Game balls for Niwot in Week 2

The Niwot Cougars had some good moments in their Week 2 loss with Severance, and though the team lost 27-2 and fall to a 1-1 record, the Cougars are optimistic that they are heading in the right direction under second-year head coach Nik Blume. A few players did stand out in the game and we gave them some game balls for their efforts. Here is a look at those players who performed well. <h3><strong>Thomas Carnagie, 2022, 5’11, 170, RB/LB</strong></h3> When Carnagie is running the football, defenders better be ready to lay a hit on him. Throughout the night, Carnagie did an excellent job lowering his shoulder and bouncing off defenders, and he routinely needed more than one guy to tackle him with his tough running. He is a disrupter on defense, showing the ability to blitz and get to the point of attack against the run but also find lanes in the passing game and make his presence felt. In addition to flying all over the field and brining his physicality, he is a vocal leader that tried to rally the troops all night long. <h3><strong>Bryce Nemec, 2022, 6’2, 215, OL/DL</strong></h3> What made Nemec effective in Thursday’s game was the fact that he contributed in all three aspects of the game. On offense, he was an anchor on the interior of the line and had some good blocks that opened up running lanes for his backs to run through. He brought an aggressive mindset to the trenches and was willing to take on all challengers that went up against him. From the defensive side, he was able to get penetration into the backfield a number of times to pressure the quarterback or disrupt a run play. He even got the sack in the end zone for the safety that Niwot scored. And to add to his night, he was also seen on punt getting downfield to try and make a tackle or looking to set up a couple of nice returns on kickoff return. It was a busy and solid night for Nemec. <h3><strong>Craig Wright, 2022, WR/DB</strong></h3> A player who showed the ability to make some plays in the open field on Thursday was Wright. He is a good receiver who can catch and run in the short passing game, something that was needed when Niwot was forced to throw the ball. His running ability with the ball was also on display in the special teams department, and Niwot did have a few good returns in the game. Then there was his interception he had in the secondary, showing he can get up and get the ball in coverage. Though his touches were limited some, he did make the most of his chances when called on. <h3><strong>Brad Bair, 2022, OL/DL</strong></h3> Another lineman who had a decent night, Bair has the size to match up with other defenders in the trenches and have some success. He was solid in the run game and showed some good pass protection skills from his spot. Where he had an even bigger night was on defense. He showed that he can get in the backfield and get off blocks, particularly as an edge rusher. There were a number of occasions where he quickly got in the backfield to stop a play in its tracks, whether it was a sack or forcing a quarterback to scramble. Like Nemec, he had a steady performance and made a number of plays up front for his team.