Thursday football recap: Fossil Ridge dominates Rocky, Wellington and Windsor win big

Posted by Admin October 10, 2024 Football

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It was another Thursday edition of Friday Night Live and what a busy one it was for Fort Collins-area football.

Fossil Ridge rolled Rocky Mountain in a city rivalry. Meanwhile, Windsor and Wellington pitched shutouts. So did Poudre, as the Impalas got their first win of the season.

Elsewhere, Timnath fell to one of 3A’s top teams and Fort Collins dropped an absolute shootout on the road to an explosive Fairview team.

This is the Coloradoan’s weekly high school football live updates blog, where we share all the latest scores, highlights, updates, and more for Fort Collins-area football teams.

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Send in all the videos, tweets/posts, scores, Instagram reels, TikToks and more from your favorite team’s games to sports reporter Chris Abshire (X: @ChrisAbshire, email: ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com). We’d love to share them here.

(Note: Some images shared may be from previous weeks’ games)

Here’s how Fossil Ridge’s big win over Rocky Mountain played out, plus all the other action from Week 7 in Fort Collins-area football:

What a wild ride this game was. There were only two punts in the entire game (zero from Fairview) and the teams combined to score 18 touchdowns in a classic shootout.

Jack McKeon had four rushing touchdowns for the Lambkins, while quarterback Justin Cranford added three passing scores, two to Levi Hermsen. Fairview QB Ki Ellison threw for five scores and star athlete Jordan Rechel added four rushing TDs (one receiving) and an interception for the 7-0 Knights.

Fort Collins (3-4, 0-1 league) will be back in town next Friday to take on Rocky Mountain at French Field.

— Chris Abshire

The Sabercats are really rolling now, scoring a third straight win with a blowout win over their city rivals.

Nick Kubat threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, Marcus Mozer added an interception plus a rushing TD, and Teagen Slattery had a huge pick-six interception scoring return.

Fossil Ridge (4-3, 2-0 league) hosts Prairie View next week and should have a chance to further solidify their playoff position in Class 5A. The Lobos (3-4, 0-2 league) will play Fort Collins next Friday at French Field.

— Chris Abshire

The Lambkins are allowing a ton of points, but they’ve lit up the scoreboard themselves.

Jack McKeon has scored two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns, giving him a whopping five total TDs tonight.

Fairview 62, Fort Collins 49; late 4th quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Impalas have their first win of the season. Poudre went on the road to Greeley West and dominated from the start in a 28-0 win behind four rushing TDs. No further stats were immediately available.

Poudre (1-6, 1-1 league) is back at French Field next week, hosting a solid Frederick squad.

— Chris Abshire

The Eagles’ defense really came to play Thursday night. Huston Willhit sealed it with an interception in the final two minutes and nearly returned it for a pick-six TD. Overall, Wellington’s D forced that turnover and five more on downs, squeezing any Bulldogs’ momentum.

Cash Altschwager had two long TD runs in the first half and Seth Long added a field goal. Big win for the Eagles, who are still without standout QB Tanner Gray.

Wellington (4-2, 1-1 league) will be at Eaton next week in a key league showdown.

— Chris Abshire

Fossil Ridge put the finishing touches on this rivalry blowout win, as Marcus Mozer took an option pitch eight yards for a touchdown, his first score tonight.

Fossil Ridge 40, Rocky Mountain 7; mid 4th quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Knights are maintaining a 14-point advantage after the teams traded scores out of halftime. The Lambkins scored on a short Jack McKeon touchdown run before Fairview’s Ki Ellison threw his fourth TD pass of the night on a 41-yard strike to Toray Davis.

After that sequence, Justin Cranford threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Levi Hermsen before Fairview immediately answered with a three-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by Ellison’s fifth TD pass.

Fairview 49, Fort Collins 35; mid 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Lobos looked poised to get back in this game, driving deep into Fossil territory again with a chance to get with two scores.

But SaberCats’ cornerback Teagen Slattery picked off an underthrown pass from Payton Matkin before taking it back for a 90-yard pick-six touchdown return. Huge play that put this game firmly back in Fossil’s control.

Fossil Ridge 33, Rocky Mountain 7; late 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Cubs got a late score on a Davis Payne rushing touchdown but it was in running-clock time after the Mavericks dominated.

Colorado’s No. 2 team in Class 3A looked the part, cruising behind a balanced offense and stingy defense to shut Timnath’s offense down.

The Cubs (2-4, 0-1 league) will get Niwot at home next week.

— Chris Abshire

This was a drubbing right from the start. Windsor had a running clock going in the second quarter behind four rushing TDs (two each for Tripp Thomas and Adrian Czyszczon), plus three defensive scores.

The Wizards (5-1, 1-0 league) are rolling right now, winning five straight games since an opening loss to Green Mountain. They’ll return home to face Northridge next Friday.

— Chris Abshire

The Lobos were reeling and trailing by four scores when quarterback Bradley Mallette went down with an injury.

Backup QB Peyton Matkin filled in, immediately leading a scoring drive that he finished off with a 13-yard touchdown pass up the seams to Riley Tremble.

Fossil Ridge 26, Rocky Mountain 7; mid 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Cubs got their first stop of the game but couldn’t sustain that momentum. Noah Chapala got his third TD run of the game moments later to get a running clock going late in the third quarter.

Mead 41, Timnath 0; late 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats didn’t slow down out of the halftime break.

Luke Garvin took a quick slant from Nick Kubat, bounced off a defender and outran the Lobos down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown catch and run. That was Garvin’s second score tonight and fourth TD this season.

Fossil Ridge 26, Rocky Mountain 0; early 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Impalas have looked like a brand-new team tonight, getting a couple second-half rushing touchdowns to extend their lead at Greeley West.

Poudre 28, Greeley West 0; late 3rd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Knights finally got a couple stops against an explosive Lambkins offense and took advantage on a pair of long TD passes from Ki Ellison. Justin Cranford had a pair of scoring passes and Jack McKeon ran one in.

HALFTIME: Fairview 35, Fort Collins 21

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats have never been threatened in this one, scoring on their first three possessions and not missing much of a beat without injured running back Colton Pawlak.

Nick Kubat has two first-half TD passes and another rushing, while Jake Toshcoff and Luke Garvin hauled in the scoring passes. Rocky has still yet to get inside the Fossil Ridge 40-yard line in five possessions.

— Chris Abshire

For the second time this season, the Wizards have a running clock going by halftime, this time at Niwot. Windsor got the latest scores on defense with two pick-six interception returns plus a fumble return for a TD. Tripp Thomas also has two rushing scores.

Halftime: Windsor 49, Niwot 0

— Chris Abshire

The No. 2 rated team in Class 3A has snuffed out any hope of an upset from the start, taking two Timnath turnovers and running all over the Cubs with four rushing scores and a long TD pass.

Mead 34, Timnath 0; late 2nd quarter

— Chris Abshire

What an impressive first half for the Eagles without QB Tanner Gray. Cash Altschwager has two long scoring runs, the defense has forced two 4th down stops and Seth Long hit a field goal from nearly 40 yards.

Wellington 17, University 0

— Chris Abshire

The Knights are scoring fairly easily on offense when they hold onto the ball, but two early turnovers and some defensive breakdowns have the Lambkins right in this after a short TD pass from Justin Cranford.

However, star receiver Jordan Rechel already has two TDs (one rushing, one receiving) for Fairview.

Fairview 21, Fort Collins 14; mid 2nd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats marched down the field again and Nick Kubat hit Luke Garvin for a 28-yard TD pass on a go route down the sideline. Garvin hopped right onto the pole vault mat after running at full speed to make the grab.

Fossil Ridge 19, Rocky Mountain 0; 5 minutes left 2nd quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Lambkins are on the road at one of the state’s best teams but are playing them tough early, forcing two turnovers and taking advantage with a rushing touchdown.

Fairview 7, Fort Collins 7; late 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Eagles are riding with Cash Altschwager and it looks like a good call. The senior star already has two long TD runs, the latest for 59 yards down the sideline while juking several Bulldog defenders.

Wellington 14, University 0; late 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Wizards have been rolling lately and a bye week didn’t halt their momentum. Windsor is already up three scores after one rushing touchdown each from Tripp Thomas, Teegan Cole and Adrian Czyszczon.

Windsor 21, Niwot 0; late 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Impalas have struggled out of the gate at 0-6 but an off week may have been just what they needed. They’ve jumped all over Greeley West with a pair of rushing TDs in the first quarter.

Poudre 15, Greeley West 0; late 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats’ senior quarterback has become a true dual-threat QB, take a QB draw and following behind his linement for a short TD run, his fifth in three games.

Fossil Ridge 13, Rocky Mountain 0; 1:58 left 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The Eagles are without Tanner Gray, but they still have do-it-all threat Cash Altschwager, who ran it in for a 50-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.

Wellington 7, Mountain View 0; mid 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

Mead is among the state’s best 3A teams and looked like it early, as Noah Chapala took a run up the middle 49 yards for a touchdown.

Mead 6, Timnath 0; early 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats strike first, as Nick Kubat hits Jake Toshcoff on a short pass for an 8-yard touchdown. That’s Kubat’s 11th touchdown in the last 8.5 quarters of play.

Fossil Ridge 6, Rocky Mountain 0; 7:46 left 1st quarter

— Chris Abshire

Fossil has the early momentum after Marcus Mozer picked off a tipped pass from Bradley Mallette on the first third down of the game. SaberCats have the ball at the Rocky 30-yard line to start their first series.

— Chris Abshire

Rocky will receive the ball to begin the game after Fossil deferred to the second half. The Lobos will be on offense first against a stingy SaberCats defense.

— Chris Abshire

Wellington star quarterback Tanner Gray will miss his second consecutive full game with a left leg injury suffered two weeks ago vs. Timnath in the Canvas Classic.

The Eagles will again roll with Eli Lavelle under center as they host University in a key conference game.

— Chris Abshire

The SaberCats will be without star running back Colton Pawlak tonight and beyond after suffering a broken ankle last week at Legacy, coach Chris Tedford told the Coloradoan.

Pawlak will miss “4-6 weeks, according to Tedford. Despite playing in a more pass-heavy offense this season, Pawlak had compiled over 600 total yards and three touchdowns in the first six games.

More: Fossil Ridge football star Colton Pawlak will miss several weeks with ankle injury

— Chris Abshire

This has been as close as it gets, one of four city series that are tied all-time. Each team has won seven times against each other.

Fossil has a chance to establish a new series best with a fourth straight win over the Lobos.

Fort Collins football history: Here are the all-time records for city rivalries

— Chris Abshire

There’s plenty of star power in local football (especially for Fossil Ridge), but who are the rising stars and breakout performers so far this year?

The Lobos have some on a revamped offense, while Fossil has fortified its special teams.

More: 13 emerging Fort Collins-area high school football players at season’s halfway point

— Chris Abshire

It’s a big week with plenty of local matchups as league play keeps ramping up.

THURSDAY, OCT. 10

Fossil Ridge at Rocky Mountain (7 p.m.)
Poudre at Greeley West (7 p.m.)
Fort Collins at Fairview (7 p.m.)
University at Wellington (7 p.m.)
Loveland at Monarch (7 p.m.)
Mead at Timnath (7 p.m.)
Windsor at Niwot (7 p.m.)
Pomona at Roosevelt (7 p.m.)

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

Resurrection Christian at Eaton (7 p.m.)
Thompson Valley at Severance (7 p.m.)
Berthoud at Valley (7 p.m.)
Greeley Central at Northridge (7 p.m.)
Estes Park at Highland (7 p.m.)

See them all: Northern Colorado high school football scores, schedule, standings for the 2024 season

— Chris Abshire

It was a quieter slate in local football last week. Three teams (Poudre, Windsor, Timnath) were off, while only Fort Collins was at home.

The Lambkins rolled to a big-time 51-25 win behind Levi Hermsen’s 336 all-purpose yards (including a highlight-reel kick return) and Jack McKeon’s three touchdown runs.

Fossil Ridge handled Legacy 34-10, while Wellington and Rocky Mountain dropped tough road games.

Friday Night Live recap: Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge football roll to lopsided wins

— Chris Abshire

Tonight’s Rocky vs. Fossil football game will be streamed live (for free) on PSD Athletics’ YouTube page, with Dave Haase and Randy McCoy on the broadcast call. It’s part of a season-long effort to broadcast all home football games at French Field and PSD Stadium this season.

Timnath’s home game against Mead will also be streamed live via PSD Athletics’ YouTube. Wellington’s home game vs. University and Fort Collins’ road game will also stream live on the NFHS Network.

More info: How to watch, stream Fort Collins-area high school games for 2024 season

— Chris Abshire

Windsor is the only Fort Collins-area team in the latest Colorado Preps’ football rankings, leading all Northern Colorado teams.

See where the Wizards stand: Week 7 Colorado high school football rankings

— Chris Abshire