The last time a football team from Wellington High School took the field, it was 1963. Americans had yet to land on the moon and the Denver Broncos were in the infancy of their franchise history.
So much has happened since then.
But for Wellington, it didn’t matter. The Eagles (1-1 overall) are representing the school for the first time in 60 years and the 38-26 win over Highland was an experience that the players, coaches, administrators and fans will never forget.
The Huskies got on the board first but Cash Altschwager pulled Wellington even with a 64-yard rushing score. He cashed in on the 2-point conversion as well to put the Eagles ahead. The rest of the game was a see-saw battle. Tanner Gray increased the lead with a passing touchdown to Altschwager, but Highland battled back to pull ahead 20-16.
Altschwager rushed for another long touchdown before halftime to put the Eagles back on top and they never looked back. Highland had two chances to get back into the end zone late in the game but a fumble recovery from Zach Swedlund and an interception by Altschwager halted both those drives.
The Eagles ran out the clock and a group of freshmen and sophomores celebrated an historical win that will forever live in the legacy of Wellington football.
Altswager finished the night with 278 rushing yards and 127 receiving yards.
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Eaglecrest 32, Horizon 20
The Raptors made some key defensive adjustments in the second half and held on to get a win over Horizon and move to 2-0 on the year.
Peyton Taylor finished the night with two interceptions and Cam Chapa added another for the Raptors. Eaglecrest takes its two-game winning streak to Highlands Ranch on Thursday.
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(4A 10) Fruita Monument 30, (4A 5) Montrose 14
The balance of power might be shifting on the Western Slope. The Wildcats jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back.
The Red Hawks had put together an impressive 2021 season and there was reason to believe that the momentum would sustain itself in 2022. The loss to Fruita drops them to 0-2 on the year and they’re going to have to play nearly flawless football for the rest of the regular season.
The Wildcats are now 2-0 on the season and head to Skyline on Sept. 9.
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(Dan Mohrmann/ColroadoPreps.com)
Widefield 42, Air Academy 34
Sam Beers ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns for the Kadets but it was a second half surged that allowed the Gladiators to get the win in their home opener.
Walker Mathews scored the Glads first touchdown of the game after breaking a few tackles and putting on an impressive display of athleticism.
Widefield heads to Dutch Clark on Saturday to take on Pueblo Central. Air Academy is back at the K-Dome as it takes on Sand Creek.
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Pueblo East 39, Pueblo Central 33
The Wildcats put up a heck of a fight against their District 60 rivals. They led 14-12 in the second quarter, but the Eagles settled down in the second half and battled back to escape Dutch Clark Stadium with the win.
Central heads to Heritage next week while the Eagles stay home to host La Junta.
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(2A 3) Eaton 41, (2A 7) University 6
Both traditional Patriot League powers lost in Week 1 and needed rebound wins in Week 2. It was Eaton who got it after jumping out to a quick lead.
Walker Martin found Joey Blaskowski for the first touchdown of the game and Eaton dominated the rest of the way.
Eaton has another tough game against another strong Patriot League team in Platte Valley. University hosts Elizabeth with the intent of getting its first win of the season.
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