Senior Night was Something Special

As I walked through the players locker room last night following the tremendous battle with the Loveland Indians I figured I would check on a few of my players who were banged up after the physical contest. The fellas I was looking for were a little battered and bruised but would be fine by tomorrow morning. I happened to stumble across a row of Seniors who had just played their final home game. What I saw gave me hope as a coach that this group of Seniors will leave a legacy of leadership and selflessness that will be passed down to SaberCats who follow in their footsteps. One Senior, a true WARRIOR was sobbing while another had his arm around his shoulder giving him a hug that only guys who have been though the battles together can give. Down the row there were three or four fellas still sitting in front of lockers silently putting their gear away while another was walking behind them giving them a tap on the shoulder and thanking them for being his teammate. Football seasons and high school careers are here and gone in the blink of an eye but the METAL that is forged in and between these young men will last a lifetime. Remember fellas, IRON SHARPENS IRON!

THANK YOU SENIORS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR!

BRANDON BAINER

DAMON BOWERS

KIRK EASTON

BEN KRAPES

KEEGAN LASLEY

JOHN MOORE

JOHNNY NGUYEN

LANDON OCHWAT

BEN PETERSEN

HAYDEN ROWLEY

BRENNEN SALZ

MIKE SCHUTTE

ADAM TARVER

ANTHONY TAYLOR

ANDREW VICTORA

TAYLOR WEST

Loveland Indians opponet for Blizzard Bowl II

The Loveland Indians will bring a tough, talented and well coached football team to Fort Collins Thursday night. The Indians have a long standing tradition of outstanding football teams. This is the kind of opponent that should bring out the BEST IN YOU. This is the kind of game that makes all the work you put in during the off season WORTH IT. No matter if we play on Thursday, Friday or Saturday or in a foot of snow, you have to come out and out hit them HIT FOR HIT. You must prepare yourself to play with great effort for all 48 minutes and more if need be. Decide in your heart that you will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to come off the field with a victory. Raise the level of your teammates play by being the BEST TEAMMATE you can be. Play FAST, TOUGH and SMART and good things will happen.

Huge SaberCat Thank You

Thank you to all the boosters who provided the players and coaches with everything on the trip. Everything from the breakfast burritos on our send off to the pizzas on the ride home was TREMENDOUS. There is a reason why we have such outstanding young men, they have outstanding parents. Thank you for always providing ABOVE AND BEYOND.

What it is all about

As a coach I could not have been prouder you than I was on Saturday afternoon. In the face of ALL TYPES of adversity you BATTLED, FOUGHT and NEVER GAVE UP. That was a game that I felt WITHOUT A DOUBT that you just ran out of time. The beauty of this game is that it mirrors life in so many ways. When things start to pile up on you, you return to the fundamentals: hard work, attention to detail and enthusiastic pursuit of the goal. That is what was taking place out there on the gridiron Saturday. Whatever piece of this season you take and carry with you on down the road KNOW THIS: When you had a chance to stay down, you brushed yourself off, picked yourself back up and NEVER EVER GAVE UP. That fellas IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!!

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Durango has made TREMENDOUS improvement in one year

Three blocked kicks in one game was outstanding: Big Schnee, Big Play Ben

Lando's catch on fourth down of the deflected pass was UNBELIEVABLE

I have NEVER SEEN a more beautiful setting for a football game: nestled in the canyon with the San Juan river running just beyond the bleachers

The hospitality from the Durango Crew (boosters, players, coaches) was first class

Jon "Big Game" Moore is finding the endzone to his liking

2 more minutes

It was AMAZING to see how many of the worlds greatest fans made the 400 mile drive

We are blessed to be a part of this

Undefeated Durango Demons Await

This weekend holds the opportunity to be one of the most memorable of your high school football careers. You get the chance to travel with your teammates through some of the most beautiful country on Earth, use this time to prepare yourself mentally and physically without the normal distractions, play an undefeated team and put yourself right back in the fight for a playoff spot. A victory over Durango would pay huge dividends in the CHSAA power poll rankings. The Demons are currently ranked 4th in Colorado. They have had the biggest turnaround in the state so far this season. But YOU ARE CAPABLE of coming out of Saturdays battle with a win. There is no bigger game this season than the one you are about to play. FOCUS ON THE MOMENT!! BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE, RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!!

Broomfield Battle

You must be ready to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. Thursday night Broomfield recognized the importance of the game and responded with tough, disciplined and well executed game plan. Football seasons are short and BIG GAME opportunities are FEW. You played hard but Broomfield was intent on DOING WHATEVER it took to get the victory. Their line play was outstanding and their backs and receivers made the plays when they were called upon. We must learn take the lessons learned from this game and use them to become STRONGER and more DETERMINED. You have three games in front of you to determine the direction of this team. GIVE IT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE and SEIZE the MOMENT, because IT IS UPON YOU.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Broomfield's offensive line was an outstanding well coached unit

A cover three corner CANNOT get beat deep

We must RUN TO THE BALL, EVERY SNAP

Big Broomfield Battle

Every time you win a game the next one gets BIGGER and MORE IMPORTANT, and this weeks game is a perfect example. You have played yourselves into a position to make this a KEY GAME in the Northern Conference standings. Broomfield is an outstanding program with a tradition of excellence in the state playoffs. The winner of this game will have a leg up in the race for a playoff spot. Thursday nights game presents a short week of practice, thus we must be FOCUSED and DISCIPLINED on the practice field and in the classroom. The Eagles will have no doubt have revenge on their minds after last years thriller in Broomfield. You must have confidence in your abilities and then be TOUGH enough to follow through. Use this week to prepare to GIVE IT YOUR ALL on Thursday night.

A SaberCat Thank You

We would like to thank all the parents and boosters for the tremendous pre game meals so far this season. From burritos to chicken fettucini alfredo they all have been AWESOME, and are greatly APPRECIATED! Your love and care you show for the Football program is the BEST!

Thank You!!

The Inaugural Fossil Ridge Blizzard Bowl

The inaugural Fossil Ridge Blizzard Bowl was a night to remember. During Pre Game warm ups the crisp fall evening was greeted with a blizzard that was last seen leaving Christmas Town in The Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Christmas special. The offensive line was like a HUGE SNOW PLOW paving the way for our DETERMINED runners, all the while eating up yards, clock and Thompson Valley's will to play. Defensively you played with PASSION AND HEART. You RAN to the football and greeted the ball carriers the way you should. I think there was an outbreak of the GANG GREEN infection in Loveland last night. Congratulations Fellas on a TREMENDOUS TEAM VICTORY!!

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Coach Van's Boys were AWESOME: Marshall, Lasley, Tarver, Victora, Hougard, Hough and Ochwat were SNOW PLOWING

Hayden"the Playmaker" Rowley is a playing like a WARRIOR

#6 from TV is the most physically gifted High School football player I have ever seen

The Thompson Valley Homecoming theme last night was "The Arctic" : PRICELESS

say hello to GANG GREEN

John "the Hunter" Moore's one handed catch on fourth down was AWESOME

Michael" the Natural" Harrison, Caleb "Crash" Kroening, Damon"the Rock" Bowers and TyJen were TCB ( Taking Care of Business)

I could not help but to think that TV looked like HUGE Bumble Bees in those unis

It is all ways WARMER when you are up by thirty points

and a MASSIVE SABERCAT THANK YOU for ALL THE SABERCAT FANS THAT MADE TO THE END!!

Talented Thompson Valley

Do NOT be fooled by Thompson Valley's record, they are team that possesses some serious talent. We know all too well the kind of player they have in their backfield. They have been in most of their games and have just been on the wrong side of some tough breaks. The Eagles are hungry for a win and will be looking to get on the right track at our expense. You have played yourselves into a position to make the second half of the season exciting. But it will only be if you continue to win. You win by how you prepare yourselves this week in practice. Improving YOURSELF is the best way to help YOUR TEAM. Don't show up Friday Night in Loveland expecting to walk out on the field and dominate without putting in a GREAT WEEK OF PRACTICE. Continue to raise your intensity and commitment with each practice. See you on the practice field.

BLACK IS BACK

Some nights are made for football and last night was one of them. I don't know if it was the combination of a solid week of practice, the huge homecoming crowd or the black jerseys but you guys played one the best games by ANY SaberCat team EVER. The offense controlled the LOS and made big plays when they needed to. Defensively you came out and OUT HIT Niwot all night long. That will make for a long night for any team that you play. Congratulations on a great victory!!

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Jon "Big Game " Moore's TD run was POWERFUL

RIDGENATION WAS OUT IN FORCE

Micheal "The Natural" Harrison's scoop and score was a back breaker

Caleb "Crash" Kroening had the TRUCKSTICK activated

The SaberCat Marching Band is AWESOME

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL ( there is something about those BLACK JERSEYS)

LANDO had a great all around game TD's and Tackles

Congratulations to T. West (Homecoming King), you cant find a NICER young man for the honor

5 for 5 on PATs has to be a SaberCat Record

It was great to see some familiar faces: Salsbury, Adam, Sean and the rest of the Alumni