Despite large losses to graduation, Grandview remains confident in new season
By Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado
Photo: Gabe Christus/Denver Broncos
For going on a couple of decades, the Grandview football program has been one of the state’s most consistently successful programs.
Tough and talented on both sides of the football year in and year out, the Wolves seem to always factor in some way in how the final few weeks of the season play out as the Class 5A state champion is determined, though the only time the Aurora program hoisted the championship trophy came back in 2007.
The same characteristics remained when Tom Doherty took over as head coach after the retirement of John Schultz and Grandview appears stocked again in 2022 as it seeks a state playoff berth for the 17th time in the last 18 seasons.
“They worked really hard this summer and they just keep battling every day in practice, so there are really no regrets up to this point,” added Doherty, who finished with a 10-3 record and a semifinal appearance (a loss to Valor Christian) in his first season on the sideline.
The Wolves — who missed the postseason for the only time since 2004 during the fall 2020 season when the coronavirus pandemic shrunk the size of the playoff field — will certainly have to reload to get back to the point that has led them to the semifinals in three of the past four seasons (2017, 2018 and 2021).
To do that, they must overcome the losses to graduation that hit hard in several places.
On offense, the team lost all three of its top wide receivers in Evan Johnson, Tristan Burrus and Charlie Dick, who combined for nearly 1,500 of the team’s 1,914 yards through the air a year ago. Besides losing the speed of Johnson and Dick (key members of the school’s back-to-back 5A state championship track team) and the playmaking of Burrus, Grandview will also be without hard-nosed running back Moosah Alsaffar. That’s more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns gone to graduation.
Fortunately, the Wolves have back their signal caller in Szarka, who played beyond his years last season while surrounded by a veteran lineup and threw for more than 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He also rushed for 506 yards and 10 scores.
Szarka will have new targets — though 6-foot-8 senior tight end Simon Kibbee returns — but he will have the same type of physical line that has become a Grandview staple. This unit includes Henning, a University of Washington commitment.
“We had leaders last year that are still helping us and we’re trying to fill their roles from last year,” Szarka said. “During the offseason, we were working on trying to follow their lead, but also helping out the young guys because we once were the young guys. That should help us play together when times get tough.”
On defense, the Wolves will be without University of Wyoming recruit Malique Singleton, playmaker Kahden Rullo and others, but will be strong up front with Robinson, Wa-Kalonji (last season’s sacks leader), Caeleb Renner and Delano Jefferson. Kibbee and Emken combined for nearly 200 tackles last season and will be all over the field, while Leafgreen is a key figure in the defensive backfield.
Special teams suffered some big losses in the return game and steady placekicker Ben Beckman also will need to be replaced.
Grandview’s inherent confidence hasn’t wavered despite the losses.
“I think we have a good defense and a good offense, so it’s about us working together and not just one side,” Kibbee said.
The Wolves won’t lack for competition with a non-league schedule that includes powerhouse Ralston Valley and a Pomona team it defeated in the final seconds last season before the Centennial League, which is rugged as usual. Grandview wraps up the regular season with a monster matchup with three-time defending 5A champion Cherry Creek.
“Every one is tough, so we’re ready for a hard game every single week,” Robinson said.
