Windsor eagerly eyes Colorado 3A title game rematch with Silver Creek

While Silver Creek (Longmont, Colo.) quarterback Austin Apodaca has garnered national attention and become the trending topic on the Colorado high school football scene, let's not forget the Raptors have a formidable opponent in the Class 3A state championship game.

Introducing the Windsor (Colo.) Wizards, who boast their own top-tier Division I talent in offensive lineman Joey O'Connor (who recently decommitted from Penn State) and are thrilled at the prospect of a rematch with Apodaca and company.

Yes, the Wizards were shellacked 41-21 in the first meeting on Sept. 30, but they haven't lost since. They've won eight straight, including a 19-0 shutout of Frederick in the semifinals, to earn another crack at Silver Creek, this time with everything on the line (2:30 p.m., Legacy Stadium).

"We haven't said too much about it, but I'm sure the kids are Facebooking and texting back and forth," Windsor coach Chris Jones said. "The thing is, offensively against those guys, we tried a bunch of different stuff the first time. Since then, we've basically stuck to six plays and two formations."

Jones won a title as a player as a wingback for Mainland Regional (N.J.) in 1980, was an assistant coach on runner-up Ocean City in the early 1990s and now will have an opportunity to be in another title game as a coach. His squad will be guided by the talents of quarterback Joe Sanger (1,857 combined rushing and passing yards, 16 total touchdowns) and a defense fronted by Trevor Miller, Sean McAvoy and Lucas Watts, all of whom have accumulated more than 100 tackles.

"Our goal was to play as long as CHSAA will let you play, and the longest you can have organized practice is 16 weeks," Jones said. "Now we've got the opportunity to get our 16th week in, and we look at it as an opportunity of a lifetime. The games are really important, but the five more days we'll get to spend on the field with these guys, you can't put a price tag on it."

The Washington State-bound Apodaca threw seven touchdowns in Silver Creek's 55-37 win against Palisade in the semifinals and has tossed 43 for the season against only eight interceptions. The Raptors also have two 1,000-yard receivers (Ryan Rankin and Greg Reynolds) and a running back, Ian McNabb, who has rushed for 1,168 yards.

In the 2A game, surprising Bayfield (Colo.) will take on perennial contender Florence (Colo.) (11 a.m., Legacy Stadium). Bayfield, the No. 4 seed, knocked off top-seeded Brush 21-19 while No. 2 Florence rolled 52-35 against No. 3 Kent Denver.

Bayfield coach Marshall Hahn, who installed and perfected an Air Force-like triple option over the past five seasons, was a quarterback on Bayfield's lone title team in 1996.

"The emotions are similar as both a coach and player," Hahn said. "You begin each season with plans of winning a state championship whether you are a coach or player, so finding yourself one win away from realizing that goal feels similar. There are more distractions, however, as a coach. I'm sure our coaches shielded us from many of those distractions, and now we will try to do the same."

The '96 squad was more reliant on the pass, as Hahn produced 19 touchdowns through the air that season. The Wolverines (12-0) now rely heavily on top running back Aaron Velasquez, who rushed for 193 yards and scored all three touchdowns against Brush.

Velasquez compiled 1,732 yards for the season while quarterback Colt Walker, mostly recognized as a threat on the ground, has added 1,174. Each of the senior leaders has produced 21 rushing touchdowns.

All three of Bayfield's playoff wins have been decided by six points or less, so the Wolverines will not lack belief if they get in another tight one.

"Obviously, we would like to be comfortably ahead down the stretch, but we have a great group of competitors that will not be overwhelmed by the moment," Hahn said. "We might not always be successful in those type situations, but it will not be due to fear. Our kids have done a great job of controlling the things they can control, and playing hard for each other."

Florence (12-1) has continually forced the three-pronged attack of Cody Nichols, Johnnie Krien and Tyler Faoro down the throats of opponents, as the trio has combined for 51 rushing touchdowns this season. Nichols also has thrown for 1,135 more yards and eight TDs from his quarterback position.

The Mark Buderus-coached Huskies previously won it all in 2005, when they defeated Rifle for the 3A crown.