Cougars keep things close but concede to Cheyenne Mountain

A late fourth quarter score silenced Niwot football's comeback effort against the Cheyenne Mountain Indians Friday night at Erie High School. Despite missing several key players to injuries, Niwot lost to Cheyenne Mountain by just one score, 27-20. Head Coach Nik Blume's squad is still in search of its first win through six games.

Just days before the game, Niwot's originally scheduled opponent, the Mitchell Marauders, were forced to quarantine under COVID-19 safety protocols. Instead of facing the 0-4 Marauders, Niwot rescheduled to face Cheyenne Mountain, which is now 4-2 and sits in second place in the 4A I-25 League.

Blume's Cougars weren't intimidated by the opponent change and jumped out to an early lead. Senior quarterback Ayden Bartko lofted a jump ball to 5-foot-10 senior wide receiver Cooper Ackerman who beat out two Indian defenders in the end zone. Niwot would miss the extra point but had the early momentum. Later in the first quarter, Cheyenne Mountain scored on a 73-yard pass reception and led 7-6.

Ball control was a major issue in the second quarter for both teams. With Niwot's offense threatening in the red zone, Bartko's pass was intercepted by Cheyenne Mountain. Then, with about four minutes remaining in the quarter, junior wide receiver/cornerback Craig Wright recovered an Indian fumble. Unfortunately for Bartko, his rough quarter continued and he was picked off again on the ensuing play.

Cheyenne Mountain cashed in with a touchdown, and after additional fumbles by each team, the Indians led 14-6 at the half. Five total turnovers highlighted the first half.

Fielding a full team has been a problem for Niwot all year and on Saturday the Cougars were without junior Easten Leatherwood, senior Jesus Amaya and junior Kamrin Lucero. Offsetting those losses, Blume said that he was grateful to get Ackerman's younger brother, junior Jackson Ackerman, back in the fold against Cheyenne Mountain.

"That's been a theme for us all season is just not having enough bodies," Blume said. "When we come into a week thinking, 'man, we're at full speed finally' and then it's eligibility or COVID or something. It's been frustrating. Who can say that that would have put us over the top? We don't know that. We went out and battled with who we had."

To open up the second half, Cheyenne Mountain found the end zone again on a 10-yard run to take its largest lead of the game, 20-6. Although Niwot wasn't able to score in the third quarter, its defense continued to be a takeaway machine. Junior defensive lineman Brad Bair recovered a fumble halfway through the quarter and junior tailback/linebacker Thomas Carnegie recovered a fumble later in the quarter.

Fueled by a 35-yard Bartko run, Niwot cashed in on the next drive with a 24-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Ashton Campie. Niwot converted a two-point conversion and trailed 20-14.

Senior Brandon Dimas excelled on the defensive side of the ball and helped Niwot get the ball back with 4:12 remaining in the game. Niwot's D came up with several key stops late in the game, an encouraging sign for Blume.

"(I'm) super excited because we've been talking about if we're fundamentally sound, we're super tough," Blume said. "Our interior D-line is actually starting to get it figured out and has been putting it together. That's the best defensive effort we've put together since (a 14-7 overtime loss) Riverdale (Ridge)."

Back on offense, despite the wind picking up considerably in the second half, Bartko threw a perfect deep pass down the sideline and hit Wright for a 54-yard TD to tie the game at 20. With uncertainties at the kicking position, Niwot attempted a two-point conversion and failed.

"What I am super proud of is that's the first time we've been down two scores and turned around and said, 'enough' and bounce back and get right back in the fight," Blume said. "That's something that we're going to hang our hat on and stand up proud about as we leave here."

On the ensuing drive, Cheyenne Mountain finally broke through Niwot's stout D on a long TD run, taking the ultimate lead, 27-20. With several players putting in time on defense and offense, Niwot couldn't hold Cheyenne Mountain back any longer. "We just ran out of gas," Blume said.

If COVID cooperates, Niwot will wrap up its 2020 campaign against the Thornton Trojans on Friday, Nov. 20 at Erie High School. Although spectators will not be allowed into the stadium, Niwot is live streaming the game here.