Niwot High football falls to Riverdale Ridge, 35-17

The Niwot High School football team has fallen for the fifth straight time in a competitive game, this time against the 8-1 Riverdale Ridge High School Ravens. Niwot lost 35-17 but played close until the fourth quarter. The Cougars are now 3-6 on the year with their final game of the season this Thursday, Nov. 2.

Niwot started the game with the ball, pounding Riverdale Ridge with a run game that brought the Cougars to the 30-yard line where their drive eventually fizzled out after a failed fourth down conversion. The Cougar defense got right to work, stuffing the Ravens, and forcing a three-and-out that ended with a punt.

Niwot's offense was quick to answer, when after a strong run from Haden Shaw, Chad Volf connected with Eric Dillon to get 15 yards and a first down. Niwot's drive faded out from there, ending with a punt on fourth down. Riverdale took no time to score, as after two passes and 70 yards, the Ravens were in the endzone, going up 7-0.

Niwot took no time to answer right back, when for the second time this year, Dillon returned a kickoff for six, tying the game 7-7 after Paris Lee's PAT. The Cougars were able to slow down Riverdale Ridge's next drive, but several short passing plays were just enough to end up in the endzone, putting the Ravens up 14-7 at the start of the second quarter.

The running game by Volf, Shaw, and Jesus Rosas enabled Niwot to push the ball down to the 30 and set up a 45-yard field goal by Lee to close the gap to 14-10. Riverdale Ridge answered quickly with the second kick return touchdown of the night, putting the Ravens up 21-10 after the PAT.

Niwot's offense was unable to answer as they went three and out and punted on fourth down. Riverdale Ridge was able to drive down the field, but once in the red zone, Mats Lehan and Dillon were able to swat down all four passing attempts, giving the ball back to Niwot to close the half, 21-10.

The Ravens started the second half with the ball and got great field position from a long kick return to Niwot's 30 yardline. The Cougars held Riverdale Ridge off for a while until an impressive toe-tap catch on fourth down put the Ravens up 28-10. Niwot's offense got going quickly with a long run from Rosas, which set up a later touchdown run from Shaw to start the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 28-17 after Lee's PAT.

Niwot's defense got right to work, forcing a three-and-out and a punt, opening up the game for a Niwot comeback. But the Cougar offense was unable to take advantage as they struggled to get the ball rolling, going three and out.

Niwot's defense was able to get some stops and make big plays after two tackles for a loss from Nico Kemp and Dillon, but it wasn't enough to stop the Ravens from scoring again, putting the Cougars down 35-17. Niwot's offense didn't have much time to get the ball rolling, so Volf threw a ball up for a chance to stay in the game, resulting in an interception to end the game.

Niwot is now 3-6 on the year with just their Senior Night, Thursday, Nov. 2, left on their schedule. They take on the 5-4 Denver North Vikings at Everly-Montgomery Field, at 7:00 p.m.