In Attendance: Friday’s Season Opener

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first Friday night lights is upon us, making the timing perfect for the start of a new series that will provide a brief informal preview of the games I will be attending each week and who to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With this being week one of the 2022-23 season, each game will get an in-depth preview of the match-up and what makes it intriguing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Longmont at Broomfield | Friday, August 26, 2022 | 7:00 P.M.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Longmont will be traveling to Broomfield for their season tonight for a 4A non-league game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Longmont is coming off of a 7-5 season (4-1 in league) that ended with a second-round loss in the playoffs to Dakota Ridge. Broomfield finished 5-6 on the season (4-1 in league), falling to Longmont in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Longmont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans had to replace quite a few playmakers after last year, which includes having a new quarterback under center this season. Sophomore QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240713' first='Kolby' last='Holmes']</strong> will be at the helm for the varsity team after having an impressive showing on JV. Senior receivers <strong>Griffin Taylor</strong> and<strong> Bryson Strandberg</strong> will be significant targets for Holmes this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274037' first='Cole' last='Gaddis']</strong> will be a senior leader for the team, starting on both sides of the ball as a linebacker and running back. <strong>Silas Nowlin</strong> (2023 LB/TE), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='376782' first='Gael' last='Garcia']</strong> (2023 SS), and <strong>Grant Cummins</strong> (2024 DE) will give Longmont talent on every level of the defense this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other Trojans to note</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noah Atherton </strong>| 2023 OT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='405797' first='Logan' last='Johnson']</strong> | 2025 ATH</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Broomfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='62228' first='Cole' last='LaCrue']</strong> comes in as the fourth-ranked senior QB who is looking to lead a talented Eagles offense to a championship. <strong>Anthony Cobb</strong> (2024 WR) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381227' first='Brody' last='Judd']</strong> (2024 WR) are two highly talented receivers that are expected to cause problems for secondaries, but the offensive line will be the determining factor for this team. Offensive linemen <strong>Connor Tanner</strong> (2023), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334594' first='Landen' last='Davidson']</strong> (2024), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404984' first='Ty' last='LaCrue']</strong> (2025) will be guys to watch this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line for Broomfield is loaded, having guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269650' first='Devin' last='Furuiye']</strong> (2023) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='376558' first='Garrett' last='Keeler'] </strong>(2023) play significant roles on the front with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='22784' first='Ryland' last='Boehmer']</strong> (2023 MLB) controlling box. Two-way players <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381224' first='Caleb' last='Meehan'] </strong>(LB/RB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404963' first='Mikhail' last='Benner']</strong> (2025 CB/WR) are dangerous athletes who make plays on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clint Wells</strong> | 2023 DE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232169' first='Colin' last='Torres']</strong> | 2024 RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>Pregame Perceptions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only did Longmont defeat Broomfield 25-22 in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Trojans bested the Eagles 38-29 in week two of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that being said, expect for Broomfield to come into this game with something to prove. The Eagles will have a problematic offense to stop. LaCrue is top five-ranked QB in the 2023 class and he has serious talent all around him. Torres is an outstanding three-down back, Cobb is an explosive receiver who can slip past secondaies, and Judd is a tall target with a wide catch radius and elite overall speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The question for Longmont will be if their offensive front can handle Broomfield's defensive line and establish the run. Holmes is capable of find success in the passing game, but will he have the time to do so with Keeler, Furuiye, and Wells coming at him? If Longmont can chip away at Broomfield's first and second line with tough runs by Gaddis, they will be able to keep the ball out of their opponents hands and control the flow of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">Other notable Friday night matchups</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are more than a few games kicking off tonight worthy of watching. Here is a look at my top five runner-up games and a name to know from each team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Monarch at Standley Lake | 4:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Ryan Hanlon </em></strong><em>- Monarch - 2023 DB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='376591' first='Blake' last='Stout'] </em></strong><em>- Standley Lake - 2023 WR</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Palmer Ridge at Montrose | 6:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='22790' first='KJ' last='Smedley'] </em></strong><em>- Palmer Ridge - 2023 ATH</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='143632' first='Blake' last='Griffin'] </em></strong><em>- Montrose - 2024 RB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Legend at Vista Ridge | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cruz Garcia</em></strong><em> - Legend - 2024 DL</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='50576' first='Keyshawn' last='Dooley']</em></strong><em> - Vista Ridge - 2023 WR</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Windsor at Mead | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='153139' first='Garrett' last='Sauer']</em></strong><em> - Windsor - 2023 QB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Christian Ayers </em></strong><em>- Mead - 2023 LB/RB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Regis Jesuit at Valor Christian | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='150452' first='Exander' last='Carroll']</em></strong><em> - Regis Jesuit - 2023 QB/ATH</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='62247' first='Trey' last='Stott']</em></strong><em> - Valor Christian - 2023 FS</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Erie at Ponderosa | 7:00 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='251219' first='Jackson' last='Cowgill']</em></strong><em> - Erie - 2023 DE/EDGE</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='335500' first='Lyam' last='Edwards']</em></strong><em> - Ponderosa - 2023 CB/WR</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Cherry Creek at Ralston Valley | 7:30 P.M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='376559' first='Javion' last='Smith-Combs']</em></strong><em> - Cherry Creek - 2023 EDGE</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='247225' first='Jason' last='Thome']</em></strong><em> - Ralston Valley - 2023 DB</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->