Chris AbshireFort Collins Coloradoan
It was a special playoff edition of Friday Night Live and there was reason to celebrate up north.
No. 9 seed Wellington blasted No. 13 Eaton in a NoCo semifinal battle, cementing a spot for the Eagles' in the Colorado 2A state championship game next week.
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Here's how Wellington's win over Eaton in the 2A semifinals played out Friday night:
Wellington into the championship game
Wellington crushed Eaton for a 45-14 win. What a performance from the Eagles in this one.
They scored in all three phases, picked off Eaton quarterback Andrew Loyd three times, and Cash Altschwager and Tanner Gray had two TDs each.
Full story: Wellington football crushes Eaton to reach state championship game in program's 3rd season
-- Chris Abshire
See photos from Wellington's win
It was quite the scene in Wellington during and especially after the Eagles' big semifinal win, clinching their spot in the 2A state championship game.
-- Chris Abshire
An exclamation point for Wellington
They didn't need it, but the Eagles finished this one in style. Huston Willhite picked off Andrew Loyd (his 3rd INT tonight) and took it back 52 yards for a pick-six touchdown.
Wellington 45, Eaton 14; 4 mins left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington finishes Eaton off
This one is done and dusted. Wellington will be going to the 2A state championship game.
Eagles QB Tanner Gray hit Cash Altschwager on a beautiful 4th-down TD pass to punctuate this semifinal dominance.
Wellington 38, Eaton 14; 5 mins left 4th quarter
-- Chris Abshire
End 3rd quarter: Wellington 31, Eaton 14
Wellington fans can feel it now. The Eagles added a key Seth Long field goal to make it a three-score advantage and then Tyler Shaffer picked off Eaton QB Andrew Loyd to halt a promising drive.
Eagles have the football to start the fourth and can keep salting away the clock.
-- Chris Abshire
Eaton gets crucial score to start 2nd half
Eaton had to have it. The Reds converted two 3rd downs and another 4th down to punch the ball in on QB Andrew Loyd's short TD sneak.
While it was a strong drive, it chewed up 4 1/2 minutes, something Eaton is already running short on with a multi-score deficit.
Wellington 28, Eaton 14; 7:31 left 3rd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Eagles soar into halftime
Right as Eaton made this a game, Wellington landed another major punch just before halftime.
After a defensive stop, the Eagles ran a 2-minute drill to perfection, as Tre Trujillo had the big blow on a 38-yard run down to the one. Tanner Gray took it in one play later and the home team is in firm control.
HALFTIME: Wellington 28, Eaton 7
-- Chris Abshire
House call for Wellington
The Eagles took the momentum right back. Up man Brayton Meglen (a freshman) took the ensuing kickoff after Eaton's score and ran it back 83 yards for a game-changing kickoff return TD.
Wellington 21, Eaton 7; 2:45 left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Eaton with a much-needed answer
This game was in imminent danger of getting away from the visitors, but Eaton responds.
QB Andrew Loyd had a TD run nullified. Then, one play later, he rolled right and found Max Blaskowski on a jump ball from the corner of the endzone for a remarkable 29-yard score.
Wellington 14, Eaton 7; 3 mins left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Eagles extend it
Wellington is rolling now. Another 10+ play scoring, this time with QB Tanner Gray keeping it himself for a 5-yard TD run.
Wellington 14, Eaton 0; 7 mins left 2nd quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington takes the lead
The Eagles take full advantage of the turnover on an 11-play, 67-yard march that featured two 3rd down conversions. Cyle Kisner capped it off with a three-yard TD run to get the scoring started.
Wellington 7, Eaton 0; 1 min left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Eagles grab a fumble
Eaton had some problems handling the snap on the first drive and it cost them. Quarterback Andrew Loyd coughed up the ball on an otherwise-clean snap and Ethan Thurnes pounced on it for a turnover.
Wellington 0, Eaton 0; 5 mins left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Eaton gets off the field
The Eagles were breaking off chunk plays, getting first downs on three of their first four plays.
But the Eaton defense stepped up, getting a stop of 4th and 5 inside its 40-yard line. Eaton takes over for its first possession tonight.
Wellington 0, Eaton 0; 8 mins left 1st quarter
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington takes the ball
The Eagles will go on offense after winning the opening coin toss. Wellington has scored on the first possession in nine of their 11 games. Can they make it 10?
We're off and running in this 2A semifinal showdown.
-- Chris Abshire
Cash Altschwager is 'Money' for Wellington football
The Eagles' star is a running back/receiver/defensive back hybrid, sparking Wellington all season with early touchdowns.
In the playoffs, he's been a defensive ballhawk, grabbing two interceptions in each win.
See how "Cash Money" stacks up with the top players in the state.
Full story: Meet Wellington football's offensive gamebreaker turned 2A playoff 'ballhawk'
-- Chris Abshire
Wellington football's path to the 2A semifinals
The Eagles followed up last season's unbeaten regular season with a 7-2 campaign this fall, including a 4-1 mark in league play.
Wellington then won on the road at defending state champion Delta in the 2A first round, erasing a 4th quarter deficit to win 27-23.
The Eagles hosted Strasburg last week, upsetting the No. 1 seed in a 17-0 shutout quarterfinal victory.
Full story: Wellington football stuns top-seeded Strasburg in shutout playoff upset
-- Chris Abshire
How to watch Wellington vs. Eaton football
There are two ways to watch tonight's 2A semifinal between Eaton and the Eagles:
- Stream/watch live at PSD Athletics' YouTube page
- Stream/watch live via NFHS Network (Subscription required)
-- Chris Abshire
Northern Colorado football playoff teams remaining
There are still a handful of NoCo teams still playing as we reach the final weeks of the high school football season:
- 5A quarterfinals: No. 9 Erie at No. 1 Cherry Creek (Friday, 7 p.m.)
- 3A quarterfinals: No. 13 Severance at No. 5 Green Mountain (Friday, 6 p.m.)
- 3A quarterfinals: No. 9 Discovery Canyon at No. 1 Thompson Valley (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
- 3A quarterfinals: No. 7 Pueblo Central at No. 2 Mead (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
- 3A quarterfinals: No. 6 Windsor at No. 3 Pomona (Saturday, 3:30 pm.)
- 2A semifinals: No. 13 Eaton at No. 9 Wellington (Friday, 7 p.m.)
-- Chris Abshire
