This was the biggest Friday night of the regular season in Fort Collins-area football and it delivered.
The Canvas Classic returned for its third annual edition, with local rivalries on the big stage at CSU's Canvas Stadium.
Wellington and Timnath kicked it off with another instant classic, and Rocky poured it on Poudre in the Canvas nightcap. Windsor also pulled a major road upset in Johnstown to extend a four-game winning streak.
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Here's how the Canvas Classic rivalry football games and Windsor's game at Roosevelt played out Friday night:
The Lobos came out and dominated after an early hiccup, using three Bradley Mallette touchdown passes plus touchdown runs from three different running backs en route a second straight win over Poudre in the Canvas Classic.
Next up for Rocky? The Lobos (3-2) begin league play at Brighton next Friday.
-- Chris Abshire
Rocky has been in cruise control the whole second half and finished it off in style on Yusuf Muhammad's six-yard touchdown run.
Rocky 43, Poudre 6; 2 minutes left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
What a win for the Wizards. They go on the road and knock off a top-ranked Roosevelt team that had been rolling.
The Windsor defense shut down the Roughriders' high-flying offense and forced multiple turnovers. Meanwhile, Tripp Thomas scored two touchdowns, Teegan Cole had the final scoring blow and Kyle Phelps threw a first-half TD to give Windsor a major cushion.
The Wizards have next week off and then head to Niwot on Thursday, Oct. 10 for their conference opener.
-- Chris Abshire
The Lobos are keeping the pressure up, forcing a mishandled punt attempt and blocking it to set up a 1-yard TD run by Cody Arnett. Rocky also added a field goal on the ensuing possession and has this game all but won.
Rocky 37, Poudre 6; End 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Windsor is going to knock off the top team in Class 3A on the road. The Wizards got another long touchdown run from Tripp Thomas and then the knockout blow on Teegan Cole's score from nearly 30 yards out.
Windsor 34, Roosevelt 10; mid 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Lobos have reeled off 27 straight points behind three Bradley Mallette touchdown passes to take control against rival Poudre at the half here at Canvas Stadium.
-- Chris Abshire
The Wizards have held their lead into the fourth quarter behind a Tripp Thomas touchdown run that went for almost 50 yards. Though Roosevelt is still close after a long TD pass of its own, Windsor got a key interception that set up a field goal.
Windsor 20, Roosevelt 10; start of 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
This game has completely swung to the Rocky side, with the Lobos scoring on a 17-yard TD pass from Bradley Mallette to Morgan Hancock and then another 76-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Matkin down the home sideline.
Rocky 27, Poudre 6; 7 minutes left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Wizards are playing strong on the road at the No. 1 team in Class 3A, getting a touchdown pass and a field goal to enter halftime with a one-score lead.
-- Chris Abshire
The Lobos recovered from the early turnover and got two straight touchdowns to take the lead. Bradley Mallette found Toby Hernandez.
Rocky then took advantage of a Poudre fumble off a muffed snap and scored shortly after on Cam Franz's 7-yard touchdown run.
Rocky Mountain 13, Poudre 6; end 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Impalas came out fired up, forcing a fumble on Rocky's opening possession and scored on the very next play via Gery Lockman's six-yard keeper on a option.
Poudre 6, Rocky Mountain 0; 10 minutes left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Lobos and Impalas have taken the field and Rocky has the ball first. How can these two teams possibly follow up that Wellington-Timnath thriller? Let's find out.
-- Chris Abshire
What a finish in Canvas Stadium. Wellington's Seamus Pike intercepted a tipped 4th down pass near midfield to seal this one. Three straight wins for the Eagles to start this Boxelder Cup rivalry series, this one behind a backup QB for three quarters.
Full story: Canvas Classic thriller: Wellington football, backup QB stun Timnath on last-minute TD pass
-- Chris Abshire
What a sequence. After the interception, Wellington got in the Red Zone but faced a 4th and 10 from the 14 with the game on the line.
And Eagles backup QB Eli Lavelle delivered, throwing a perfectly-placed ball between defenders to Cash Altschwager for the touchdown. Instead of playing for the tie, Wellington went for the win with a 2-point conversion and got it on a hard-fought run by Altschwager up the middle.
Wellington 15, Timnath 14; 1 minute left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Leading by seven and driving in Wellington territory, Timnath QB looked for a throw in the flat. But Eagles linebacker Teagen Greiman jumped the route, picked it off and returned it 30 yards into Cubs territory.
That could be a gamechanger here, as Wellington was unlikely to drive the field with its backup QB. Headed to the field so updates my sparse for a few minutes.
-- Chris Abshire
The Cubs have struggled at times on offense but they've got a difference maker on special teams.
Davis Payne took a bouncing punt at the 42-yard line, broke up the sidelines and managed to stay in bounds all the way to the endzone to give Timnath the lead.
It was Payne's third career punt-return TD and the second straight year he's housed one against Wellington. What a big play for this Timnath team.
Timnath 14, Wellington 7; 11 mins left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Eagles were in positive territory and looking to take the lead, but Timnath forced ANOTHER fumble, their third of the game. Cade Geist met Tre Trujillo right up the middle and forced a fumble that the Cubs pounced on.
One quarter left to decide the the Boxelder Cup in this rivalry matchup.
-- Chris Abshire
Timnath put together a promising drive to open the second half, but Wellington stuffed a 4th and 1 run near the 30-yard line to halt the Cubs' momentum.
Wellington 7, Timnath 7; Six minutes left 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Tanner Gray's day is done after suffering a left knee injury in the second quarter against Timnath.
The Eagles' junior QB and third-year starter is in street clothes for the second half and will be re-evaluated in the coming days. A tough, tough break for Wellington.
-- Chris Abshire
It's been a close, if sloppy, game so far but it should be a fun one for the second half.
Timnath really siezed momentum after Tanner Gray exited the game, and it's a huge concern for the Eagles' season (much less this game) is his injury is serious.
-- Chris Abshire
The Cubs finally hit on some long plays and finished the drive off on Kyle Nelson's 22-yard fade pass to Carter Gaines for the touchdown.
Nelson also connected with Gaines for a nearly 30-yard pass to kickstart the drive. Timnath offense seems to be finding a rhythm.
Timnath 7, Wellington 7; 1:44 left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Eagles' standout QB is out of the game after suffering a lower-leg injury and was getting his left knee taped up on the sideline before exiting the field.
The Cubs missed a 41-yard field goal and Gray did not play on the ensuing Wellington possession. Sophomore Eli Lavelle is under center.
-- Chris Abshire
It was close but Wellington's defense stopped the Cubs just short of the line to gain on a 4th and 2 from the 15-yard line. Officials brought out the chains to measure and the ball was a couple inches shy.
Two plays later, Timnath got the ball right back, forcing a Cash Altschwager fumble.
Wellington 7, Timnath 0; 10:30 left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington is on the board after the big pass play, but the Cubs have the ball deep in Eagles territory to open the second quarter. A key 3rd and 8 upcoming for the Timnath offense.
-- Chris Abshire
The Eagles aren't known as a deep passing team, but they hit a big one early.
After a defensive stand, Tanner Gray found Cash Altschwager for a 61-yard completion (thrown 40+ in the air) and the wideout nearly took it the distance tiptoeing the sidelines. Gray took it in himself for the touchdown three plays later.
Wellington 7, Timnath 0; 3:18 left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
The Cubs grab some quick momentum, as Evan Vasa forced a Tanner Gray fumble near midfield and Dominic Giron hopped on the ball. Timnath takes over early first quarter with good field position.
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington will get the ball first after winning the opening coin toss. We'll see the Eagles on offense to start the 2024 Canvas Classic
-- 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 these Canvas Classic rivalry games and every PSD matchup.
History lesson: Here are all-time records for Fort Collins city football rivalries
-- Chris Abshire
We gave fans their vote, plus I made my own predictions for Rivalry Week games in Fort Collins football. See who I think will win and who has bulletin board material.
See them all: Rivalry Week fan poll picks, Coloradoan predictions: Who will win local football rivalries?
-- Chris Abshire
Fans, here's what you should know if you're heading out to the games, including ticket, parking and seating information for the Canvas Classic. Plus, how to watch and more.
Canvas Classic 2024: Ticket, parking, gameday info for high school football rivalry games at CSU
-- Chris Abshire
Thursday night featured the Harmony Cup rivalry out at PSD Stadium and it brought plenty of offensive fireworks for the SaberCats.
Fossil QB Nick Kubat accounted for 6 touchdowns (3 passing, 3 rushing), Owen Wind picked off two passes plus had a dazzling TD reception and Colton Pawlak scored twice on the ground.
How it happened: Thursday Night Live recap: Fossil Ridge football routs rival Fort Collins in Harmony Cup
From fumble to SportsCenter highlight: Watch this wild Fossil Ridge football touchdown
-- Chris Abshire
Both Canvas Classic games will be streamed live (for free) on PSD Athletics' YouTube page, with Dave Haase and Randy McCoy on the broadcast call.
It's part of a season-long effort to broadcast all home football games at French Field and PSD Stadium this season.
More: Fort Collins football: How to watch, stream local high school games for 2024 season
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington is one of two Fort Collins-area teams in the top-10 of their respective classification in Colorado Preps' latest poll. See where voters (coaches and media members) have the Eagles ranked.
Read more: Week 5 Colorado high school football rankings
-- Chris Abshire
Here are all the Week 5 high school football games featuring teams from Fort Collins and surrounding areas:
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
- Fossil Ridge 56 , Fort Collins 14
- Thompson Valley 21 , Northridge 0
- Severance 26 , Evergreen 24
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)
More: Northern Colorado high school football scores, schedule, standings for the 2024 season
-- Chris Abshire
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Friday football recap: Wellington wins thriller, Rocky routs Poudre, Windsor upsets 3A No. 1
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