Wheat Ridge will stride into Invesco Field at Mile High a confident, borderline cocky, football team Saturday, Dec. 2.
That confidence stems back before the Farmers even took the field for their 2006 campaign. Sitting in first-year coach Reid Kahl’s office at Wheat Ridge High School in mid-August it was clear that at least one Farmer had high expectations.
“Honestly, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t win state,” Wheat Ridge senior Connor Wright said, sitting in a comfortable chair. “It’s not just making the playoffs for me. It’s win state or this season was a bust.”
Wright and the rest of the Farmers have put their money where their mouths are all season. For a senior class that is under its second different head varsity coach and endured a 9-21 record the previous three seasons, it’s hard not to root for Wheat Ridge to defeat Loveland in the Class 4A state title game.
Even the Farmers’ latest victim had a soft spot for Wheat Ridge.
“For a team that has taken some licks, it’s good to see them have some success,” Ralston Valley coach Matt Loyd said after his Mustangs fell to the Farmers 28-7 in the semifinals.
Not to put any extra pressure on Wheat Ridge, but nobody remembers the state runner-up. The school hasn’t won a boys’ state title in any sport since 1996. Close doesn’t count when it comes to football and state titles.
Wheat Ridge has a chance to be remembered with Jeffco’s recent championship teams from Arvada West (1997), Columbine (1999, 2000 and 2002), Chatfield (2001) and Green Mountain (1999).
“This is our one shot,” Wheat Ridge senior quarterback Dylan Orms. “You get one shot to win a state championship. I don’t think we’re going to choke. We have too many people who believe in this team for us to lose.”
Wheat Ridge should get plenty of support from Jeffco friends and enemies Saturday.