Pine Creek faces giant foe in Class 4A

Statistically speaking, the Class 4A state football championship game Saturday between Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Pine Creek (Colorado Springs, Colo.) indicates the proverbial toss-up.
 
After all, consider that both senior-driven teams are a gaudy 13-0 after having dispatched opponents at will, and each has scored and allowed roughly the same amount of points as the other.

However, at the podium Wednesday during a press conference at Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High where the game will be played (11 a.m.), Pine Creek coach Todd Miller acknowledged what just about everyone else is thinking.

Despite the similarity numbers-wise, Valor Christian is the overwhelming favorite to defend its 4A title and win a third consecutive championship.

"Not a lot of people expect us to show up, but David hit Goliath with a stone, and that's what we are going to try to do," Miller said.

MaxPreps Colorado 4A state football brackets

The reference was appropriate, considering Valor Christian's recent dominance. The Eagles are the unquestioned new bully on the block, having won 23 in a row, nearly all in convincing fashion. They rolled through a schedule that included four Class 5A teams – including big-school semifinalist Grandview – and have outscored their opponents this season 568-80. (In the playoffs that margin is 152-7).

Valor Christian also features at least five seniors who are Division I recruits, and it is ranked No. 64 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 1 in Colorado, regardless of classification.

Eagles coach Brent Vieselmeyer said his team, which has 25 seniors, has been able to maintain its approach despite all the accolades and attention. Not all of that attention has been positive, either, as a local TV station ran a report last week accusing the program of illegal recruiting.

"Our team has been great going week-to-week," said Vieselmeyer, who also guided Valor Christian to the 3A title in 2009 in only its second season. "Our student-athletes have done a great job of keeping the team focused. That's been a player-driven piece."

It helps when those players are as accomplished as they are. Defensive end Michael Mann has committed to Arizona State, while receiver/safety Max McCaffrey will attend Duke and linebacker Andrew Pint will play at Boise State. In addition, linebacker AJ Isenburg and lineman Alex Kozan are drawing DI interest.

The Eagles' best player, though, might be a sophomore in running back Christian McCaffrey. He is the brother of Max and both are sons of former Denver Broncos standout Ed McCaffrey. Vieselmeyer said he considers Christian the best running back in the state, and his versatility certainly is without peer.

The 6-foot, 190-pounder has rushed for 967 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 531 yards and eight more scores on 21 receptions. The overall numbers might not be eye-popping, but that's because McCaffrey's opportunities have been curtailed because of lopsided scores. The one statistic that sticks out: he averages 9.97 yards a carry.

Even with all that talent, Vieselmeyer said he didn't expect such overwhelming results.

"I am shocked, a little bit, about how well we've done," he said.

With 30 seniors, a group that has gone 46-4 during the past four seasons, Pine Creek expected to challenge for a state title. The Eagles are making their first appearance in the championship game, and a win would give the school its first title in any sport.

Pine Creek also is the first Colorado Springs-area team to advance to the title game at one of the state's top two classifications since Rampart and Sierra squared off in the 1998 4A championship.

"It's been a long time since a Colorado Springs team has been able to represent the area on a state level, and I'm very proud of that," Miller said. "We are confident and ready for the challenge."

The Pine Creek defense certainly is. The unit, led by junior linebacker Chase Stevens (109 tackles) and senior lineman Benton Gray (11 sacks) has yet to allow a point in three playoff games and has not yielded more than 14 points in any game this season. They run out of a 4-2-5 alignment.

That prompted Vieselmeyer to say, "We will be happy to score (Saturday)."

Again, Pine Creek knows it is dealing with an offense that is playing at a level far above any of its previous opponents. The Eagles also are very familiar with Valor Christian, as it blitzed them 41-16 in the quarterfinals last season.

"They are a lot better team than last year, but I think we are, too," Miller said.

The Pine Creek offense has done its part, having outscored the opposition 554-74 to this point. Running backs Josh Beacham (1,371 rushing yards, 18 TDs) and Shomari Cousar (990, 13) are the key performers, and quarterback Ryan Warner has added balance. Warner, who stands 6-foot-7, has passed for 1,136 yards out of the shotgun formation. He has signed to play baseball at North Carolina State.

Reflecting upon his team's chances as a decided underdog, Miller perhaps summed up best Pine Creek's approach on the season's final weekend:

"We respect the heck out of (Valor Christian), but we don't fear them. This is one game, and anything can happen. We are going to give it our best shot."