Friday Night Blitz ’26: Week 4
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Week Four of the High School Football season, we have wild finishes, lopsided wins, and teams jostling for a spot atop the standings.
The Palisade Bulldogs beat the Pomona Panthers 36-35 at Stocker Stadium in a rematch of last year’s Class 3A state semifinal, which Pomona won on its way to the state title.
Pomona opened the scoring with a field goal, but Palisade answered with two touchdown runs from quarterback Aidan Shiao to lead in the first half. Pomona rallied in the second half behind Aayen Martinez and quarterback Amador Lopez, taking the lead before Palisade responded with a touchdown pass from Shiao to Ryan Davis and a touchdown run from Adyn Cassity. Lopez tied the game with a rushing touchdown, and Shiao answered with another touchdown run to put Palisade ahead 35-29 with a little over two minutes remaining.
Pomona’s Cedric Rathbun set up a game-tying touchdown with a catch down the sideline, and Lopez scored on a quarterback keeper to make it 35-35. Rather than kick the extra point to force overtime, Pomona went for a two-point conversion. Palisade’s Carter Hayward stopped Lopez short of the end zone on the attempt, securing Palisade’s 36-35 win.
The Delta Panthers continued their hot start with a 49-0 pummeling of the Pagosa Springs Pirates. Delta got the Homecoming fireworks going early, including scores by Alex Ryan, Cole Morlan, Mack Lockhart, and two touchdowns from Scott Floyd. Freshman Cole Ballard contributed on the defensive side of the ball with multiple sacks and a forced fumble. The Panthers live up to their #2 ranking in 2A with a 5-0 start
After a 3-0 start, the Olathe Pirates dropped their first league game of the year against the Moffat County Bulldogs. After going up 7-0 early, the Pirates couldn’t capitalize on multiple turnover opportunities and fell 19-15. They visit the Grand Valley Cardinals next week
Other reported scores can be found below.
Rifle falls to Eagle Valley 28-14
Central falls to Steamboat Springs 32-14
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