Football: Behind big night from Jeremy Hollingsworth, Cougars cruise to 34-14 victory over Adams City

The Niwot Cougars football team kicked-off their 2016 campaign on Thursday night with a 34-14 victory over the Adams City Eagles at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont. It was the Cougar's first season opening win since 2013.

It was a bittersweet night for the Cougars, who lost teammate David Louwers in a plane crash last June. Before the game, Head Coach Dylan Hollingsworth led the crowd in a moment of silence to honor his “passion for life and his love of football.” Members of the Louwers family served as honorary captains for the Cougars during the coin toss.

Niwot opened the game on offense, but struggled to generate any momentum. In fact, both teams started slowly, trading scoreless series for most of the first quarter. As the quarter ended, Niwot was finally able to get on the scoreboard when sophomore running back Jeremy Hollingsworth ran it in from three yards out, and an extra point gave Niwot a 7-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived, however. A fumble by Hollingsworth during Niwot’s next offensive series gave the Adams City possession on Niwot’s 26-yard line. The Eagles’ quickly capitalized, when on the next play senior quarterback Marquis Perez connected with sophomore receiver Jahvell Johnson for a 26-yard touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion, the Eagles led 8-7.

A lightning delay with 4:05 remaining in the half suspended play for thirty minutes. When the game resumed, Adams City’s Perez connected with Johnson again, this time for a 66 yard touchdown, giving the Eagles a 14-7 advantage.

Niwot struck back during their next series. A long reception by Cougar senior Alec Hegeland and strong rushing effort from senior fullback Chris Jensen set up a 4-yard TD run by Jeremy Hollingsworth, his second of the night. At the half, the Cougars trailed by just a point, 14-13.

In the second half, things picked up for Niwot on both sides of the ball. The Cougars scored early in the third quarter on a 78-yard touchdown run by junior running back Anton Sandoval. A successful two point conversion by junior quarterback Matt Baun put the Cougars ahead 21-14, a lead they would never relinquish.

The defense had its turn to shine towards the end of the third quarter with big plays from the Cougars secondary on long passes from Adams City’s Perez, and a key sack to end a sustained Adams City drive.

In the fourth quarter, the Niwot offense added two more touchdowns, both short runs by Hollingsworth. On defense, an interception by Anton Sandoval and fumble recovery by junior Trent Tadewald ended any hopes of an Adams City comeback. The final score was Niwot 34, Adams City 14.