Glenwood Springs rolls to 41-14 win over Aspen High in spring football opener
Special to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Glenwood Springs High School and Aspen kicked off Colorado’s Season C spring football slate on Friday night at Stubler Memorial Field in Glenwood, and it was the Demons who rolled to an impressive 41-14 conference win.
With all six scheduled games for each team counting in the Class 3A West standings, Glenwood started its winning night by keeping the football on the ground, using the rushing legs of senior running back Garrett Dollahan and backfield mate junior Blake Nieslanik to grind up consistent yardage against the Aspen defensive front.
The only thing able to stop Glenwood early in the contest was untimely penalties that moved the Demons in the opposite way of the intended direction.
It was Dollahan who got the first score of the game for Glenwood on a 17-yard touchdown run with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. The point-after attempt by senior Tyler Thomas was good, putting the Demons up 7-0.
With the Skiers going to the air often, but unable to mount a serious scoring threat against the Glenwood defense, the Demons jumped ahead 14-0 following a 10-yard touchdown burst by Nieslanik and the PAT by Thomas.
An Aspen fumble at the Glenwood 20-yard line near the end of the second quarter negated the only serious threat by the Skiers.
Several solid ground gains by Dollahan set the Demons up deep in Aspen territory and it was Nieslanik who finished off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run into the south end zone for a 21-0 Glenwood lead.
Running back Brody Porter bulled his way in for another rushing touchdown for Glenwood just before intermission to give the Demons a 27-0 lead.
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Glenwood Springs Demon Garrett Dollahan gets pushed out of bounds during Friday night’s season opener against the Aspen Skiers.
Chelsea Self/Post Independent
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Glenwood Springs Demon Blake Nieslanik forces his way into the end zone in the second quarter during Friday night’s season opener against the Aspen Skiers.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
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Glenwood Springs Demon Blake Nieslanik runs the ball down the field during Friday night’s season opener against the Aspen Skiers.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
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Glenwood Springs Demon Brody Porter forces his way down field through the defending Aspen Skiers during Friday night’s season opening game at Glenwood Springs High School.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
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Glenwood Springs Demons Zach Cecil-Hoerl and Ian Cecil-Hoerl rush the Aspen Skier quarterback during Friday night’s season opener at Glenwood Springs High School.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
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Two Glenwood Springs Demon celebrate after scoring early in the first quarter during Friday night’s season opener against the Aspen Skiers.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
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Glenwood Springs Demon Garrett Dollahan tries to run around the defending Aspen Skier during Friday night’s season opener against at Glenwood Springs High School.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Aspen’s defense finally got the visitors on the scoreboard early in the third quarter when Skier safety Nate Thomas picked off a deflected pass by Glenwood junior quarterback Evan Heyl and rambled untouched into the end zone. The Skier two-point attempt was stuffed by the Demons and the score stood at 27-6.
Heyl connected with senior receiver Wheatley Nieslanik for a short touchdown pass and the Demons were good on the two-point conversion for a large 35-6 lead.
Heyl added a second TD pass to his game resume, hitting junior tight end Sawyer McKenney for a score to give Glenwood a 41-6 margin.
Thomas, who provided the Skiers with the interception return, tossed a late touchdown pass for Aspen from the quarterback position for a consolation score that accounted for the game’s final tally on the night.
“Our kids have worked extremely hard the last 16 months, and what you saw tonight was the result of that effort,” Demons head coach Pat Engle said. “All the time and work together has bonded this group. I think the world of them and how they have prepared themselves for this season.”
In a solid opening-night debut, Nieslanik and Dollahan both turned in 100-plus rushing yards for the potent Glenwood run game.
Glenwood and Aspen will both hit the road to continue play in the 3A WSL next Friday night with the Demons making the long trek to Cortez and the Skiers heading to Rifle to face the Bears, who were 49-0 winners over Coal Ridge Friday night.
Basalt opens its season on Saturday afternoon at home against Salida.
Basalt football handles Glenwood for valley supremacy, moves to 4-0 on the season
Despite a spirited start to the season, the Glenwood Springs High football team faced a setback, falling 30-12 to the Basalt Longhorns on Friday night at Stubler Memorial Field.
