Niwot Football wins homecoming game

Niwot High School football came out of a bye week with a 29-15 victory against the Eagle Valley Devils for their homecoming game, only the second varsity football game played on the Cougars' home field.

Niwot took the lead on the first play of the game, and never looked back as they posted their third win of the season, giving the Cougars a 3-1 record heading into the middle of the season.

Niwot started the game off with a bang, scoring on a 90-yard kickoff return by Eric Dillion, giving Niwot a 7-0 lead after Paris Lee knocked in the extra point. Eagle Valley, which came over from the Western Slope, started a drive of their own to answer back, but Niwot's run defense held them in check, forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down and giving the ball back to the Cougars.

Niwot was able to move the chains on their next drive, with a constant rushing attack adding up yardage and a long completion from quarterback Chad Volf to Mats Lehan helping put Niwot in Devil territory. The Cougar drive eventually stalled out after back-to-back incompletions.

Lineman Garrett Eker was able to stuff an Eagle Valley run for negative yardage to start the next drive, and back-to-back incompletions forced another quick stop as the Devils decided to punt on fourth down.

Cougar running back Charlie Shaw was able to break the line with a deep run to start Niwot's drive, which continued as Lehan caught a ball off of a slant that broke the midfield line putting Niwot in Eagle Valley's territory.

Niwot continued their drive on the backs of their running backs, including Haden Shaw and Jesus Rosas, slowly drove down until Volf pushed the ball in for another Niwot touchdown. Niwot exited the first quarter up by 14 after Lee converted the PAT. Eagle Valley was quick to answer back as they bombarded Niwot through the air, setting up a short rushing touchdown that shortened Niwot's lead to one score at 14-7.

Niwot was stopped early on the next possession, but on third down, Volf threw up a deep ball that connected with Sergio Pimentel for 42 yards. A couple of plays later Volf connected in the air with Lehan for a 14-yard touchdown that put Niwot up 22-7 after the Cougars powered the ball in for a two-point conversion as the half ended.

Eagle Valley's first drive of the second half almost ended abruptly as a deep pass on the first play led to an interception by Dillon, but it was called back for pass interference. Niwot's defense didn't falter from the hiccup, as they forced the Devils to go three and out, giving Niwot the ball back.

Niwot's offense stalled, and Eagle Valley drove down the field with a combination of deep passing plays and long rushes that eventually ended with an Eagle Valley touchdown and two-point conversion, cutting Niwot's lead to 22-15.

Niwot once again went three and out after a combination of short runs and penalties held them back. Eagle Valley put a bit of a drive together as the third quarter ended. The Devils stalled out around the 40 yard-line, where Volf took over, rushing close to 60 yards to put Niwot on the scoreboard once more.

In the fourth quarter, Eagle Valley responded by driving down the field and into the red zone with a chance to make it a one score game, but a pass into the endzone was picked off by Pimentel. Niwot struggled to move the ball outside the five yard line, and punted on fourth down, but a low snap led to a blocked punt, giving Eagle Valley the ball inside the red zone. Niwot's defense stepped up again, holding the Devils to negative yardage as they turned the ball over on downs.

But the Cougars struggled to hold off Eagle Valley as Volf was stripped of the ball on the first play from deep in their own territory, giving Eagle Valley yet another shot at a touchdown. Niwot's defense once again shut down Eagle Valley, giving Niwot the ball back to run out the clock, and a 29-15 victory.

The Cougars are now 3-1 on the season as they take on Thompson Valley next Friday at 7:00 in Loveland. Niwot has a chance to move on to four wins, the most in a season since 2009.