November 2nd 2024.
Last night at Mead High School, the enthusiastic band treated the audience to a thrilling performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during halftime. It was a fitting choice, considering it was the day after Halloween and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement for the highly-anticipated match between the top two teams in Class 3A - Windsor and Mead.
In the end, it was the Wizards who emerged victorious, handing the Mavericks their first defeat of the season in a nail-biting 13-7 showdown. Mead, fueled by a 37-yard halfback pass from Ethan Elmore to Ryan St. Aubin, put up a strong fight and seemed to be on their way to a game-tying score in the final moments. However, their hopes were dashed when another halfback pass from Elmore was broken up near the Windsor 10-yard line.
The Wizards solidified their dominance in the North 2 League with a perfect 4-0 record, while Mead's record tumbled to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in the league. Windsor's impressive kicking game played a crucial role in their victory, with senior Matt Zenger pinning Mead at their own 4-yard line and the Mavericks failing to convert on their possession. This gave the Wizards a short field, and though they didn't capitalize on it, Kale Frederick's 33-yard field goal gave them a 10-7 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Windsor continued to push forward with junior Adrian Czyszczon leading the charge, but a holding penalty nullified a touchdown and Frederick was called upon again to make a 29-yard field goal. He delivered with precision, extending Windsor's lead to 13-7 with 10:10 left in the game.
Both teams were evenly matched in the first half, with strong defensive plays and hard-hitting tackles setting the tone for the game. In the opening minutes, the Wizards made a bold statement by shutting down Mead's first possession and then scoring in just four plays. Senior running back Tripp Thomas was the star, breaking through the defense for a 55-yard run before eventually finding the end zone for a touchdown.
The Mavericks struggled to find their rhythm on offense for most of the first half, but they finally found their footing late in the first quarter. However, a false-start penalty halted their progress and they were unable to capitalize on the promising drive. It wasn't until early in the second quarter that Mead's fortunes turned, thanks to a game-changing defensive play. Junior Carter Woods timed his blitz to perfection, hitting Windsor's quarterback Edison Burk just as he released the ball. JD Hamilton was there to make the interception, giving Mead a chance to turn the game around with a first down at the Windsor 33.
And that's exactly what they did. With four consecutive carries from sophomore running back Ethan Elmore, Mead closed the gap and scored their first touchdown of the night. Elmore's 16-yard run was a display of his agility and skill as he outmaneuvered Windsor's defense to find the end zone.
For all the latest sports news, be sure to sign up for the Sports Omelette and get our expert analysis on all of Denver's teams.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
