Playoff Recap: Fountain-Fort Carson vs Fairview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The eighteenth-ranked Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans traveled to Boulder to take on the fifteenth-ranked Fairview Knights in a contest that ended with a 42-14 victory for the Trojans, earning a trip to Littleton to take on second-ranked Columbine in the next round of the <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/tournament/_f8gewPCEe6A0wqb9tl3hA/_f8gfAPCEe6A0wqb9tl3hA/football-23/2023-chsaa-state-football-playoffs-class-5a.htm">5A state playoffs</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fountain-Fort Carson started the game with a dominant showing on defense up front and throughout the secondary, forcing a quick punt by the Knights and giving the ball to the offense with early momentum. The Trojans' offense put together an impressive first drive that was capped with a touchdown run by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698231' first='Mathias' last='Price']</strong> (2024 RB) with just under eight minutes left in the opening quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fountain-Fort Carson continued to capitalize off the defense's success through the entirety of the first half, allowing Price to reach the end zone two more times before going into the half with a 21-0 lead over the Knights.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairview came out in the third quarter and mounted a scoring drive of their own, putting points on the board with a touchdown pass connection between <strong>Bekkem Kritza </strong>(2024 QB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230322' first='Jordan' last='Rechel'] </strong>(2025 WR/ATH).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans immediately responded with a 53-yard touchdown run by Price, his fourth of the night. The Knights answered with a touchdown scoring drive that started deep in their own territory and ended with a pass hookup between Kritza and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='777474' first='Toray' last='Davis']</strong> (2026 DB/ATH), bringing the score to 28-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth quarter began with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='308093' first='Alexander' last='Rivera'] </strong>(2025 DB/ATH) intercepting Kritza's pass on the 50-yard line and almost returning it for a touchdown. Rivera's interception and return set the Trojans' offense up on the two-yard line, which punched in another touchdown run by Price on the very next play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairview was able to mount another solid drive that made it within five yards of the goal line, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='581032' first='Trevor' last='Coleman']</strong> (2024 DL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='388063' first='Terence' last='Coleman']</strong> (2024 OLB), <strong>Anthony Johnson-Griffin</strong> (2024 LB), <strong>Jack Fox</strong> (2024 LB), <strong>Rowin Raass</strong> (2025 DL), and <strong>Tristan Petruna</strong> (2026 DL) won the battle up front and helped force a turnover on downs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Price scored the final touchdown of the night two plays after the change of possession, taking a toss play 87 yards to the end zone to seal a 42-14 victory over Fairview.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Player of the Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["698231"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Rushing for all six of the team's touchdowns is a sure way to be crowned as the undisputed player of the game. Price's rushing performance was spectacular, making it a must-watch for scouts and fans alike.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6545f14c248d1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is also important to note that a successful ground game is contingent on the offensive line. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277533' first='Lincoln' last='Fa'apouli Jr']</strong> (2024 OT), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='143636' first='Matthew' last='Jennings']</strong> (2024 OT), <strong>Eric Grider (</strong>2024),&nbsp; <strong>Lucas Driver</strong> (2026), and <strong>Simeon Gibbs</strong> (2024 TE) paved the way for Price and <strong>Terence Morris</strong> (2025 RB) all night.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->