Defense was key in Roaring Fork High School’s return to varsity level football on the road at Ellicott east of Colorado Springs Friday, Aug. 30, where the Rams held on for a 14-13 win.
Low roster numbers last season prompted the Rams to sit out a year to rebuild the program at the junior varsity level and with a few key players honing their varsity skills playing for neighboring Glenwood Springs.
Head coach Scott Noll said he liked what he saw on the gridiron to open the rejuvenated varsity campaign, but knows the team has some work to do to compete in the Class 1A Western Slope League this season.
“We struggled early to get any rhythm on offense but improved as the game went on,” Noll said. “It’s great to get that first game under our belt and we’re looking forward to making offensive adjustments for this week (6pm Friday at home versus Yuma).”
Against the Ellicott Thunderhawks, Roaring Fork senior Hunter Noll reeled in a 65-yard pass from quarterback Kenny Riley to put Roaring Fork on the scoreboard first.
Junior Eli Norris’s extra point kick made it 7-0, before Ellicott answered with a seven-yard run for a touchdown and an extra point in the second quarter to make it 14-14 at halftime.
Third quarter play saw Rams junior Donny Read run it in from 10 yards out, followed by a Norris kick to give Roaring Fork the 14-7 edge.
A big defensive play by senior Balaram Koss in the fourth quarter secured the Rams win. After Ellicott scored a touchdown on a six-yard run, Balaram blocked the extra-point kick to keep Roaring Fork in front by what would prove to be the final score.
Tough defense to close out the game secured the win for the Rams, who picked up their first varsity win since a 42-6 homecoming victory over Olathe on Oct. 7, 2022.
Hunter Noll finished the game with 119 receiving yards and 170 all-purpose yards. Read rushed for 68 yards, including a 27-yard scramble. On the defensive side of the ball, Read and Koss also combined for 15 tackles on the night.
After the home opener against Yuma this Friday, the Rams (1-0) host Del Norte at 1pm Saturday, Sept. 14, before a road contest at Prospect Ridge on Sept. 21. Roaring Fork opens the conference season by hosting Grand Valley for the big homecoming game, 7pm Friday, Oct. 4.
Volleyball
Playing up to some Class 4A competition, Roaring Fork’s ladies volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to a tough Steamboat Springs team in the home opener Friday, Aug. 30.
The loss came on the heels of a convincing 3-0 win at 2A Vail Mountain on Aug. 28, as the Rams tune up for the 3A Western Slope League season later this month.
Roaring Fork took control from the first serve against Vail Mountain, opening with a 25-12 set win and then scoring 25-18 and 25-23 wins to sweep the Gore Rangers.
Junior Nikki Tardif had 11 kills and five aces from the serving line for the Rams, and senior Erica Crownhart had 19 digs.
Against Steamboat, the Rams opened strong, going up 3-2 in the first set and keeping it close after the Sailors reclaimed the lead, before falling 25-21.
Steamboat commanded the second set with a 25-11 win and was at game point, 24-16, in the third set before the Rams closed it out with a promising rally behind the strong serving of senior Erica Crownhart. The Sailors ultimately prevailed, 25-22, to claim the sweep.
Roaring Fork (2-4) was again led by Tardif with nine kills, three blocks and 17 digs. Carley and Erica Crownhart had 13 and 12 digs, respectively, and Carley Crownhart recorded 20 assists from the setter position.
Next up, the Rams host rival Basalt for a non-conference matchup at 6:30pm Thursday, Sept. 5.
In other action
The Roaring Fork boys soccer team was idle this past week, while preparing to take the short bus ride to play Basalt for a non-conference match at 4pm Thursday, Sept. 5; the combined Basalt girls softball team, which includes players from Roaring Fork, picked up three wins to one loss during their weekend home tournament, falling 15-9 to Gilcrest’s Valley Vikings on Friday before scoring a 16-4 win over Platte Valley and returning to the diamond on Saturday to win 23-13 and 19-4 in back-to-back games against Bennett.