Cougar football shut out by Wheat Ridge

The Niwot High School football team suffered a tough 41-0 loss against the Wheat Ridge High School Farmers on Thursday, Sept. 19. Offensively, the Cougars struggled throughout the game, totaling only 68 yards with just five first downs. Sophomore quarterback Jaydan Martinez completed four of 16 passes for 32 yards, but threw three interceptions, while junior Wesley Manzanares led the rushing game with 24 yards on 11 carries.

Wheat Ridge controlled the game with 306 total yards. They scored early in the first quarter with a six-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a 31-yard touchdown pass. They continued their dominance in the second quarter, extending their lead to 20-0 with an interception return for a touchdown. In the second half, the Farmers added three more touchdowns, making the final score 41-0.

Despite Niwot’s struggles, their defense managed to force one turnover and limited Wheat Ridge to six penalties for 35 yards. However, the offense could not capitalize, and the Farmer’s defense remained dominant. This loss drops the Cougars to 0-4 on the season.

The Niwot Cougars’ next game is set for Thursday, Oct. 3 at Evergreen High School, with kickoff at 7 p.m. They will be looking to bounce back from a difficult start to the season.