ARVADA — Wheat Ridge believes it has enough holdovers from last season’s runner-up squad to take another legitimate shot at the state title.
That concept is difficult to argue with after Friday night.
One of those holdovers is running back Nick Swanson, and the senior running back ran rampant in the No. 2 Farmers’ convincing 23-7 win against No. 7 Ponderosa in the Class 4A nonleague opener at the North Area Athletic Complex.
“I definitely feel we should make another run at it,” said Swanson, who rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns and even moonlighted a bit at quarterback. “We only lost six seniors last year, and we have plenty of guys coming back — and some sophomores who are looking good.”
Swanson’s role became further magnified when junior running back Davion Amos-White suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason scrimmage against D’Evelyn, but the senior never has shied away from an increased workload.
“Davion was our guy, and then we had our fullback Josh Brake go down with a sprained ankle,” Farmers coach Reid Kahl said. “But we’re comfortable using Nick in a number of different ways.”
Even short-handed, the Farmers’ run-based offense operated deftly and hogged the time of possession — and the Wheat Ridge defense was rugged and stingy.
The Farmers began the rematch of last season’s quarterfinals by outgaining the Mustangs 110-7 in the first quarter en route to a 14-0 advantage. The Farmers rushed for 291 yards overall.
Ponderosa was effective in the second quarter, when a 4-yard run by quarterback Taylor Johnson trimmed the deficit to 14-7. The Mustangs were on the verge of tying it but stalled late in the half at the Wheat Ridge 9.
“It’s just a matter of getting everything together,” Johnson said. “By the end of the season, we’re going to be just as good as last year.”
Ponderosa 0 7 0 0 — 7
Wheat Ridge 14 0 9 0 — 23
WR — Swanson 1 run (Strickler kick). WR — Swanson 10 run (Strickler kick). P — Johnson 4 run (Ongna kick). WR — Swanson 4 run (run failed). WR — Strickler FG 30.
