Varsity football players run out of the Jaguar tunnel with smoke flying at 7 p.m. at Echo Park Stadium Sept. 20 for the Homecoming football game against Grandview High School ending in a 42-17 loss. After halftime performances from Dance Team and Cheer, Man Poms and Marching Band the seniors organized a new chalkthrow in the student section. “I was pretty fired up, running out of the tunnel is always really fun and it was crazy seeing how many people were in the stands to watch us play even if the end result wasn’t what we had hoped for,” Captain and wide receiver Kai Ingrassia ‘26 said. “ It’s never fun to lose a game, especially Homecoming, but if you can learn something from an experience and do better next time then it wasn’t entirely bad, Grandview is a really good football team and their record didn’t reflect that. We learned a lot of things from a top team in the state that I really believe will help us get significantly better throughout the rest of our season,”

media by Quinn Barton

Touchdowns and Triumphs: Football Photo Recap

Let’s run it back with the facts starting Aug. 30

by Quinn Barton and Preston Duman

December 9, 2024

After a summer of training, preseason games and early morning workouts football season began with Former Head Football Coach Kevin Meyer and his team. The Jags the previous season made it to the second round playoffs as well as having a record of 8-4.

At the beginning of this year football was moved to the 5A South Metro league for football and reranked. This meant the team would be playing against some of the same teams but in a new league.

“We had one of the hardest schedules I’ve seen since I’ve been here so we knew it was gonna be a challenge but I’m proud of where we ended with the circumstances,” Captain and Running Back Tyler Meyer ‘25 said.

But as of August, it was time to begin a new season, so players hit the turf and began their season at Echo Park Stadium.

It was game time.

The Jags won the next game and kept Chaparral and Fossil Ridge as a large highlight to the season.

“The biggest highlight of our 2024 season was our first game against Chap, where we absolutely killed them. After the game in the locker room, our coaches had a dance battle with each other. I didn’t know Meyers could dance,” Full Back Jackson Chouinard ‘26 said.

The Jags continually switched up the QB between Brock Martin ‘25, Josh Miller ‘25 and Evan Diebold ‘26.

The next portion of their schedule was a challenge especially during the Homecoming game against Grandview, one of the top teams in the state. The final score was 42-17 L.

A few of the closer games were Douglas County and Castle View.

“The Castle View game was the biggest highlight of our season. That’s when the team really came together as one unit and it was something really special to be a part of,” middle linebacker/running back Mason Mills ‘26 said.

Leading up to a big win against Fruita Monument the Jaguars suffered a hard loss against Mountain Vista that included many penalties and ejections on both sides. (See side bar for more information.)

“I think our team is very young and next year our experience will be unmatched; the best way to build on that experience is for the guys to keep getting stronger this offseason. I am definitely looking forward to beating Mountain Vista and throwing the ball much more next year,” captain and wide receiver Kai Ingrassia ‘26 said.

The Jags ended their season with a game against Chatfield Senior High School (CSHS).

“I think my biggest highlight of the season was a 92 yard touchdown in our last game. Even though we lost to Chatfield in playoffs it was a great way to end my senior season,” captain and wide receiver Tyler Meyer ‘25 said.

“I hope to tell them to work hard and enjoy the season, and be a family with the team, because once it’s over it sucks,” offensive lineman Jake Lenertz ‘25 said.

Overall the team had 761 passing yards, 2577 rushing yards and 797 receiving yards totaling to 3338 yards the entire season. Then ending with a record of 4-7. About 3 days after the season Former Head Coach Kevin Meyer stepped down which you can learn more about here.

“I hope to tell them to work hard and enjoy the season, and be a family with the team, because once it’s over it sucks,” Lenertz ‘25 said.

Jaguars vs. the Golden Eagles

The Jags run onto the field at Halftime Help Stadium Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. after spending the week prior preparing to play the Mountain Vista High School (MVHS) Golden Eagles.

The ball is kicked off and both teams scored a touchdown soon after.

“It was tied seven at the beginning a good game,” Former Head Football Coach Kevin Meyer said.

The quarter ends and the score is now 14-7 Golden Eagles in the lead.

“They go in and score, and one of their players was engaged on a block, at about the five-yard line and went all the way through the back of the endzone, probably 10 yards, which was totally unacceptable. And that’s what started the whole thing,” Meyer said. “One of our players was trying to get the player off of the player who has the personal foul on Vista. Then all of a sudden their bench on their sideline gets on the field, and they tackle one of our players, with four or five Vista players. Then everything went crazy.”

This altercation resulted in ejections of five players from the Jags and two from the Golden Eagles.

“After everything, the officials got together and talked to the Vista Coach, then brought me out and I was upset, I asked what happened. And I was told two of their players were ejected, which means they’re out for the next game. And Canyon kids had five ejected, which the officials told me every player ejected had either a punch or swing. Which you can see how it affects your team,” Meyer said.

According to the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA), if a player is ejected from a game they are not allowed to continue the game and play the next game.

“Then we started trying to get the team ready for kickoff return. I was upset and our players didn’t know because I basically had to replace five starters. From then on I went into the locker room, they were way up at halftime because we had a lot of our JV kids in,” Meyer said.

Entering the third quarter the score was 42-10 Golden Eagles in the lead.

With mostly JV players on the field and five total injuries the game started coming to an end.

The final score was 70-10 with a loss for the Jags.

“It’s unfortunate that a really competitive game for the first quarter, 14 to 7. It was a well played game. I was proud of our kids,” Meyer said, “and it was kinda taken away from them.”

At 8 a.m. Oct. 28 a meeting was held with CHSAA members and Athletic Director Tom Brieske regarding appealed players.

“And right now, we’re just trying to find out whether they can be reinstated for the game coming up that’s submitting an appeal,” Meyer said.

For appealing players, they must review the film and decide whether they were at fault or eligible to play.

At 1:02 p.m. three Jags received an email that they were reinstated.

“This game was a robbery they knew we could win so they had to win any way they could and it’s sad because I miss the next game,” linebacker and running back Mason Mills ‘25 said.

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