West shows it is tough

Mark Roggy had a glimpse of the future Friday night, thanks in part to the Northridge football team.

Roggy's Greeley West Spartans used the Grizzlies as an example to make a point -- they fully intend to make a run at the Northern Conference title in the second half of the season.

They started with their foot on the pedal Friday night in a 34-7 romp over cross-town rival Northridge at District 6 Stadium, running their conference mark to 3-1 and overall record to 4-1. Northridge falls to 0-4, 0-5.

All totaled, West's numbers against the Grizzlies were indicative of the different directions the two teams are heading.

« The Spartans went three-deep in their lineup in the final quarter with a 31-0 lead.

« Northridge had only two first downs in the first half, and didn't reach its total of five until its final possession, virtually against anybody from the West bench who hadn't grass-stained their uniform yet.

« The Grizzlies didn't score until there was 1 minute left in the game when Damon Cantrell scored from the 4 on a counter play to avoid the shutout.

« Greeley West piled up 372 yards of offense, highlighted by 214 on the ground by senior tailback Ethan Schmitt.

« Northridge barely mustered 99 yards of offense -- a mere 1 on the ground, including a minus-33 yards via a sack of quarterback Chance Green.

"We had just five first downs?" Northridge head coach Jeff Fulton asked. "How pathetic is that?"

Certainly not enough to challenge West's defense, which set up the Spartan offense for its first 10 points by running down punter Drake Huggans on fourth-and-24 -- resulting in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Sean Blackmer to Preston Becker -- and an interception by Connor Roggy to set up a 27-yard field goal by junior Brian Wright, who was also good from 30 yards out in the fourth quarter.

"We're not playing together as a team," Cantrell said. "We have some people hurt, and it seems like we have a different lineup out there all the time."

Blackmer, in just the second start of his career, replacing injured senior Rex Morgan, was 5-for-11 for 94 yards and three touchdowns -- 33 yards to Becker; 37 yards to Schmitt; and 11 yards to Reed Miller.

"Yeah, I'm feeling a little more comfortable, but it's still just two games," said a humble Blackmer, who had four completions for touchdowns or a first down.

Fulton added that he was "extremely proud" of his defense, which did force West into five punting situations.

Schmitt's 214 rushing yards is a career high, but it didn't come without being fatigued.

"I'm way tired," said Schmitt, who carried the ball 25 times, and also hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass.

"I feel like I can barely walk. I'm pretty beat up."

West defensive end Andrew Downing credited Northridge's offensive line for its physical play, adding, "Their offense was sort of like going up against our offense in practice. I do know that last week's loss (16-9 to Longmont) left a bad taste in our mouths."

* SPARTANS CONTROL: Former University of Northern Colorado quarterback Tom Beck presented the Lighthouse Lending (Beck's mortgage company) traveling trophy to Spartans head coach Mark Roggy after the game. The Spartans lead the series 3-1. Northridge's only victory came in 2002 when it beat West 13-12.

* OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES: The Grizzlies have been outscored 165-42 this season, including 91-14 in their last three games.

* IN THE HOUSE: GW senior quarterback/defensive Rex Morgan, who suffered a dislocated hip in the second game of the season, wasn't suited up, but was throwing passes in pregame warmups. There's a possibility Morgan could return before the season ends.

Source: Samuel G. Mustari

Greeley West 34, Northridge 7

GWHS 7 10 7 10 -- 34

NHS 0 0 0 7 -- 7

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Greeley West -- Preston Becker 33 pass from Sean Blackmer (Brian Wright kick). 5:40 left to play. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 2:42. Key play: A 13-yard run by Ethan Schmitt on third-and-5 at the Northridge 35. Greeley West 7, Northridge 0.

Second Quarter

Greeley West -- Wright 27 field goal. 6:55 left to play. Drive: 8 plays, 21 yards. 3:15. Key play: A 9-yard run by Ethan Schmitt on first-and-10 at the Northridge 30. Greeley West 10, Northridge 0.

Greeley West -- Ethan Schmitt 27 pass from Blackmer (Wright kick). :53 left to play. Drive: 3 plays,49 yards, :59. Key play: A 15-yard run by Schmitt on first-and-10 at the Northridge 49. Greeley West 17, Northridge 0.

Third Quarter

Greeley West -- Reed Miller 11 pass from Blackmer (White kick). 5:52 left to play. Drive: 5 plays, 34 yards, 1:24. Key play: A 20-yard run by Schmitt on the Northridge 34. Greele West 24, Northridge 0.

Fourth Quarter

Greeley West -- Schmitt 20 run (Wright kick). 11:27 left to play. Drive: 4 plays, 67 yards, 1:13. Key play: A 26-yard run by Schmitt on first-and-10 at the Greeley West 33. Greeley West 31, Northridge 0.

Greeley West -- Wright 30 field goal. 6:41 left to play. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 4:20. Key play: A 23-yard run by Andrew Downing on fist-and-10 at the Greeley West 27. Greeley West 34, Northridge 0.

Northridge -- Romauldo Ortiz 4 run (Jordan Brumley kick). :29 left to play. Drive: 4 plays, 53 yards, 1:00. Key play: A 32-yard reception by Matt Ritchie on second-and-10 at the Northridge 47. Greeley West 34, Northridge 7.

Team Statistics

NHS GW

First Downs 5 18

By Rushing 1 14

By Passing 4 4

By Penalty 0 0

Rushing Yards 1 278

Passing Yards 98 94

Total Offense 99 372

Passing: Com-Att-Int 10-23-1 5-11-0

Punting: No-Avg 9-29.0 5-32.6

Fumbles: No.-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties: No.-Yds 2-10 6-40

Individual Leaders

Rushing: Northridge: Damon Cantrell 12-41, Easton Ramirez 4-7. Greeley West: Ethan Schmitt 25-214, Andrew Downing 2-29, Steffen Bunting 10-34.

Passing: Northridge: Chance Green 9-22-1-98, Drake Huggans 0-1-0-0. Greeley West: Sean Blackmer 5-11-0-94.

Receiving: Northridge: Matt Ritchie 1-32, Angelo Gallegos 1-20, Ramirez 4-3. Greeley West: Reed Miller 2-23, Preston Becker 1-33, Schmitt 1-27, Eli Swick 1-11.