Pine Creek players and coaches select a “word of the week” for each football contest.

The word the Eagles selected for their matchup against Fountain-Fort Carson? “Finish.”

Against the Trojans, the Eagles finished with a 49-16 win at Guy R. Barickman Stadium to close out the regular season and now, as playoff seeding looms, Pine Creek hopes to conclude its year with a title.

“I think coach Hedges is going to set the tone in a different way than we’ve had in past years,” Xavier Lukes said. “We have to finish through every game of the playoffs and we’re not going to go out how we did last year. We’re going to be strong.”

David Hedges took over Pine Creek’s football program following the departure of Todd Miller.

In Miller’s final season, the Eagles went 10-2, but 1-1 in the playoffs, and lost 28-3 to Ralston Valley in the quarterfinals.

After their first six games this season, the Eagles were 3-3, but finished the year with four straight wins and outscored their opponents 164-41 during the streak.

“We feel good about how we finished the regular season,” Hedges said. “We ripped off a few wins in a row to end the season. … We had the toughest schedule in the state and went 7-3. I couldn’t be prouder of them. They put it on the line for this coaching staff. They work their butts off in the weight room and on the practice field and we’re having success now.”

The Eagles scored 13 in the first then exploded for another 22 in the second quarter against the Trojans (5-5) to build a 35-0 lead with 5:06 left in the first half.

Lukes, who had a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Eagles, scored on the first drive of the game for Pine Creek and gave the Eagles their 35-0 lead with a 5-yard run on second and goal.

The Eagles running back deflected praise toward his offensive line and blockers, who helped Lukes reach six rushing touchdowns for the regular season.

“We can’t do anything without them,” Lukes said. “From my receivers to my big guys up front. They get in the trenches and get dirty and let me succeed. Up front we have a lot of good communication and that’s because of our quarterback. He’s a smart and experienced player and he encourages me out there.”

Cameron Cooper finished the game with a rushing touchdown as well as a 26-yard toss to Isaak Walker for a score.

Cooper’s pair of scores brought his total to 15 for the season – 11 in the air and four on the ground.

Emmanuel Hill and Levi Stearman each scored on rushing touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter, respectively, for the Eagles.

And although Pine Creek won in convincing fashion, Cooper said his team isn’t satisfied with a 7-3 regular season finish or their dominant victory over the Trojans.

“It feels good but it’s the regular season and this is meant to happen,” Cooper said. “We’re getting ready for playoffs. We didn’t execute how we wanted to and it’s time to get back in the lab. That part is very crucial because in previous years, we tend to die out toward the end of the year. Staying strong during this time of the year is important especially to all the seniors.”

The Eagles last won the state title in 2019 with a 34-3 victory over Broomfield in the 4A title game as the No. 1 seed.

As of Friday night, the Eagles are 10th in 5A and CHSAA is set to begin the seeding process for the postseason Sunday.

“We have a couple of goals in mind and one of those is state,” Cooper said. “If we want to accomplish that, we have to take it week by week, stay healthy and stay ready to go.”