Football: Erie looking to avoid 'outside stuff' ahead of title game against Palmer Ridge

Nov. 30—Depending on how you look at it, the leadup to the state football championships brings with it more exposure for schools and its athletes — and yes, the potential for more distractions, too.

Erie coach Jeff Giger said this week he'd stress to his team the importance of staying dialed in ahead of Saturday's Class 4A title game between the second-seeded Tigers and No. 1 Palmer Ridge at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins.

In the moments after its 25-22 semifinals win over No. 3 Montrose — a heated game that ended on a bizarre note when the Red Hawks left the field without shaking hands — Giger said he thought some of the noise his team had been so keen at blocking out this fall may have finally gotten in. And because of it, he said he wasn't sure if his team was at its best.

"I just want them to play football and not worry about all the outside stuff," said Giger, who has the Tigers playing in the 4A finals for a second time in his three years at the helm. "Sometimes, and I know I do, I feel like we get caught up in the wins and losses, and in the grand scheme of things we play a game. They should be out there playing, competing and having fun because they get to play a game."

Distractions are something Erie's star quarterback Blake Barnett has talked openly about this season — mainly concerning his individual pursuit toward the state's career 11-man touchdown record.

When asked publicly about the TD chase coming into the season, Barnett was forthright in his appreciation of the record but was as quick to shift the spotlight back on his team. During that exchange, he echoed the advice he heard on a visit to the University of Georgia with coach Kirby Smart, who told the recruits to focus on what really matters when it comes to football. "Keeping the main thing the main thing," he paraphrased.

It wasn't until Barnett surpassed NFL all-pro running back Christian McCaffrey's scoring mark on Oct. 20 against Longmont that he allowed himself to fully soak in the personal accolade. Even then, he could be heard telling his teammates that the record wasn't a reflection of him, but the team around him.

Now in his last chance to win a state title before he heads to Kansas State, the great improviser on the field remained meticulous in his approach with what he put on the record. After the Montrose win, he didn't want to openly comment on what it'll take to beat Palmer Ridge. Only when asked if he felt some relief with the finals berth, especially coming after last year's semifinals loss to eventual-champ Broomfield when he fumbled on the goal line in the final seconds, he remarked, "Job's not finished," mirroring the famous line from late-NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.

The matchup with Palmer Ridge may speak for itself, anyway.

Neither Erie nor the Bears have lost in Colorado this season. They've hammered each of their opponents by multiple scores, with the exception being Palmer Ridge's one-point win over Montrose in August and the Tigers' three-point win over the Red Hawks last weekend.

The stars on the offensive side of the ball will be the headliners.

Alongside Barnett for Erie, there's running back Gavin Lusk and a deep receiving corps that includes Josh Levine, Alex Sweeney, Donovan O'Brien, Kaveh Meredith and a big, talented tight end in Mason Cowgill.

For Palmer Ridge, QB Derek Hester is made up of a lot of the same stuff as Barnett with his dual-threat abilities and confident swagger. James "Jimmer" Weir, meanwhile, is among the state's best receivers, tallying 45 catches for 886 yards and 17 TDs this season.

Though, it may very well come down to the No. 1 and 2-ranked defenses in the class. The Tigers have allowed 12 points per game to in-state teams this season and 9.5 per game in the postseason. The Bears have given up less than 9 per game, shutting out four of their 13 opponents.

"I'm honestly just staying off social media for the most part," defensive lineman Jackson Cowgill, a Washington State commit, said of his preparation. "I'm really excited, but I think if I just focus on these next few days of practice I will have my most success and be ready when game time comes around."

Game start is 11 a.m. with gates opening at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online.

The game will be televised on Altitude Sports and livestreamed by the National Federation of State High School Associations.