Berthoud football drops to Mountain View 38-7
By Dan Karpiel
Sports Writer
[1]- Ruebesam to Fraser in 3rd quarter
Friday night at Ray Patterson Field in Loveland the Berthoud Spartan football team lost their fourth consecutive game by 38-7 score to the Mountain View Mountain Lions. The loss drops Berthoud’s record to 3-6 on the season and 0-4 in the conference. Mountain View entered the week as the number five ranked team statewide in class 3A. The victory improves the Mountain Lions’ record to 8-1.
The Spartans were aware that the contest with the Mountain Lions would be tough. Prior to a loss last week to Silver Creek, Mountain View had been the number one ranked team in class 3A for the entire season. “That’s a good football team….they’re well coached and their kids execute the stuff they do real well,” Berthoud Head Coach Dan McGinn said of Mountain View after the game. Despite the lop-sided final score Berthoud played well early in the game, taking a 7-7 tie into the locker room at halftime.
[2]- Ruebesam tries to escape a sack by two Mountain View defensemen
The Mountain Lions scored the first points of the game and took an early 7-0 lead. With 6:09 remaining in the first quarter, Mountain View quarterback Stine Brennan scrambled in for an 11-yard touchdown. Earlier a 52-yard touchdown run from Mountain View running back Joey Hlushak was called back due to a Mountain Lion holding penalty. Sadly for Berthoud this good fortune would be on their side for only that one play as a clear catch and fumble by a Mountain View receiver was ruled an incomplete pass by the officials. The botched call allowed Mountain View to retain possession and score a few plays later.
The Spartan defense was able to regroup following the Mountain Lion touchdown. On Mountain View’s next possession Spartan senior linebacker and team captain Zackary Smith stymied a Mountain Lion ball carrier on third down and thirteen, forcing a Mountain View punt. The Spartans killed a subsequent Mountain View drive when junior defensive lineman Timothy Deeming pounced on a loose ball, setting the Berthoud offense up near midfield.
Unlike Berthoud’s previous two possessions, which ended on an interception and a missed field goal, the Spartans did not allow this scoring opportunity to get away. Junior quarterback Zach Ruebesam completed a long pass to senior receiver Cooper Wynn for 32-yard gain, putting the Spartans deep in Mountain View territory. With 1:45 remaining in the second quarter, Ruebesam would connect with junior halfback Chase Fraser for an 11-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
The second half, however, would be a different story. The Berthoud offense failed to sustain drives and committed two turnovers. The Spartan defense failed to perform much better and allowed Mountain View to score on four consecutive second half possessions. Speaking on Berthoud’s second half struggles Coach McGinn said, “They got some momentum there and unfortunately we couldn’t stop it.” McGinn would add that despite Berthoud’s difficulties in the second half he was proud of how hard his team played throughout the game.
[3]- Head Coach Dan McGinn talks to his offense during a timeout
The Spartan football team will suit up for their final game of the season next Friday at Max Marr Field. “We’ve got one more chance to suit up and play together and a win in the last game of the year sounds a heck of a lot better than not getting a win,” Coach McGinn said. Berthoud’s opponent for their tenth game will be the Skyline Falcons. Longmont-based Skyline is 2-7 on the year and, like Berthoud, 0-4 in conference play.
Photos by Dan Karpiel