No. 7 Chatfield prepares to face No. 2 Dakota Ridge

LAKEWOOD — There will be a lot at stake besides bragging rights when the football is kicked off at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at Jeffco Stadium.

South Jeffco rivals — No. 7-ranked Chatfield and No. 2 Dakota Ridge — face off on the gridiron in a game that will determine the Class 4A Metro 1 League champion. 

“It’s big. We are going to prepare our butts off,” Chatfield senior Jake Marschall said. “We aren’t going to over hype it. They (Dakota Ridge) are a great team in their own right. We are a great team in ours. We’ll be ready to go to battle.”

Dakota Ridge (9-0, 4-0 in league) can win the conference title outright with a victory Friday night. If Chatfield (7-2, 3-1) can give the Eagles their first loss of the season the Chargers could capture the league title depending on what happens in the Bear Creek versus Golden game Thursday, Oct. 28, at Trailblazer Stadium.

Eagles’ coach Ron Woitalewicz had guided Dakota Ridge to nine straight league victories dating back to the Fall 2019 season. The Eagles advance to the 4A state semifinals last year before losing to eventual state champion Loveland.

“I know how big that game is. Obviously, it’s a huge rival,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said. “(Woitalewicz) has been doing an amazing job over there. They have been really good over the past four or five years.” 

Chatfield hasn’t had an easy road this season. Injures has bit the Chargers hard, including losing sophomore quarterback Jake Jones and junior standout Mason Lowe for a good part of the year.

Jones made his return to the field last week in a victory over Standley Lake. Lowe came back a few weeks ago and has instantly made his mark scoring four touchdowns over the past two victories.

“We had some major injures throughout the middle part of the season. We had to find different ways to win. It made us kind of unique,” McGatlin said. 

Marschall has stepped into a major role. The senior has a rushed for over 1,200 yards and  16 touchdowns, while also taking snaps from center.

“I’m super proud of my guys. I’m super proud of my team,” Marschall said. “We have gone through some adversity. Everyone has each other’s back. That is what makes us strong.”

The Metro 1 League — made up of six Jeffco teams — has been very strong this season. Dakota Ridge, Chatfield, Bear Creek and Golden have a combined record of 30-6 through the first nine weeks of the season. 

Then there is the expanded 4A playoff format with 24 teams instead of 16 teams qualifying for the state tournament this Fall.

“It’s why I tried to schedule tough. I knew RPI would help you out,” McGatlin said of the new playoff format for 4A this year. “Even if your record is 6-4 if you had a tough schedule usually that will get in you.” 

Chatfield currently sits at No. 5 in the RPI standings, just ahead of No. 6 Dakota Ridge.

“What you are aiming for right now is a bye,” McGatlin said. “Everyone is beat up. Everyone would love to be in the top-8. We are on that bubble right now. A win should give us a top-8. A loss could knock us down to 10 or 11. Class 4A is fun this year.”