LAKEWOOD — On Friday night at Jeffco Stadium, Brock Narva looked like the dual-threat running back that posted 848 yards rushing and 593 yards receiving two years ago.

“It feels great. I’ve had to learn to play with some stuff,” the Chatfield senior said of his injuries that limited him his junior season to play in just six games. “It means everything to me to be out here. This is what I put all my time and effort into. To be able to show everyone what I can do means so much to me.”

Narva rushed for a trio of touchdowns on 24 carries for 175 yards on the ground as Chatfield defeated South Jeffco-rival Dakota Ridge 38-23 in both teams’ season opener.

“We want Brock between the white lines as much as possible,” Chatfield coach Kris Rosholt said. “He is a very, very special player. A generational player. His instincts, cutting ability and vision are things you can’t coach.”

Dakota Ridge had cut it to a 1-score game — 31-23 — with a 1-yard touchdown run from its own special junior running back Landon Kalsbeck with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter. However, Narva carried the load on a key 73-yard scoring drive where he had five carries for 56 yards.

“To see him out on the field was really special not only from a game standpoint, but from a personal standpoint to see him back playing the game he loves,” Rosholt said. “He is really fun to watch.”

Narva said one of his goals this year is to put up 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving, along with not spending as much time with Chatfield athletic trainer Dan Martinez.

“The offensive line kind of put the team on their back and let Brock do his thing,” Rosholt said of the Chargers closing out the win with a 73-yard scoring drive that ended with sophomore quarterback Cash Williams tossing a 11-yard touchdown to sophomore Jaden Zeller with 4:09 remaining in the game to make the final score 38-23.

Chatfield held a 17-10 lead on Dakota Ridge at halftime. Narva had touchdown runs of 27 and 1-yard in the opening half for the Chargers. Senior Andrew Astone kicked a 41-yard field goal to extend Chatfield’s lead before halftime.

Dakota Ridge’s first-half scoring was supplied by a 37-yard field goal by junior Colby Stewart and a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Kellen Behrendsen that gave the Eagles’ a brief 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Chatfield — No. 8 in the current Colorado Preps 5A football rankings — is coming off a roll coaster of a season where the Chargers dropped their opening three games, but went on a 5-game winning streak to qualify for the playoffs. Rosholt had Chatfield one win away from advancing to the 5A state championship game, but rival and eventual state champion Columbine defeated the Chargers 35-16 in the state semifinals back on Nov. 24 last season.

Starting off with its other cross-town rival wasn’t easy.

“It’s always tough going against a rival Week 1. Especially with so much turnover in our program,” said Rosholt, who graduated several key seniors from last year’s team. “Dakota Ridge is always a great program and well coached. They are a class-act program over there and we knew we would get their best shot.”

There are also the usual high expectations for Dakota Ridge, who are No. 8 in the current Colorado Preps 4A poll.

Jeremiah Behrendsen — math teacher and assistant coach at Dakota Ridge since 2004 — takes over the Eagles’ football program with the retirement of longtime head coach Ron Woitalewicz. Dakota Ridge had only one losing season during the 20-year stretch when Woitalewicz was at the helm of the Eagles’ program.

“I think there is always some anxiety in a new role, but we have so many kids with experience coming back and pretty much all of our coaching staff was returning,” Coach Behrendsen said. “I knew we had a tough opponent. It’s Week 1 and a measuring stick.”

The Eagles are back at Jeffco Stadium next Friday night (Sept. 6) to face another Jeffco school. Green Mountain (1-0 record) hosts Dakota Ridge under the lights. The Rams — No. 5 in the 3A Colorado Preps football rankings — got a big 19-13 road win Thursday, Aug. 29, against (3A) No. 2 Windsor.

“In general, I just want us to play good football teams,” Coach Behrendsen said. “Our kids are really excited to play a really tough schedule. They know we need to find some ways to win those tough games.”

The Chargers head to North Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5, next week to face Horizon (0-1 record). The Hawks lost a close game against Fountain-Fort Carson on Thursday, Aug. 29, in their season opener.

Photo by Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools