By Madison Shaw
Originally published in the Left Hand Valley Courier on September 17, 2025.
Niwot High School senior Eli Quesada. (Madison Shaw/Left Hand Valley Courier)
On Friday, Sept. 12, Niwot High School's football team returned to the win column with a 49-43 victory at Skyview High School, snapping a long winless streak and earning the team's first win since Sept. 22, 2023, when they topped Eagle Valley High School on homecoming night.
Fittingly, the Cougars will carry that momentum into another homecoming matchup this year as they host the Wheat Ridge Farmers on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Art Stapp Sports Complex at Niwot High School.
Skyview entered the game with a 2-0 record, and had not been scored upon, posting victories of 47-0 over Thornton and 71-0 over Hinkley.
Senior quarterback Wyatt Volf delivered a career performance against the Skyview Wolverines, throwing six touchdown passes and leading an offense that looked in rhythm from start to finish. Four of those scores went to senior wideout Eli Quesada, while junior Jaydan Martinez hauled in two long touchdowns of his own.
"The timing and the whole rhythm that we've been working on every day just felt right, like everything was flowing," Volf said. "We've been consistent since February, so it was awesome to finally show that on the field."
Head coach Nik Blume said Volf's stat line of more than 500 yards of total offense was impressive, but he emphasized the team effort behind it. "Wyatt was kind of a one-man wrecking crew, but you've got to give those wide receivers and the offensive line a lot of credit," Blume said.
The Cougars needed every one of those scores to outlast the Wolverines. After taking a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run by senior Wes Manzanares, Niwot traded blows with Skyview throughout the first half and trailed 21-13 at halftime. Volf and the offense roared back in the third quarter, putting up 23 points to seize control.
Even then, Skyview countered with a 95-yard kick return touchdown and a late rushing score by quarterback Carlos Carillo, who also threw three touchdown passes. With the game tied at 43 in the final minutes, Volf launched a 70-yard strike to Quesada for the decisive touchdown.
When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration was unlike anything the Cougars had experienced in nearly two years.
"There's really nothing like it," Volf said. "Everyone was just nonstop smiling, and when we ran over to the corner for our postgame talk, we were all jumping up and down."
For Blume, the moment carried even deeper meaning. "Friday was super emotional for me," he said. "To finally get a win and see a group of kids that have done everything asked of them be rewarded was definitely a big thing for me."
The victory also revealed that Niwot has more depth than the staff initially expected. The Cougars were without starting left tackle senior Ethan Taing, who suffered a concussion against Centaurus, but freshman Maddox Longseth stepped in and "held his water," according to Blume.
"That young man's got a bright future," Blume said. "He had a heck of a game and didn't back down. We also saw some new defensive backs step up, and that's going to help us long term."
The win not only ended a 17-game skid, but it also showed how much Niwot's offense has evolved since last year. Last season, the Cougars managed just 68 points across nine games. This fall, they have already piled up 120 in only three contests.
Now the attention shifts to this Friday, when Niwot will finally play in front of its home crowd. "It's great motivation," Blume said. "The team is going to be excited because it's homecoming and it's our first home game of the year. Those two things together manufacture the motivation for the week."
He continued, "I also think every week we get a little more confident, because offensively we've just been doing a lot of things. The boys understand we can score from anywhere at any time."
Their opponent, Wheat Ridge High School, enters the week with a record of 0-2 and an extra week of preparation after a bye. The Farmers lost 42-6 to Standley Lake High School in their last outing on Sept. 4.
"They're definitely a good team," Volf said. "They were really good last year, but both of our rosters have changed, so I think it'll be about who works for it."
This win brings Niwot to 1-2 on the 2025 season.
