AURORA | The Eaglecrest football team has long relied on its strength in the trenches during the season.
For quite some time, the Raptors have fielded one of the Aurora area’s most physical groups on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, and the early returns make it appear likely that will again be the case for the upcoming 2024 season.
Eaglecrest flexed its considerable muscle again July 10 on its way to a third consecutive victory at the annual Hog Wars strength and teamwork competition hosted by Rangeview High School. The Raptors — who have a new head coach this season in Jesse German, who was at Green Mountain previously — racked up 48 points from seven events to finish easily atop a field of five teams.
The winning team was comprised of holdovers from last season’s victory in seniors T’Mario Walters and Branden Replogle and junior Parker Hocker along with senior Jack Waugh and juniors Noah Fulgham, Javon Jones and program newcomer AJ Sosef.
Pomona, the only non-Aurora area team that was invited, edged the Vista PEAK Prep team of Cody Morris, Ethan Hay, Jeremiah Bustamante, Jason Harvell, Matt Morales, Kahlel Willis and Dominic Linderman by two points for second place (33 to 31). Like Eaglecrest, the Bison are also under new leadership this season with Mike Campbell, who came over from Englewood in the offseason.
Coach Chris Dixon’s host Rangeview team accrued 21 points to finish fourth and Smoky Hill’s 19 points put it fifth. Different from years in the past, each program had just one team instead of multiple groups.
This season, the event consisted of competition in an obstacle course, log press, farmer’s carry, sled push, monster truck tire flip relay, tug-of-war and firetruck push.
Eaglecrest is the only multiple-time champion in the history of the Hog Wars event — which began back in 2005 under longtime Rangeview coach Dave Gonzales — as the host Raiders own 11 titles. Gateway (2011), Overland (2012), Cherokee Trail (2013) and Vista PEAK (2019) also have won the event.
COUGARS FLEX AT COLUMBINE
Cherokee Trail did not participate in Hog Wars this year, but coach Justin Jajczyk’s team did work elsewhere.
On July 12, the Cougars headed to Columbine High School — home of the defending Class 6A state champions — with two groups and did well with both despite sweltering conditions in triple-digit temperatures.
Cherokee Trail’s younger mix of mostly juniors and sophomores earned the championship of the 10-team competition, while the older team — which was junior-heavy — won the relay race and placed in the top five of most events on their way to fifth place. The Cougars were in position to place as high as third but had to push a pickup truck full of large-sized Arvada West lineup that ended up posing some difficulty.
“It was a really good day overall for our guys,” Jajcyzk said. “The big guys are where games are won and lost, so that’s big.”
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2024 HOG WARS FINAL STANDINGS
Team scores: 1. Eaglecrest 48 points; 2. Pomona 33; 3. Vista PEAK Prep 32; 4. Rangeview 21; 5. Smoky Hill 19
