In Attendance: Friday’s Season Opener
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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. With…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
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.
Longmont at Broomfield | Friday, August 26, 2022 | 7:00 P.M.
Longmont will be traveling to Broomfield for their season tonight for a 4A non-league game.
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.
Longmont
The Trojans had to replace quite a few playmakers after last year, which includes having a new quarterback under center this season. Sophomore QB Kolby Holmes Kolby Holmes 5'9" | 190 lbs | QB Longmont | 2025 State CO will be at the helm for the varsity team after having an impressive showing on JV. Senior receivers Griffin Taylor and Bryson Strandberg will be significant targets for Holmes this season.
Cole Gaddis Cole Gaddis 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Longmont | 2024 State CO will be a senior leader for the team, starting on both sides of the ball as a linebacker and running back. Silas Nowlin (2023 LB/TE), Gael Garcia Gael Garcia ATH Longmont | 2023 State CO (2023 SS), and Grant Cummins (2024 DE) will give Longmont talent on every level of the defense this year.
Other Trojans to note
Noah Atherton | 2023 OT
Logan Johnson Logan Johnson 160 lbs | ATH Longmont | 2025 State CO | 2025 ATH
Broomfield
Cole LaCrue Cole LaCrue 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Broomfield | 2023 State CO comes in as the fourth-ranked senior QB who is looking to lead a talented Eagles offense to a championship. Anthony Cobb (2024 WR) and Brody Judd Brody Judd 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE Broomfield | 2024 State CO (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 Connor Tanner (2023), Landen Davidson (2024), and Ty LaCrue Ty LaCrue 6'1" | 245 lbs | OL Broomfield | 2025 State CO (2025) will be guys to watch this fall.
The defensive line for Broomfield is loaded, having guys like Devin Furuiye Devin Furuiye 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Broomfield | 2023 State CO (2023) and Garrett Keeler Garrett Keeler 6'3" | DL Broomfield | 2023 State CO (2023) play significant roles on the front with Ryland Boehmer Ryland Boehmer 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Broomfield | 2023 State CO (2023 MLB) controlling box. Two-way players Caleb Meehan Caleb Meehan 6'0" | 210 lbs | ATH Broomfield | 2024 State CO (LB/RB) and Mikhail Benner Mikhail Benner 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Broomfield | 2025 State CO (2025 CB/WR) are dangerous athletes who make plays on both sides of the ball.
Clint Wells | 2023 DE
Colin Torres Colin Torres RB Broomfield | 2025 State CO | 2024 RB
Pregame Perceptions
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.
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.
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.
Other notable Friday night matchups
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.
Monarch at Standley Lake | 4:00 P.M.
Ryan Hanlon – Monarch – 2023 DB
Blake Stout Blake Stout RB Standley Lake | 2023 State CO – Standley Lake – 2023 WR
Palmer Ridge at Montrose | 6:00 P.M.
KJ Smedley KJ Smedley 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO – Palmer Ridge – 2023 ATH
Blake Griffin Blake Griffin 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Montrose | 2024 State CO – Montrose – 2024 RB
Legend at Vista Ridge | 7:00 P.M.
Cruz Garcia – Legend – 2024 DL
Keyshawn Dooley Keyshawn Dooley 5'8" | 155 lbs | WR Vista Ridge | 2023 State CO – Vista Ridge – 2023 WR
Windsor at Mead | 7:00 P.M.
Garrett Sauer Garrett Sauer 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Windsor | 2023 State CO – Windsor – 2023 QB
Christian Ayers – Mead – 2023 LB/RB
Regis Jesuit at Valor Christian | 7:00 P.M.
Exander Carroll Exander Carroll 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO – Regis Jesuit – 2023 QB/ATH
Trey Stott Trey Stott 5'11" | 195 lbs | DB Valor Christian | 2023 State CO – Valor Christian – 2023 FS
Erie at Ponderosa | 7:00 P.M.
Jackson Cowgill Jackson Cowgill 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Erie | 2024 State CO – Erie – 2023 DE/EDGE
Lyam Edwards Lyam Edwards 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH Ponderosa | 2023 State CO – Ponderosa – 2023 CB/WR
Cherry Creek at Ralston Valley | 7:30 P.M.
Javion Smith-Combs Javion Smith-Combs DL Cherry Creek | 2023 State CO – Cherry Creek – 2023 EDGE
Jason Thome Jason Thome 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Ralston Valley | 2023 State CO – Ralston Valley – 2023 DB