Championship pedigree still intact for Valor Christian football

Change is in the air for one of Colorado’s premier high school football teams this fall.

Valor Christian has been a contender for the state title in Class 5A over the years, but the team is hungry to get over the hump and get back to the top after falling in the state championship game the last two seasons.

The biggest change for Valor Christian comes in Bret McGatlin, the new man to take over as head coach of the program. He joined the Eagles this spring after guiding Chatfield to the Class 4A state title last year.

“It was difficult to leave a place you call home, but these guys and the crew have been good to me,” McGatlin said at Broncos/CHSAA Fall Sports High School Media Day. “I feel like the last few months this summer we’ve bonded and became close. It feels like home already.”

A new coach will bring change to the program, and McGatlin comes in at an opportune time as his team will replace a large senior class, so the team expects to see many players elevate into higher roles and other newcomers taking the field this fall.

One of the stars expected to lead the offense is a familiar name to last year’s team. Gabe Sawchuk, a running back who saw time in the backfield with his brother, Gavin Sawchuk, is expected to be the primary back for the offense after rushing for 797 yards as a sophomore. While Gavin Sawchuk had great success and was named the Class 5A Player of the Year in 2021, Gabe knows he can have success within the program in an elevated role.

“I’m not too worried about it,” Sawchuk said. “All great players come with a great team. One man cannot do everything. Gavin had great success and is doing great at Oklahoma, but he had a great team behind him, and I have a great team behind me.”

The Eagles will look to replace their quarterback and find some young receivers with Sawchuk. The line of scrimmage will be anchored by Brody Bliek, a two-way player with great size and strength, something McGatlin says will be a luxury for him at Valor Christian.

Even with the coaching change and large senior class gone, the Eagles feel they have great chemistry and are ready to start the season off right.

“One of the biggest difference makers I feel at Valor is we have one of the closest brotherhoods in our football team,” Roman Bradley said. “It was one of the things coach (McGatlin) noticed with us, how tight our players were. I think that really helps us on the field as well.”

The McGatlin era at Valor Christian begins on Aug. 26 with a home game versus Regis Jesuit.