Fossil knew a tough game was ahead on Friday, September 6. The Rock Canyon Jaguars finished 14 in the Colorado 5A Division last season compared to Fossil’s 24. But they wanted it. And they worked for it.
Which made it hurt all the more when they came up short 31-26.
Right off the bat, Rock Canyon’s Tyler Meyer scored a touchdown and the Jaguars got the PAT, leading 7-0.
Fossil fought back right away and Colton Pawlak ran a 35-yard gain and a touchdown a few plays later, tying the score at 7-7.
Fossil picked up their momentum, but Nick Kubat was sacked by Rock Canyon’s Caden Bitz and fumbled the ball. Levi Schield took the opportunity 40 yards for another Jaguar touchdown. With the PAT, Fossil was down a touchdown once again, 14-7.
After more back and forth, a punt from Fossil led to Rock Canyon’s Kai Ingrassa catching the ball at the 30-yard line and returning it, for an impressive 57-yards to Fossil’s 23.
The Fossil defense stepped it up, though, and after a few incomplete passes and a sack from Fossil’s Mason Griffin, Rock Canyon did not get the touchdown. They got a field goal, though, leaving Fossil further behind, 17-7.
“Defense played a hell of a game. Every day we get better, every day is an opportunity. We always wanna keep playing,” said Head Coach Chris Tedford.
Fossil stayed motivated and, with a 40-yard throw to Luke Garvin and a run into the end zone. The Sabercats attempted a 2-point conversion to make it a 3-point game but did not succeed, the score settling at 17-13.
The last two minutes until halftime stretched out as Fossil used all its timeouts. With 11 seconds left, Owen Wind caught a 20-yard throw in the end zone with two Rock Canyon defenders diving at him. Fossil went to halftime with the lead, 20-17.
Both teams brought their A-game on defense to start the second half. Despite this, Rock Canyon scored another touchdown at 7 minutes into the third quarter, leaving Fossil behind again 24-20.
Fossil’s spirits were still high, but halfway through the fourth quarter Rock Canyon’s Aiden Mccabe intercepted a pass and ran 60 yards to the 12. Fossil put up a fight but Rock Canyon got the touchdown, leaving the score at an unsurmountable 31-20.
Fossil was shaken but came back strong with multiple first downs. On a 35-yard throw, Wind scored his second touchdown. The decision to go for the 2-point conversion at the start of the game bites them, as they are four points short with just the PAT. They go for two but don’t make it, leaving the Sabercats behind 31-26.
Fossil just needed a touchdown, but Rock Canyon kept them at bay. They fought hard, but time was not on their side. When Rock Canyon got control in the last minute of the game, they had enough time to run down the clock, eliminating any chance Fossil had, losing to Rock Canyon 31-26.
“[At] every place we have some spaces where the execution wasn’t quite there. Just keep working, keep grinding, keep that foot to the grindstone, work on that execution. Let’s do the little things right that start to build us up,” Tedford said to the team in their post-game huddle.
Fossil plays Columbine at 7 pm on Thursday, September 12 at Jeffco Stadium. Adult tickets are $8.00, student (K-12) and senior citizen tickets are $5.00.
