The Falcon football team has big cleats to fill this year. Looking to copy the 2007 Falcon football team, which took second place in the state championship, this year’s team wants to do one thing differently: take first.Going into the playoffs with an 8-1 record, the Falcons are filling the cleats well and running teams over. With only one loss to Pueblo Central, the Falcon football team has some key players who have stepped up as leaders, bringing the team together as a unit.Senior Aaron Blevins has 219 carries for 1,557 yards and leads the 3A division in rushing. He is third in the state overall and has 21 touchdowns. Joey Caron has thrown an almost perfect season with 1,140 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Caron is sixth in the 3A division for passing yards. Josh Gustad has 22 receptions for 451 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. “On the offensive side, Joey Caron and Aaron Blevins are having their success because of our offensive line. The boys up front are doing a fabulous job and that is why Joey, Aaron, Paul Rotering, Joe Vela, Ryan Brewer and Josh Gustad are having great years,” said offensive line coach Matt Janes.Janes said that AJ Pinterpe, Garrett Musson, Brennan Nowlin, Nick Willis and Ray Vincent are the “heart and soul” of the offensive unit.The most improved unit from last year is defense, he said. Garrett Gomas, Max Meany, Rotering, Jesse Weaver, DK Keller, Brandon Albright, Ben Cope and Chris Rucker are “causing havoc for opposing offenses,” Janes added. The defensive team is forcing rival offenses to pass the ball. The secondary defense has also “stepped up to the challenge,” Janes said. “Jade Gale, Jared McCorvey, and David Beals are playing superb for our defense in the secondary.”Garrett Gomas and Brandon Albright have five sacks each this year as well.Winning the conference championship was the goal in the beginning of the year. “The seniors on this year’s team were sophomores in 2007 and were not really that big of a part of that team, so this is their team,” he said. They bring experience to the team and can lead them to the playoffs, which begin Nov. 13-14, Janes said. Week 10 of the season is the bye week for the Falcons, giving them two weeks to rest and prepare for first-round opponents in the playoffs.Would they like a chance to play Pueblo Central again – the only team that beat them this year?Yep.”In the minds of our kids, they think they should have beaten them the first time,” Janes said. “We played a really poor second half and blew a 20-7 lead. So, yes, we want them again … we want a state championship and don’t care who we have to beat to get there.”This team is genuinely there for each other and they are a very tight group. The 2007 group was tight as a class but this team is tight as a team. Football teams who are able to work together as a team and drive down the field together as a team win championships.”Sounds like the Falcons are prepared to tackle any team that gets in their way, run their opponents right out of their cleats and bring home the gold.Other tidbits:The Falcon volleyball team is currently sitting at 11-8, heading into districts with a winning record.The Falcon girls’ softball team finished with a record of 11-10.
