Englewood Herald > Sports
Four former Pirates playing for Titans
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| Former Englewood High School player Jason Lechuga, 8, launches a pass before the oncoming Denver Grizzlies defender arrives. Lechuga, the starting quarterback for the Denver Titans, is one of four former Pirates playing for the semipro team. He completed this pass as his team went on to win, 22-9 in what was considered a battle for the division title. Photo by Tom Munds |
By Tom Munds
The June 27 Colorado Football Conference game at Englewood High School Stadium was a little like a homecoming for four Denver Titans players — Jason Lechuga, Devavan Henderson, Pat Lowder and Jason Woodward — and Titans coach Gary Cozacek.
They all are former Englewood Pirates.
Lechuga, the Titan’s starting quarterback, said it was fun to be back at Englewood stadium even though it felt a little weird to be on the visitor’s side of the field.
“Playing on this field brings back a lot of great memories of Coach (Randy) Penn, the staff and all my teammates that played here on the field,” he said before the game. “It is great to be back here in what I feel is my home stadium. Now, we need to go out and get a win.”
Henderson agreed.
“It’s cool to be playing football again and it’s really cool to be back here at Englewood stadium,” the reserve defensive back said. “Pat (Lowder) and I played on the same team since we were in fourth grade so being on the Titans is special. Plus, to get to be here where we played high school football is great. It’s like a homecoming for us.”
The former Pirates, like all the players on both sides, are members of the 10-team Colorado Football Conference. The conference is adult football. The playing experience varies. Some players have been members of Arena Football teams and others have played college football. But all have one thing in common: They love the game.
For example, Woodward said he joined the team because he likes to kick footballs and he heard the Titans were looking for a kicker.
“The team and my teammates are great. I am really having fun,” Woodward said. “I kicked in high school and this league is a step up with bigger, faster players. I think that’s what makes it more fun.”
Lechuga has been with the Titans for four years and said this is the best team he’s quarterbacked.
“Next to my family and my faith in the Lord, football is the most important thing in my life,” he said. “I love the sport and it gets harder each year to get out here and play with these young guys. At 34, the bruises take longer to heal but I still love to compete.”
He said he may stay with the program another year but, if the Titans win the title this season, he may hang up his cleats and go out as quarterback of a championship team.
The league dates back to 1987 and the number of teams has fluctuated over the years from six to 13.
It is called an adult semi-professional league but that can be misleading because no player draws a salary.
To be a part of the league, an athlete applies to join one of the league teams, listing playing experience and , if possible, provide game tapes.
If accepted, he pays a $180 registration fee plus he must buy all his own equipment. While most of the teams are in the Denver metro area, some are in Colorado Springs and generally, the players pay their own travel expenses.
This year there are 10 teams divided into two divisions. The June 27 game was considered a battle for the division title as both the Titans and the Denver Grizzlies were undefeated.
The teams played good caliber football. Both squads have big, strong guys in the trenches so the battles were fierce. Likewise, both teams had an array of good receivers as targets for the quarterbacks.
At halftime, the Titans held a 16-9 advantage. The see-saw battle continued into the final period and the Grizzlies were driving late in the period. However, with 4:05 left in the game, the Grizzlies faced a fourth down and four yards to go situation. The Titans were equal to the task as defenders crashed through the line, dumped the quarterback and recovered a fumble.
Lechuga completed a pair of passes then Afton Harris, a Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, used his speed and agility to wend his way past defenders into the end zone to ice the game with 2:51 left on the clock in a 22-9 victory.
They all are former Englewood Pirates.
Lechuga, the Titan’s starting quarterback, said it was fun to be back at Englewood stadium even though it felt a little weird to be on the visitor’s side of the field.
“Playing on this field brings back a lot of great memories of Coach (Randy) Penn, the staff and all my teammates that played here on the field,” he said before the game. “It is great to be back here in what I feel is my home stadium. Now, we need to go out and get a win.”
Henderson agreed.
“It’s cool to be playing football again and it’s really cool to be back here at Englewood stadium,” the reserve defensive back said. “Pat (Lowder) and I played on the same team since we were in fourth grade so being on the Titans is special. Plus, to get to be here where we played high school football is great. It’s like a homecoming for us.”
The former Pirates, like all the players on both sides, are members of the 10-team Colorado Football Conference. The conference is adult football. The playing experience varies. Some players have been members of Arena Football teams and others have played college football. But all have one thing in common: They love the game.
For example, Woodward said he joined the team because he likes to kick footballs and he heard the Titans were looking for a kicker.
“The team and my teammates are great. I am really having fun,” Woodward said. “I kicked in high school and this league is a step up with bigger, faster players. I think that’s what makes it more fun.”
Lechuga has been with the Titans for four years and said this is the best team he’s quarterbacked.
“Next to my family and my faith in the Lord, football is the most important thing in my life,” he said. “I love the sport and it gets harder each year to get out here and play with these young guys. At 34, the bruises take longer to heal but I still love to compete.”
He said he may stay with the program another year but, if the Titans win the title this season, he may hang up his cleats and go out as quarterback of a championship team.
The league dates back to 1987 and the number of teams has fluctuated over the years from six to 13.
It is called an adult semi-professional league but that can be misleading because no player draws a salary.
To be a part of the league, an athlete applies to join one of the league teams, listing playing experience and , if possible, provide game tapes.
If accepted, he pays a $180 registration fee plus he must buy all his own equipment. While most of the teams are in the Denver metro area, some are in Colorado Springs and generally, the players pay their own travel expenses.
This year there are 10 teams divided into two divisions. The June 27 game was considered a battle for the division title as both the Titans and the Denver Grizzlies were undefeated.
The teams played good caliber football. Both squads have big, strong guys in the trenches so the battles were fierce. Likewise, both teams had an array of good receivers as targets for the quarterbacks.
At halftime, the Titans held a 16-9 advantage. The see-saw battle continued into the final period and the Grizzlies were driving late in the period. However, with 4:05 left in the game, the Grizzlies faced a fourth down and four yards to go situation. The Titans were equal to the task as defenders crashed through the line, dumped the quarterback and recovered a fumble.
Lechuga completed a pair of passes then Afton Harris, a Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, used his speed and agility to wend his way past defenders into the end zone to ice the game with 2:51 left on the clock in a 22-9 victory.
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