East Football Approaches Playoffs

East’s football team is on the brink of making state playoffs, thanks to their impressive performances and hard fought games throughout the season. The team has shown resilience, defeating difficult teams and bouncing back from setbacks. As the season comes to a close, the Angels will face some of their most challenging opponents, which will decide their fate for playoffs.

This season has been one of East’s most successful yet. With a 5-2 record, the Angels have overcome teams such as Sand Creek, Vista Peak, and Liberty, putting over 40 points on the scoreboard. The Angels have faced two tough losses against highly ranked teams. Columbine, ranked fourth in the state, defeated East 34-9 in an intense battle. Similarly, they faced an early setback in a 17-7 loss against Eaglecrest. 

The Angels secured a homecoming victory for the first time in years, dominating Montbello in a 62-0 shutout. East’s talent was on full display, with nine different players contributing points in the big homecoming game. Deion Giles-Ray and Sean Campbell led the team with two touchdowns each. East’s defensive strength was showcased, with 48 total tackles and 2 sacks. 

Their recent win against Chatfield, who is ranked fifteenth in the state, was a testament to their determination this season. Down 7-14 at halftime, East made a remarkable comeback and finished the game with a 29-26 win, a crucial victory for potentially securing a spot in the playoffs. Sean Campbell was a standout player, rushing fourteen yards for one touchdown and thirty yards for the game winning score. East’s tactical strategies gave them an edge on Chatfield, highlighted by their successful two-point conversion with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter.

This underdog victory will serve as a significant boost to East’s confidence as they approach the end of their season. Gavin Eure, a senior on the team, believes that this win could be just what the Angels needed. “We saw for ourselves that we could beat top ranked teams in Colorado, and it motivates us to work even harder.” Coming back from a halftime deficit and securing a win against a highly ranked opponent shows their resilience and skills to overcome challenges. The win has potential to energize the players and reinforce the belief in their abilities as they push towards a spot in playoffs. 

A crucial element to a successful team is unity. Gavin highlights the strong bond the Angels have this year, seen through their team dinners, bus rides, and game preparation. Gavin states that their preparation is consistent; “We meet almost four hours before every game to go over plays and spend time together. Then, we all take a bus and warm up as a team, which helps build our chemistry going into a game.” As the Angels face challenging obstacles, their unity becomes stronger, helping them support each other and overcome barriers as a team.

Over the past two years, the Angels have been on an upward trajectory after gaining skillful players and a committed coaching staff. Last year East went 9-3, making it to the state playoffs. Unfortunately, after beating Mullen and advancing to the second round, they lost 24-41 to Pine Creek. This year, fans are eager to see what the future holds for the Angels. In order to make the playoffs, the team needs results in their last three games of the season against Arvada West, Ralston Valley, and East’s rival: Denver South.