Bears, Eagles ready to defend titles as CHSAA works to restart fall sports

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- There will be a high school football season. CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green tweeted on Saturday: "CHSAA staff will begin constructing safety and implementation guidelines to resume 'ALL' athletics and activities including football beginning this fall."

That is a relief. Especially after the high school hoops season was cancelled in the middle of the playoffs, and the spring season was cancelled altogether. With the football season back on, teams like Pine Creek and Palmer Ridge can begin their quest for another championship.

"I saw. It was good news," says Pine Creek safety Beau Freyler. "I'm super excited because it's one last run with my friends and one last time to ball out with everyone. It was the best news I've heard in a long time."

There's no telling how the season will go. It's possible the season could get suspended or even cancelled if, in fact, there is a second wave of the coronavirus.

"I think that's the worst thing that could happen, because if that does end up happening, they would have to shut it down," said Palmer Ridge QB Luke McAllister. "At that point it's too late. That season is going to be gone. We can't do anything about it"

"We don't want to take anything for granted this year," says Pine Creek safety Colin Chatman. "Especially with it being me and Beau's senior year. We definitely want to take every game for what it is and hopefully we get a full season this year."

But, that's for another day. Palmer Ridge is coming off its third straight state championship, and now a new challenge awaits. The bears will make the jump to class 4A, meaning we have two defending champs in 4A.

"I'm excited about it," says Palmer Ridge receiver Kaden Dudley. "Being able to come up to 4A, we're about to run it up. It's definitely going to be a challenge. Our team has always worked hard so I'm excited to be able to move up into 4A, and get after teams like Pine Creek."

Of course, Pine Creek is the reigning 4A champion. And we know the Eagles don't rebuild; they reload.