Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week: Chris Lake, Eagle Valley
By Christopher Simmons
AURORA – Eagle Valley High School, located on the Western Slope, has stormed out to a 7-0 start, its best opening in more than a decade thanks to a balanced squad featuring a dynamic passing attack and a relentless defense.
For his leadership and the Devils’ impressive success, head coach Chris Lake has been named CHSAA’s Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week.
Throughout the season, a Broncos Coach of the Week will be selected for both tackle football and flag football. Then, at every Broncos home game, during a pregame on-field recognition ceremony, the Denver Broncos will celebrate a group of these Coach of the Week honorees.
Q&A with Eagle Valley Head Coach Chris Lake
Q: Coaching at a school like Eagle Valley comes with unique challenges and rewards. What do you find the most fulfilling about working with these players?
A: The relationships with the kids, that’s what it’s all about. My goal every year is to build strong relationships with our players and help them become better men as they go through our program. That’s the main purpose behind how we coach and teach, helping them grow as people, not just football players. At the end of the day, if they leave our program as better people, that’s the real win.
Q: How would you describe your coaching style, and which experiences or mentors have most influenced the way you lead your team?
A: I’d describe my style as a mix between a disciplinarian and a players’ coach. I try to make personal connections with our players while also holding them accountable: making sure they’re disciplined, doing their jobs, and being good teammates and students both on and off the field. I got my start in Salida as a linebackers coach under my former high school coach, Doug Cogan. He gave me my first opportunity to coach, and I did that for a year before spending several years in the youth ranks after having kids of my own. I helped start a youth football league in Salida and coached through middle school before moving back to the high school level. I just love the game. I wasn’t asked to coach, I just knew I wanted to be a part of it. Now as a head coach, I try to make the game fun but also competitive. It’s a balance, you can’t always be their best friend and still get them to do what’s needed to be successful.
Q: Now in your third year as head coach, what changes or growth in the program have stood out the most to you?
A: When I started, it was my first head coaching job, so there was definitely a big learning curve, not just football-wise, but with everything that comes with leading a program. My first goal was to put a system and identity in place and get the kids to buy in. That buy-in has been the biggest
change. The first year, we barely had 15 players go to team camp at Western State. The next year, it was around 25, and this year we had more than 45. That shows how far we’ve come. We didn’t inherit a playoff team, so rebuilding was a three-year project. Seeing kids who came in as wide-eyed freshmen now leading as seniors, that’s the most rewarding part. The consistency and commitment have made us a much stronger, more competitive team.
Q: What challenges have you faced in building a competitive program?
A: We’re in ski country, so that’s definitely a challenge. We don’t have a huge pool of “football kids,” and we compete for athletes with other sports like soccer and skiing. Being one of the westernmost programs in the state, we take pride in representing this part of Colorado and showing that great football can come from anywhere. That said, our youth numbers are growing, which is huge for us. None of our youth teams have lost a game this season, and that success builds momentum into our high school program. We started the season with around 70 players and still have about 60–65 now, which is a big step forward. Ideally, we’d love to have 75–80 players from freshmen through seniors, and I think we’ll get there soon.
Q: At 7-0, Eagle Valley is enjoying its best start since 2014. What sets this team apart, and how do you plan to carry that momentum into the postseason?
A: This team has truly bought into the team concept. In past years, we had more individualism, players focused on stats or touches. This group doesn’t care who scores, as long as we win. We’ve got a great mix of seniors and juniors who’ve been with me for several years, and they’ve embraced selfless football. We can score in a lot of different ways, six or seven guys are capable of finding the end zone. Defensively, we’ve been outstanding. We haven’t been scored on in the second half all season, which is an incredible stat. Our defensive coordinator, Miki Barros, deserves a lot of credit for the preparation and gameplans he puts together each week. It’s a testament to our focus, no matter who we play, these guys stay locked in from kickoff to the final whistle.
Q: With a mix of veterans and newcomers, who has emerged as your key leaders, and have any players surprised you with their growth or impact this season?
A: We’ve got a strong senior group that’s done a phenomenal job leading. My son, Keaden Lake, has stepped up in key moments, and Nathan Leeper has had huge games — sometimes going for three or four touchdowns. Malachi Barros has played outstanding lately, and James Bivins, our right tackle and defensive end, is a rock on both sides of the ball. Xander Deherrera is another senior leader who sets the tone every week. All our senior starters play both ways, which isn’t ideal but necessary given our roster size, and they’ve handled it incredibly well. We’ve also got underclassmen making big strides, like Colter Blakey, our quarterback. He’s had some ups and downs, but last week he threw for about 250 yards and three touchdowns, and even audibled on the first play of the game to run for 32 yards. Seeing him take that kind of initiative shows how far he’s come.
Q: Your defense has allowed just 10.5 points per game, while your passing attack is averaging 181 yards per game. How do you create and maintain that balance?
A: Our main goal this year was to be more balanced offensively. Last year, we were very pass-heavy because of injuries at running back. This year, we’ve established a much stronger run game, not just through our tailback, but using our fullback, slots, and quarterback. We plan our approach each week based on our opponent’s weaknesses. If a defense gives us space to throw, we’ll air it out. If we can run it, we’ll do that. The best part is that we’re capable of both now. Defensively, there’s not much to complain about. The kids have executed at a really high level.
Q: That double-overtime win over Conifer was dramatic. What did that game reveal about your team’s resilience, and which players stepped up when it mattered the most?
A: That was a phenomenal game, although we didn’t play well early. We were down 24-14 at halftime after giving up a couple of deep touchdowns and a pick-six. But the kids never panicked. In overtime, we missed a field goal on our first possession, and it looked like the game might be over. But our defense came up huge, Keaden got a fingertip on their potential game-winning kick, and it bounced off the upright. We survived by inches. In the second overtime, Malachi Barros came up with an interception in the end zone, and we kicked the game-winning field goal on the next possession. The sideline went crazy. It was such a big moment, not just for the win, but for our confidence moving forward.
Q: Looking ahead, what is your vision for the Eagle Valley football program over the next few years?
A: The goal is to make Eagle Valley a perennial playoff contender, a program that competes for a state championship every year. When I took over, we won three games that first season with a small roster. Last year, we went 5-4. That progress showed we were on the right track. This year, we made sure to play a full 10-game schedule, including a season-opening trip to Hawaii. It wasn’t just about football. For a lot of these kids, it was their first time leaving the state, and it brought our group even closer. That was a huge team-building experience, and I think it paid off. We’ve also rebuilt our youth program from the ground up. Our fifth- and sixth-grade team won the Mountain West Super Bowl last year, and this year, all our youth teams, from third through seventh grade, are undefeated. Combine that with the success at the high school level, and the future looks incredibly bright. We’re building something that can last for the next decade or two, as long as we keep these kids excited about football and invested in the program.
