Trojans to play for seventh state title today

By Gary Baines, For the Ledger

The Longmont football team has pulled off three upsets in the playoffs to advance to today`s 4A state championship game, and the Trojans see no reason why they should stop the trend now.

LHS (11-2) will try to make it 4-for-4 and hoist the title trophy when it challenges Heritage (12-1) in the 4A final today at 11 a.m. at Invesco Field in Denver.

Longmont High School football Coach Doug Johnson. Cliff Grassmick/For the Ledger

“We`re blessed, and I`m so grateful for this opportunity, but I also believe that we belong,” coach Doug Johnson said earlier this week after staying up until 4 a.m. to prepare Longmont for its first state championship game in football since 1991.

The Trojans were seeded 11th in the 16-team 4A playoffs, but that didn`t stop them from beating No. 6 Liberty, previously undefeated and No. 3 Pine Creek, and defending state champion and No. 7 Wheat Ridge. Now, it`s fifth-seeded Heritage up next.

Teams seeded in the double digits rarely have made it to state championship football games in Colorado in recent years. In fact, out of the state`s seven football classifications, Longmont is the only team seeded 10th or higher that has advanced to the title contest in either of the last two seasons.

The last 4A team seeded in the double digits to make it to the state championship contest was No. 15 Loveland in 2006, when Wheat Ridge claimed the title.

The Trojans hope they can take their Cinderella story a step further than Loveland did three years ago.

To win a state title “would mean everything, not only for the school but the whole community,” senior safety Dillon Parker said. “The school has a very rich tradition in football, and it means a lot to me.”

Counting a co-championship in 1940 when LHS tied Grand Junction for the title, Longmont has claimed six state football crowns. The others have come in bunches — 1954 and `55, and 1989, `90 and `91. Longmont`s football tradition dates back to the first championship game in the state, in 1921, when LHS lost to Colorado Springs.

Gordon Cramer, who coached the Trojans to their last three state football titles, still serves as an assistant coach for the team, though he`s indicated that this likely will be his final year on the sidelines.

“It means a bunch to be part of the tradition,” said Johnson, who won a state title as a player at Lyons High School in 1987. “I’ve been blessed to work with coach Cramer for 15 years (initially as an assistant on Cramer’s staff). And I knew Gil Everly (the coach during Longmont’s earlier heyday). And my dad (John) has coached here (as an assistant before taking over at Lyons). I know the tradition and I’ve always felt a part of that.”

Not many large schools in the state (current enrollment of 1,100 or more) can boast more state football titles than Longmont.

According to the Colorado High School Activities Association, that list is limited to Fort Collins (12, though none since 1953), Cherry Creek (8), Lakewood (7) and Wheat Ridge (7).

“There’s a little bit of trying to keep the tradition alive, but I also think this is a new day and age and we’re going to try to come out and play our of style of Longmont Trojan football,” said Longmont senior quarterback Jake Johnson. “Hopefully, that gives us another great win.”

But first Longmont has to overcome a Heritage team which has won its last dozen games. The Eagles’ only loss this season came in the opener against Columbine, annually one of the top teams in Class 5A. Since that first week, the Eagles have scored fewer than 35 points in a game just once. Heritage is scheduled to return to Class 5A next year.

But Longmont has been formidable in its own right, averaging 38 points per contest during its current five-game win streak. And now there’s just one hurdle left to overcome for this overachieving Trojans team.

“This is an awesome opportunity, and it’s a reflection of a group of kids that are the best,” Doug Johnson said. “In Saturday’s game they’re going to be keeping score, and we want (a win) very badly.”