Fort Collins High School opened its 2026 football season with an impressive comeback victory over Columbine, a Colorado high school powerhouse, winning 21-20 on August 21st at PSD Stadium. The game marked the debut of new head coach Jeff Brennan and showcased a dramatic second-half turnaround for the Lambkins, who struggled through a sloppy opening half before exploding offensively after halftime.
The turning point came when Fort Collins outscored Columbine 21-0 in an electric stretch that lasted less than nine minutes. Junior quarterback Jace Garcia orchestrated the offensive surge, throwing for over 300 yards and connecting with receivers Bode Hammerschmidt and Donovan Dumas for touchdowns in consecutive third-quarter possessions. Running back Vicente Romero added a 20-yard scoring run, and wide receiver Preston Mozer made two crucial long-gain catches that set up the scoring drives.
Columbine mounted a furious comeback, scoring on consecutive drives to pull within one point. The Rebels’ final touchdown came with just 1:05 remaining, but they missed the extra point, allowing Fort Collins to secure the dramatic victory. Despite the offensive fireworks, the contest was typical of early-season football, featuring nearly 20 combined penalties and six turnovers. The Fort Collins defense proved crucial down the stretch, recording three fumble recoveries and making multiple fourth-down stops.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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