DENVER – Justin Rich compared The Classical Academy’s football title to summitting Mount Everest.

Rich, The Classical Academy’s coach, and the Titans reached Class 2A’s peak in 2024 and captured the school’s first state football championship with a 42-36 victory against Wellington at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.

During CHSAA’s Media Day on Tuesday at Empower Field at Mile High, Rich also acknowledge that he and the Titan football players understand when they open Aug. 29 at Eaton, they’re at the bottom of the mountain with the rest of the pack.

“We’re up there on the summit and we got to enjoy it, but now we have to come down to base camp and start over again,” Rich said. “But nobody can take away that experience from us or the memories we have. The cool thing is we know how good it feels and how much hard work it takes to get there. Hopefully we can get up that trail again.”

TCA has not lost since Nov. 11, 2023, in a playoff game against Delta. The Titans finished the 2024 campaign 13-0 en route to the state title.

But the Titans lost 22 seniors from their championship squad, including quarterback Andrew Brown, who wrapped up his senior year with 1,940 passing yards, 36 total touchdowns – 26 passing and 10 rushing – and just four interceptions.

However, TCA returns 21 seniors and, although the Titans enjoyed their 2024 success , they remain focused on becoming the first 2A team to repeat as champions since 2020-21 when Eaton – coincidentally their first opponent – accomplished the feat.

Zach Mediavilla, one of this season’s 21 seniors , said they’re prepared for the upcoming season but, rather than use an old cliché, the Titans receiver and cornerback said they’re not fast forwarding.

“Coach said we’re always a team worthy of winning a state championship but at the start of the season, that’s not on our minds,” Mediavilla said. “The first step is becoming a team worthy of winning our first scrimmage. From there, it’s (becoming) a team worthy of beating Eaton. From there, it’s a team worthy of winning the league and it keeps building from there.

“Coach always prepares us really well and gives us the mindset that nothing will be given to us every practice and every day. The most important thing we do is practice. … If we trust the process and take care of business, we’ll get where we need to be.”

The Titans hope to arrive at Dutch Clark Stadium for the championship game for a second consecutive season. If not, they’re fine with the results. As long as players pushed their limits on the gridiron, they’re grateful for the journey.

“We just want no doubt left in our minds that we left it all out there,” TCA wide receiver and cornerback Johnny Howe said. “If that’s an undefeated finish in Pueblo, that’s fine. Even if it’s not (a state title) by the end of the year, we want that sense of knowing there’s nothing more we could have done. We prepared the way we always do and we want to finish proud.”