Niwot FB loses 43-3 to Mead, dropping to 3-5 on the season

Niwot High School took on a big game this Saturday against the 2-5 Mead Mavericks. It was the final home game of the season for the Cougars and also their Senior Night.

Seniors Kevin Chen, Matt Hansen, and Raiden Stahly were all celebrated before the game alongside cheer and marching band seniors. Stahly did double-duty by singing the National Anthem before the game.

Niwot struggled to get their offense going as they started sophomore Weston Domich at quarterback with Chad Volf still on concussion protocol. Defense stopped some big-play touchdowns but struggled to stop the offense on longer drives. Even though the score and record show a struggling Niwot football team, fans saw an improving squad.

Niwot started the game with the ball and put together a drive that lasted nine plays and went for 24 yards, but the Cougars ended up punting on the 10th play of the drive. Mead started a long drive that spanned 82 yards and 10 plays, capped off with a 19-yard passing touchdown that put them up 7-0.

Niwot's following drive fell short as it lasted seven plays before punting the ball back to Mead. Mead came up with even more success on their second drive, moving 33 yards in five plays and scoring on a short run to bump the score up to 14-0.

Niwot's third drive of the game spanned 15 plays and went into the second quarter. But even with the help of penalties, it only went 30 yards and ended on a failed fourth-down conversion attempt. Mead put together a 7-play drive, capping it off with a 4-yard rushing touchdown which put the Mavericks up 21-0.

Niwot responded with a long drive that spanned nine plays, and with the help of four penalties, put senior kicker Matt Watson in range to make a 37-yard field goal. Mead went into the half with a 21-3 lead.

Mead answered back at the top of the second half, putting together a 9-play drive that went 77-yards, finishing on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Niwot struggled to answer back as their run game came to a complete halt, and the Cougars finished their short drive with a punt.

Mead's quickest drive of the game took only three plays, as they picked up 20 yards in the first two plays, and finished with a 61-yard passing touchdown to put the score at 35-3. Niwot's next drive echoed the one before, as it ended with an interception on the third play of the drive, giving Mead the ball back with great field position. This time Mead took only 2-plays to go 26 yards for a touchdown. Mead went for two points on the conversion, to put themselves up by 40 points, 43-3, resulting in a running clock under the mercy rule.

Niwot switched up at quarterback, putting running back Charlie Shaw behind the center. He helped put together a nice, sustained drive that went for 11 plays. But again, Niwot failed to convert a fourth down attempt, giving Mead the ball back at their own 40 yard-line. From here, Mead was successfully able to run the clock down to two minutes, before punting the ball back to Niwot, which was unable to move the ball in the last three plays of the game.

Niwot wasn't completely blown out, as they were able to put together some nice sustained drives. Given the temporary loss of their regular quarterback, and overall injuries across the team, Niwot has done a good job improving and staying in the game. Their secondary did a much better job at defending the pass, as they avoided giving up multiple big plays in the game. With quarterback Chad Volf slated to come back next week, the Cougars are optimistic.

Niwot's next game on Friday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Riverdale Ridge High School.