Plenty of change for Chatfield football after title run

DENVER — The only constant in life is change.

That is also true when it comes to prep football. Even after a Class 4A state championship run by Chatfield less than nine months ago, the Chargers are going through a number of changes.

Sure there was the graduation of nearly two dozen seniors, including Jake Marschall who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season and scored 28 touchdowns. That just touches the surface of what is different as the year begins for Chatfield.

Longtime coach Bret McGatlin left last spring to take the head coaching job at Valor Christian. Chatfield moved quickly to hire Legend defensive coordinator Kris Rosholt.

“The whole transition from being a defensive coordinator to a head coach, but because of these players it’s been a seamless transition. They’ve been awesome,” Rosholt said. “Following Coach McGatlin and a 4A state title I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but these players have been extremely coachable. They have been receptive to the coaching change and the coaching style difference.”

Rosholt — former All-American and 3-time NCAA Division III national champion at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — was key in Legend’s back-to-back 5A state semifinal appearances in 2020 and 2021.

“Kris is really dear to us. He was essential to our rise,” Legend coach Monte Thelen said during the CHSAA Media Day on Aug. 15 at Empower Field at Mile High. “He is very deserving of the opportunity that he has. We are huge supporters of Chatfield football. We know he will do very well.”

Rosholt was able to keep a handful of assistant coaches that were on McGatlin’s staff during the title run last season.

“Chatfield really has that community feel,” Rosholt said. “We are a family. It doesn’t matter what sport, theater, band or orchestra we are all in this together. I really wanted to be apart of that.”

Chatfield knew in late May that one of its high-powered scoring threats wouldn’t be back. Mason Lowe announced in that he would be heading to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season. Lowe had over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns last season despite missing four games because of injury.

“He (Lowe) got a very unique opportunity. Not many individual get the chance to play at IMG Academy,” Rosholt said. “Once that opportunity came that was something him and his family felt was best for them. I wish him the best of luck. I hope he does great things.”

Sophomore Brock Narva will step into a bigger role with the loss of Lowe. As a freshman, Navra averaged nearly 10 yards per carry.

“We definitely have a ton of players and multiple athletes,” Narva said. “I feel pretty good about it.”

Juniors Jake Jones and Drew Rohlman are two players that have already made a huge mark for the Chargers’ football program. The 32-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds to play in the 4A title game against Erie last season at Mile High gave Chatfield the dramatic 41-34 victory.

“Obviously, being back here it gives me goosebumps every time,” Rohlman said during the press conference at Mile High on Aug. 15. “It was an experience for sure, one of the crazies moments of my life. Jake (Jones) put that ball right where I could get it. It was a real cool moment for us.”

Jones was 45-for-85 passing for 767 yards and seven touchdowns last year when he got some reps behind center as Chatfield’s passing quarterback. The plan is to have Jones throw the ball a lot more this year in the new spread offense that Chatfield will run.

“It feels a lot better,” Jones said of having the quarterback reins this season. “I know I have a great team behind me and will do what I can to support them.”

The last big change is Chatfield moving up to the 5A classification. The Chargers have a tough non-league schedule that feature facing three-time defending 5A state champion Cherry Creek on Sept. 9.

“This big difference between 5A and the other classifications is size and then depth,” Rosholt said. “There is talent across all divisions, but at 5A there is a lot more depth and size. At Chatfield we’ll continue to develop our numbers. Size isn’t something you can really create. It is all about putting our kids in the position to succeed. I feel like we are doing that with the scheme of our offense and defense.”

Chatfield will compete in the tough 5A Jeffco League with the likes of Arvada West, Columbine and Ralston Valley.

“We are ready to attack 5A and see what we can do,” Rosholt said.