Niwot football wins season opener 14-7

The Niwot High School football season started strong with a narrow 14-7 victory against the Greeley Central High School Wildcats.

Niwot found a lot of success on offense with a wide variety of passing and rushing plays. Quarterback Chad Volf dominated success on the ground which helped open up the Cougar air attack. On the defensive side of the ball, Niwot shut Greeley down, only allowing one score, while also holding them off at the end of the game.

To start the game, Niwot was on defense, where they quickly shut down three rushes, forcing a punt on fourth down. Niwot's opening play on offense was a quick run that got stuffed, which was followed by an impressive throw and catch that just barely landed out of bounds. The Cougars followed it up in the air again, but the catch fell just short of a first down, forcing Niwot to punt it away.

Greeley's next drive started on the ground again, grabbing a couple of yards. Greeley followed it up with a catch and run that put them past the midfield stripe, but Niwot stuffed them on the next three plays, forcing a punt. A bad snap soured the start of Niwot's drive, causing the Cougars to lose its rhythm, resulting in another three-and-out.

Senior Harrison Vanselus was able to stuff a first down run behind the line, spiraling Greeley's drive, which ended in a forced incompletion by sophomore Caleb Roby. Niwot kept its momentum going on offense, as, after a couple of short runs, Volf was able to break off a solid QB keeper that swung momentum in favor of Niwot. Volf followed this up with a laser to senior Mats Lehan, which was then followed by a short run to end the quarter.

Close to the end zone, junior Jesus Rosas broke off a run that got inside the five-yard line, which was followed by a Volf run that found the end zone for a Niwot touchdown. Roby was able to knock down the extra point, giving Niwot a 7-0 lead. Greeley's next drive was cut short as Lehan was able to break up a third-down pass that returned the ball to Niwot.

Niwot started its drive inside its own five-yard line, but a quick pass to Lehan helped move them past the 25. Volf was sacked on the following play, but a catch-and-run from senior Eric Dillon opened up the field once again. Multiple stuffed runs, penalties, and incomplete passes led Niwot to force a throw on a fourth down, which ended in a Greeley interception. But Niwot's defense once again stuffed the run for a three-and-out, giving Niwot the ball right back.

The Cougars didn't have as much success on the next drive as two dropped passes and a stuffed run forced Niwot to give the ball right back to the Wildcats. With a minute left, Greeley threw up multiple Hail Mary throws to no avail, ending the half with Niwot on top 7-0.

Niwot did not have much success out of the break, with penalties and incompletions adding up, resulting in a punt. On its first possession of the second half, Greeley just kept on forcing the ball down Niwot's throat, running nonstop with success on every third run, until they ran straight into the end zone for a touchdown, with an extra point tying the game at 7-7.

Niwot was quick to answer though, with Volf taking a keeper to the opposing 30 yard line, where he was able to make a throw through contact to a diving Lehan for a Niwot touchdown. Roby knocked in the extra point and Niwot was up, 14-7.

On the ensuing possession, Niwot swarmed Greeley defensively, with a quick stop to end the third quarter.

Back on offense, Volf and Rosas were able to run the ball over 50 yards, burning a huge chunk of the clock before the Cougars failed a fourth-down conversion. Niwot once again completely outplayed Greeley on defense, forcing a punt with minimal time remaining.

Greeley was able to get a stop on defense quickly, giving them one more chance to stay in the game, but after a lockdown defense by Niwot, including a huge forced incompletion by Dillon, Niwot ended with a QB kneel, winning 14-7.