Fossil Ridge football opens new PSD Stadium in Timnath with last-minute win over Loveland

TIMNATH – Poudre School District officials couldn’t have scripted a better opening night of football at the new Timnath Athletic Complex: A wild, come-from-behind win Thursday by host Fossil Ridge High School over Loveland before a near-capacity crowd.

The atmosphere was electric, with Fossil Ridge students and fans tightly packed into the home-team’s stands.

The game was even better.

Fossil Ridge quarterback Tyler Kubat threw for three touchdowns, the last a 15-yarder to Trek Keyworth with less than a minute remaining to tie the score. Bryce Olson’s point-after touchdown kick provided the winning margin in a 36-35 SaberCats’ victory that was secured with an interception by Ryan Pollyea on the ensuing Loveland series.

“I honestly am lost for words right now,” said Kubat, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound senior. “… It really came down to the last possession, and that’s all you can really ask about from football. I’m looking forward to this team. No matter what happens, we’re always going to fight to the end.”

Kubat and the SaberCats had to march more than 80 yards in the final two minutes for the winning touchdown, converting two fourth downs along the way. A fourth-and-3 pass to Olson for a first down at the Loveland 15 yard-line with 1:18 remaining put Fossil Ridge, which had been stopped on four downs inside the Red Wolves’ 5-yard line earlier in the game, in position for the winning score.

Sophomore Colton Pawlak ran for one touchdown and turned a short pass out of the backfield into another score for Fossil Ridge.

Mac Busteed also caught a touchdown pass for the SaberCats before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.

Olson also ran for a touchdown for the SaberCats, who led for most of the game in the first of five regular-season home games they'll play at the new stadium that will be used by all Poudre School District schools.

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Loveland quarterback Garret Harstad, who ran for 1,245 yards a year ago, picked up where he left off while running for three touchdowns, the first an 80-yarder and the third from 58 yards out. But he had to leave the game briefly with a muscle cramp while backup sophomore Trey Olsen drove the Red Wolves the length of the field, giving them their first lead on a 5-yard TD run with 7:27 remaining in the game. Harstad returned to run for the 2-point conversion, giving the Red Wolves a 35-27 lead.

Fossil Ridge was forced to punt on its next possession, as was Loveland, giving the SaberCats just enough time to drive for the winning score.

Loveland’s last-ditch effort to respond ended with an interception by Pollyea that was nearly returned for a touchdown, setting off wild celebrations on the SaberCats’ sideline and in the stands, where students were tightly packed into an entire section from bottom to top.

It was a far different feeling than last season, when the SaberCats – who were playing their home games across town at French Field at Rocky Mountain High School – lost four of their first five games before bouncing back to go 4-1 in league play for a conference title and spot in the Class 5A playoffs.

They beat a good Loveland team that returns several key players from a squad that went 10-2 last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs and is ranked No. 5 in 4A in the preseason poll.

“Obviously, victories matter,” Kubat said. “We started off 0-3 last year, and we just wanted to get this win tonight. It was definitely a team win.”

Kelly Lyell reports on CSU, high school and other local sports and topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, follow him on Twitter @KellyLyell and find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fossil Ridge football opens new stadium with wild win over Loveland