Author: Mike Klis
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Where were you 10 years ago almost to the day when Peyton Manning came off the bench and rallied the Broncos past the Chargers to secure the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed?
Broncos’ rookie Sai’vion Jones was 12 years old, halfway through seventh grade. Tight end Marcedes Lewis was halfway through his NFL career as he was finishing up his 10th NFL season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bennett Powers was still trying to get over a crushing defeat in the Kansas Class 5A high school state wrestling 285-pound (heavyweight) heavyweight championship match.
Now known as Ben, Powers is in his seventh NFL season, sixth as a starter, three as the Broncos’ No. 1 left guard. Did wrestling translate to his profession as a blocker?
“Yes, it did. It translated with the hand fighting, being a heavyweight,’’ Powers said this week in an interview with 9NEWS for Broncos’ Game Day Live (to be telecast at 9 a.m. Sunday). “I only wrestled starting with my junior year and like you said I was a state runner-up my senior year. Should’ve won. One of my biggest sports regrets in my life ever. But, any way …
Wait a minute. What was the score?
“It went into overtime so I probably lost by two,’’ Powers said. “The guy that beat me I’ll never forget his name. …
Any way, wrestling helps with that we play such a man versus man sport, feeling the body weight and the shifting of muscles and how they want to move and how they want to operate – I’ve learned so much from wrestling. Still. Even though I only did it two years and it was 10 years ago, it still helps.”
Wait a second minute. What was his name? The guy you wrestled in that state championship?
“Sergio Borjas,’’ Powers said.
He then spelled the last name. Correctly, too.
“That’s funny,’’ Borjas said when told Saturday night of Powers’ recollection.
Borjas from Liberal High School was 25-2 coming off a 2-1 decision in the semifinal round as he entered his state-final match with Powers. A two-way defensive and offensive lineman for Kapaun Mr. Carmel in Wichita, Powers was 38-3 as a 285-pound wrestler with pins of all three of his state opponents entering his match with Borjas.
9NEWS found Borjas. He is now teaching business and coaching two sports – boys’ wrestling and girls tennis – at his high school alma mater, Liberal.
As a wrestling coach, he knew precisely the score was 5-3 in his win against Powers.
“It was 3-3 when we went into overtime and with the old rule the takedown was 2 points,’’ Borjas said.
It must be a source of pride, knowing you beat a starting NFL guard in the high school wrestling state championship.
“In a way but I’ve always tried to stay humble,’’ Borjas said. “This past season, my wife and I try to go to one Broncos game a year. She said, “Hey, why don’t you try to get his attention.” And I told her, ‘Well, he’s a professional. I’m sure he forgot all about me. That was so long ago.’
“This past year, he was running by us and I called him by his real name. Hey, Bennett. And he gave me a look like, why does he know my real name?
“The only time I brag about it is if my kids (student-athletes) ever want to give me crap about, ‘Where you ever an athlete?’ and stuff like that.”
Borjas was wrestling for Barton (Kan.) Community College the following fall when he suffered a major back injury that required surgery. His wrestling days were over but he wound up getting his degree from Fort Hays State University.
Powers went to an in-state junior college, too, playing football for Butler Community College for a semester on his way to playing three years for the Oklahoma Sooners and becoming a fourth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens.
The grit and dedication he had as a successful high school wrestler was still with him this year as he came back from a torn biceps injury suffered in the Broncos’ fifth game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Almost always, torn biceps means a player’s season is finished. Powers, though, made it back after missing just 9 games over 10 weeks.
“We get in the car, I’m with Dr. Karim Meijer,’’ Powers said, referring to the Broncos’ head team physician. “We’re in Philadelphia, we’re driving to the airport to get on a plane to come back here (to Denver). That was Sunday for surgery Monday.
He goes, ‘’We’re saving your season. It’s a 10-to-12 week thing and we’re going to be back.’ So from the get-go we knew immediately that the goal was to get back.”
He believed his doctor’s encouraging words?
“Yes I did. You’ve got to,’’ Powers said. “The doc says I’ve got this surgery technique and we’re going to roll with it. And I said, ‘Heck yeah, let’s do it.’
“It was a lot of rehab, training room, mental prep and work to get here. We’re still grinding.”
As he watched the Broncos play 9 games without him, Powers was ably replaced by Alex Palczewski. What was Powers’ impression of the Broncos’ offense through the bulk of the season?
“For eight weeks I’ve been sitting at home as a bystander and what impressed me about this offense was the resiliency to not care what the score is and just play your heart out until the clock hits 0:00,’’ he said. “However many comebacks we’ve had this season, it’s been impressive.”
It’s been 12 comeback wins, an NFL record. That resiliency and never-say-die spirit is epitomized by the quarterback, Bo Nix.
“His ability to control the huddle and to lead while making plays is unbelievable,’’ Powers said. “He’s the perfect guy for the Denver Broncos. I’m so happy he’s here. His ability to never quit, never give up, you can tell on tape, turn on the TV, watch the guy play and you see that. He plays inspiring football.”
Ten years after the Broncos came from behind to beat the Chargers and finish with the No. 1 playoff seed that was vital to going on to win Super Bowl 50, they are in the same position again. Sunday, the Broncos must beat the Chargers, again at Mile High, to secure the No. 1 playoff seed.
Borjas will be watching. He has been a lifelong fan Broncos’ fan and yes, he has followed Powers through his football journey that took him to Oklahoma, Baltimore and now Denver.
I’ve actually wanted to reach out to him, just tell him great job,’’ Borjas said. “But like I said, I didn’t think he remembers me at all so it was surprising when you told me he remembered my name. To me it’s really cool that a Kansas kid is doing so well. I know he was with the Ravens and then when he went to the Broncos I was so hyped because I knew I would be able to see him at games. It’s super cool.”
