Denver Prep League.
Kahl said he’ll miss the old rivalries, but is looking forward to some fresh faces. He and his players are more motivated than ever to redeem themselves this fall.
“All the guys know that it’s our last year,” Orms said. “There’s no way I’m settling for a losing record this year and not making it to the playoffs. Our team’s going to be ready for this season, and I know I’m going to be for sure.”