As the 2A Football State Championships are around the corner, the Fightin’ Reds are excited to be representing their school, district, and community for the state title this Friday.  After a long road of battling a pandemic, quarantine, a shortened season, and injuries, Eaton’s football team has defied the odds and will be heading to Pueblo for the final battle of the season against Lamar.  

The last championship Reds football brought home was 20 years ago (year 2000), and Eaton hasn’t been to a state title game since 2003.  The Reds guaranteed their spot in the championship after their upset victory over Resurrection Christian.  The Reds overcame the Cougars with a 13-27 victory.  Resurrection Christian was ranked first, with Eaton ranked fifth in 2A football.  

Lineman Tanner True (21) led the Reds with two touchdowns.  Following True’s lead is Juan Maravilla (21) and Morgan Tribbett (23) with one touchdown each.  The 95 yard run for Maravilla’s touchdown highlighted his 165 all-purpose yards helping the Reds to victory.

“My advice for other players is to always keep your head up and to never take your foot off the gas,” True said.  Through the difficulties of 2020, True says, “we have all had to go through this time of adversity together.  We have learned to be flexible and roll with the punches knowing we are always in a game no matter the score.”

Along with his lead in touchdowns, True also led the Reds with five tackles against the cougars.  Gage Butler (21), Ryan Dirksen (22), Maravilla, and Tribbett had four tackles each.  Interceptions were made by Butler and Brogan Barr (22).  

Heading into the championship, Ethan Florez leads the Reds in season yardage with 648 all-purpose yards and in tackles with 55 total.  

Head Coach Zac Lemon said, “We have a lot of experienced guys that have, in the last couple of years, been through the defeat in the first round of playoffs, and they know how to handle it and what needs to be done differently each week,”  Lemon says he is most proud of the team in their “resilience, competitiveness, toughness, and the attitude that we really are the best team in the state and we show it week after week.”

The team will be departing from Eaton Friday morning to travel to Colorado State University in Pueblo for their two o’clock debut against the Lamar Savages.  After a long debate, the Colorado Health Department came to the decision that 75 spectators per team will be allowed to watch the  championship game in person.  Championship games will be broadcasted on radio and NFHS for fans as well.  

The road to the State Championships was not easy for the Reds.  Through the ups and downs of the season, Eaton has been able to demonstrate their skills, hard work, teamwork, and dedication.  As the Reds battle Lamar for the 2020 title, they are ready to show what it means to an Eaton Fightin’ Red.