It was a special edition of Friday Night Live on a Thursday evening as Rivalry Week kicked off in Fort Collins-area football.
The Coloradoan was out at PSD Stadium in Timnath for a Harmony Cup battle between Fossil Ridge and Fort Collins.
The SaberCats dominated from start to finish, routing their rivals and getting a running clock going in a 42-point blowout.
This is the Coloradoan's weekly high school football live updates blog, where we share all the latest scores, highlights, updates, and more for Fort Collins-area football teams.
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Here's how the rivalry matchup between Fort Collins and Fossil Ridge played out Thursday night:
This one was easy, since you may not see a better touchdown play in NoCo football this season.
Kubat fumbled the snap as he tried to throw a quick pass, gathered it in the face of an oncoming pass rush and found Wind over the middle. The senior wideout then broke multiple tackles before diving into the endzone for a wild 63-yard touchdown.
See the play: From fumble to SportsCenter highlight reel: Watch this wild Fossil Ridge football score
-- Chris Abshire
Fossil Ridge got some payback for last year's loss in this one, demolishing Fort Collins to claim the 2024 edition of this Harmony Cup rivalry.
Nick Kubat accounted for six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing), Owen Wind grabbed two INTs with an incredible receiving score, Colton Pawlak scored two rushing TDs and Eli Swanson had a pair of receiving TDs.
Fossil could have scored more if it wanted, but Kubat kneeled the ball several times in the final minutes with the clock running.
The SaberCats (2-3) got a big momentum boost, snapping a three-game losing streak. They'll be at Legacy next week. The Lambkins (2-3) dropped their second straight and host Horizon next Friday.
-- Chris Abshire
It's officially running clock time in this city rivalry. Fossil Ridge has dominated from the jump and it continued on Colton Pawlak's shifty 32-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game.
Fossil Ridge 56, Fort Collins 14; 10 minutes left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The SaberCats aren't about to let their rivals back in this one. Fossil responded to the Collins score with another quick scoring drive, and Colton Pawlak hit the endzone for a 2-yard TD run.
Nick Kubat hit Harley Schmidt for two big pass plays accounting for over 60 yards of that 71-yard scoring march.
Fossil Ridge 49, Fort Collins 14; 2:14 left 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Lambkins aren't laying down despite the big deficit, putting together a long scoring drive.
Jack McKeon finished it off with an 18-yard score, taking a screen pass from QB Justin Cranford into the endzone.
Fossil Ridge 42, Fort Collins 14; 4:06 left 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Fossil Ridge is playing like it wanted revenge for last year's rivalry loss. The SaberCats take their opening possession of the second half right down the field and score again on Nick Kubat's 29-yard strike to Eli Swanson.
It's Swanson's second TD catch tonight and Kubat's sixth score accounted for, including three through the air.
Fossil Ridge 42, Fort Collins 7; mid 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Fossil is really rolling now. The SaberCats caught a break on a muffed Fort Collins punt attempt and got great field position with a minute to play. They capitalized just before the halftime buzzer on Nick Kubat's third TD scramble of the first half.
Kubat accounted for five total TDs (three rushing, two passing), while Owen Wind had two INTs and a receiving score in the opening half.
-- Chris Abshire
The SaberCats safety is having a huge night!
Wind picked off another pass for his second interception of the game. Then, on the first play of the ensuing drive, Nick Kubat recovered from a dropped pass attempt and found Wind on a deep pass over the middle that Wind took in through multiple defenders for a remarkable touchdown.
More: Watch this wild Fossil Ridge football touchdown pass against city rival Fort Collins
Fossil Ridge 28, Fort Collins 7; 3:40 left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Fossil is starting to take control. Owen Wind picked off a 3rd down pass and then some big plays to Marcus Mozer and Colton Pawlak led to another Nick Kubat diving TD run at the pylon (almost a carbon copy of Fossil's first score).
Fossil Ridge 21, Fort Collins 7; mid 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
And I mean quick. The SaberCats got a kickoff return past midfield from Harley Schmidt and then needed just four plays to score.
Eli Swanson got his first touchdown grab (and just fifth reception all year), taking it in for a nearly 20-yard touchdown.
Fossil Ridge 14, Fort Collins 7; 9 minutes left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
What an impressive response for the Lambkins. They convert some crucial third downs plus a 4th and long, converting the latter on a great catch by Levi Hermsen as he took a big hit.
Justin Cranford took it in for the score four plays later on a QB sneak. We got a good one brewing here.
Fossil Ridge 7, Fort Collins 0; 10:47 left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
We're at a key point early in the game here. Fort Collins has put together a nice drive but will face a 4th and 7 from the Fossil 34 to open the second quarter. Lambkins have done a nice job giving their defense some rest with a lengthy drive.
-- Chris Abshire
Fort Collins' first drive yielded one first down before a penalty negated a third-down conversion and ultimately forced a punt. Fossil followed with a 3 and out.
Fossil Ridge 7, Fort Collins 0; 4:31 left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The SaberCats methodically marched down the field in 10 plays, and QB Nick Kubat finished it off with a 10-yard scramble diving at the pylon for the score.
Owen Wind had a big 30-yard reception on the drive and Colton Pawlak also had nearly 25 yards on the ground.
Fossil Ridge 7, Fort Collins 0; 9:47 left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Fossil Ridge will receive the ball after winning the opening coin toss. We'll get to see this dynamic SaberCats offense get to work.
-- Chris Abshire
This year's Collins-Fossil matchup has a lot to live up to after an absolute classic last season.
The Lambkins entered the game 0-6 but went toe-to-toe with the SaberCats before a late fourth-down stop gave them the ball in a tie game. Fort Collins got a couple first downs and won it on Joel Lopez's walk-off field goal for a 34-31 win.
What does this year's edition of the Harmony Cup have in store for us? Stay tuned.
-- Chris Abshire
We gave fans their vote, plus I made my own predictions for Rivalry Week games in Fort Collins football. (Hint: There will be plenty of points scored)
See the picks: Rivalry Week fan poll, Coloradoan predictions: Who will win local football rivalries?
-- Chris Abshire
Almost every Fort Collins football city rivalry has been remarkably close throughout the years, with several series even tied up.
See who owns the edge in this Harmony Cup rivalry and every city rivalry.
More: Fort Collins high school football history: Here are all-time records for city rivalries
-- Chris Abshire
For the first time, all home games for Poudre School District teams at French Field in Fort Collins and PSD Stadium in Timnath will be streamed live (for free) on PSD Athletics' YouTube channel.
That includes tonight’s game between Fort Collins and Fossil Ridge.
Read more: How to watch, stream Fort Collins-area high school games for 2024 season
-- Chris Abshire
Here are all the Week 5 high school football games featuring teams from Fort Collins and surrounding areas:
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
- Fort Collins at Fossil Ridge (7 p.m.)
- Thompson Valley at Northridge (7 p.m.)
- Severance at Evergreen (7 p.m.)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
- Wellington vs. Timnath (4:30 p.m., Canvas Classic at CSU)
- Windsor at Roosevelt (7 p.m.)
- Greeley West at Greeley Central (7 p.m.)
- Eaton at Fort Morgan (7 p.m.)
- Grand Valley at Resurrection Christian (7 p.m.)
- Coronado at Berthoud (7 p.m.)
- Highland at Bennett (7 p.m.)
- Poudre vs. Rocky Mountain (7:30 p.m., Canvas Classic at CSU)
-- Chris Abshire
Two Fort Collins-area teams are in the latest Colorado Preps' high school football rankings entering Week 5, including a participant in Friday night's Canvas Classic at CSU.
See the full polls: Week 5 Colorado high school football rankings:
-- Chris Abshire
This live blog will be our weekly spot to cover all the games in the Fort Collins area, from live scores, updates and fan highlights to quick postgame analysis.
More: Welcome to Friday Night Live: How the Coloradoan will cover 2024 Fort Collins high school football
-- Chris Abshire
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Thursday Night Live recap: Fossil Ridge football routs rival Fort Collins in Harmony Cup
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