Fossil Ridge High School’s young football team blames mental errors for its loss against big-time rival, Loveland High School on Thursday night.

“Offense played great today. We gotta eliminate some mental errors that we have that ultimately cost us the game,” sophomore quarterback Colton Jantz said.

The Fossil Ridge football team fought until the last drive against Loveland to ultimately lose 14-17 at Ray Patterson Field in Loveland. Senior Loveland kicker Vincent Wimmer’s 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter with 11 minutes, 55 seconds left in the game changed the momentum of the game. With three minutes left and the score 14-17, Fossil turned it over on a botched snap after driving past the 50-yard line, ending the game with a loss for the Sabercats. 

“I’m a little upset and frustrated. We couldn’t get anything going, didn’t feel like this. Felt helpless,” senior Fossil Ridge safety Ozzy Mcabee said.

Jantz did give Loveland some credit on how they played, knowing that Fossil had some errors that set them back in the second half.

“Got to give credit to them. They played a good game,” Jantz said.

Senior wide receiver Eli Swanson believes the players’ long history with each other will help them play stronger in the future.

“The guys, a lot of them, have played together since they were young…they can bond that way,” Swanson said. “And I think it’s coming together. But especially after this, we have something that everyone can bond over, including the seniors.”

Swanson believes the team needs to bring the skills they show in practice to the competition field.

“We just need to execute. I don’t think that was being done,” he said. “It’s just the little things. If we were getting the little things right there, we’d win that game by 14 points.”

Execution will be necessary when Fossil competes against Rock Canyon on September 5 in Littleton.