ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Josh Chance, Pine Creek Football

On Saturday, Pine Creek junior quarterback Josh Chancecq rushed for 154 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to lead the top-seeded Eagles to a 17-7 win over Heritage in the 4A state quarterfinals. Pine Creek is 12-0, but must travel to face No. 5 Greeley West for a 2 p.m. Saturday semifinal.

How big was Saturday's win over Heritage for the team

It was definitely a big one. At the beginning of the year, a lot of people were saying that Heritage was going to be the team to beat, and we knew they were pretty good. So it feels good to have that out of the way. Plus, we played some of the best football we've ever played, so it's good to have that momentum going. The weather didn't even affect us at all.

Do you think it's all just started to really come together for you guys at the end of the season

Yeah, I think it's stuff we've been doing but we're just getting smarter and stuff here at the end. We just played as hard as we possibly could and we've got some tough guys out there. Our offensive line is just big and they're the most hard-nosed guys ever. They'll tell me exactly what they're thinking and I trust them with everything and I think they trust me. I couldn't ask for anything better from them.

Your coach (Todd Miller) has said that one of the most valuable things about you is the way you can manage an offense and manage a clock. Were these hard things for you to learn

I wouldn't say hard, but they just come from being around the game so much. My dad (also Pine Creek's defensive coordinator) put me in football when I was practically old enough to walk, so I think it just comes from being so familiar with the game. But our team, we can hold the ball forever and just eat like 7 or 8 minutes off the clock.

Has Pine Creek run anything but a spread, option-type offense since you've been involved here

No, we've always done that. But it works out really well, and we're good at it. Why change it if it's working

Are you going to be working on passing in the offseason

(laughs) Probably. Yeah, I'm not that great at it right now, but also we just never really have to.

Do you ever play defense

Yeah, I love to play defense. Earlier in the season I got a little hurt and they decided to stop for a while because they didn't want me to get hurt. But I played defense (secondary) on Saturday.

What defensive position do you play

I've played safety before but a lot of corner. I'll play wherever coach tells me to play.

What other positions have you played offensively

Well last year I was a slot back and before I was a running back. I always played quarterback in middle school and stuff, so it was cool to come back and play it this year.

What do you like about being quarterback

I like to be in the position where you can make plays. You can directly help the team with your actions. Hopefully the guys trust me, but I trust them with everything, and I think that's what makes us good right now. I like the pressure.

How did you develop your quick, shifty running style

I think it just kind of came. I don't really think about it much. I just get the ball and try to find a hole.

Your dad obviously is at every game, but does the rest of your family come

Oh yeah. My sister, she's a freshman at Pine Creek, she comes and wears my jersey and all. And my mom comes. My grandma just came from Alabama to see me play, actually. All my family is from Alabama.

Do you follow the Tide

Yeah, they're my favorite college team. I don't really like to watch pro as much, college is a lot more interesting.

What is the reason behind the black jerseys you guys have been wearing

(laughs) Yeah, at the beginning of the season we were telling coach how awesome it would be if we had black jerseys and then he just surprised us with them before our first playoff game. We might not be allowed to wear them anymore because they're not technically school colors I think. And especially this next game because we'll be the away team.

What do you think about the Colorado High School Activities Association rule that can give a lower seeded team home field advantage because they didn't play at home last game

I think it's kind of stupid. I mean, the higher seeded team deserves to play at home, I think. But I think we're going to play good wherever we are. We'll be just as good in Greeley as we would be here.

What do you like to do outside of football and school

I love to play guitar. And I snowboard and longboard and stuff.

What kind of music do you play

I'm in a band actually. I like to play a lot of acoustic music and find stuff that not everyone has heard a million times. I like bands like Slightly Stoopid and State Radio and that kind of stuff. I love Jack Johnson and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.