Summit High football team fails to score a touchdown, falls to Basalt in home opener

News News | Aug 19, 2023

It had been 279 days since the stadium lights at Climax Molybdenum Field had shined for a Summit High School football game, but on Friday, Aug. 18, Friday night lights returned to Summit County when the Tigers hosted the Basalt High School Longhorns in its home opener.

Students, family members and other football fans piled into the grandstands to see how the team would fare in its first game under newly appointed head coach Paul Lopez.

To say that this year’s football team has some big shoes to fill is an understatement. Last year, a roster of 19 talented seniors led the Tigers to a record of 9-2, which was good enough for the team to secure its first home playoff game in more than 14 years.

Summit took to the field on Friday night looking to begin the season with a statement season-opening win against the Class 2A Longhorns, but the Tigers struggled on both sides of the ball and were kept out of the end zone for the entire game. The Tigers started the season 0-1 with a 28-0 loss.

Basalt began the game on the ground with a series of running plays. With sophomore running back Will Tarallo getting the majority of the carries, Basalt steadily marched down the field on its opening drive of the game.

The Tigers defense struggled on Basalt’s opening drive, committing several penalties and failing to stop the Longhorns from slowly eating up yards. After a six-minute drive, Basalt senior quarterback Noah Johnston dove into the end zone from the 1-yard line to score the first touchdown of the game.

With a successful point after attempt, Summit trailed 7-0 halfway through the opening quarter.

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Following a lackluster defensive stand, Tigers senior Jackson Archambault got the Summit offense going with a massive kickoff return, which put Summit near midfield to start its first drive of the game.

Archambault and senior quarterback Hank Chabot immediately connected with one another, picking up first downs and keeping the drive alive on a fourth-and-2 play. Despite being able to move the ball well, an offensive penalty ultimately forced the Tigers to punt and give the ball back to the Longhorns.

Summit looked more put together on Basalt’s second offensive possession. Senior Ben Elam and Archambault combined for strong tackles, but swift runs from Tarallo brought Basalt closer to scoring a second touchdown.

Four minutes into the second quarter, Basalt went up 14-0 when Johnston threw a ball to junior Taylor Hays for a 10-yard touchdown reception.

With the first-game nerves subsiding, the Tigers marched down the field on its second drive of the game.

A huge pass from Chabot to Elam, and a huge Elam run, brought the Tigers into the red zone for the first time. The team got within inches of satisfying the fans with a Tigers touchdown, but Chabot was pushed out of bounds by the defense as he was diving towards the end zone.

Basalt ended up taking the ball back from a fumble as the Tigers tried to reach the end zone on a fourth down attempt.

Basalt concluded the first half with a quick-moving drive, which resulted in Hays finding the end zone for the second time of the night. Summit trailed 21-0 going into halftime, searching for a way to stop Basalt.

The Summit High School football team runs onto the field to take on Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

The Summit High School football team prepares to get the 2023 football season underway in its home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Summit senior Jackson Archambault gets set on defense during Summit’s home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Basalt’s Will Tarallo gets tackled to the ground during Summit’s home game on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Noah Johnston looks to hand the ball off during Summit’s home game on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Highlights from Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

The Summit High School student section overflows with students as the Summit High School football team hosts Basalt High School. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Summit senior quarterback Hank Chabot looks at his play sleeve during Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Summit head football coach Paul Lopez talks to his team during Summit’s home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Basalt’s Will Tarallo attempts to break a tackle during Summit’s home opener on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge.Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Hank Chabot hands the ball off to Ben Elam during Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18.Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Hank Chabot pulls back in the passing pocket during Summit’s home opener against Basalt on Friday, Aug. 18.Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Summit’s Hank Chabot eyes the end zone during the Tigers’ home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Summit fell to 0-1 with a 28-0 loss. Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

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The Tigers started the second half with another strong kickoff return from Archambault, but the ball was quickly fumbled on team’s first offensive play of the half, which further dampened the spirits of the touchdown-hungry Tigers.

Wanting to widen the Longhorns’ lead and secure a season-opening win, Johnston led a nearly 10-minute drive, which was eventually stopped by Archambault as the Longhorns chose to go for it on a fourth-and-16 attempt.

The touchdown-preventing stop resulted in some offensive production from the Tigers, but the team went on to produce another turnover when a Chabot pass was intercepted by Hays on a fourth and 10.

The Summit High turnover set Basalt up with great field position, which allowed the team to punch in its fourth touchdown of the game and go up 28-0 with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

With the game dwindling to a close, Summit made one final push for a touchdown. Archambault and Elam both produced for Summit — getting the team in the red zone for the second time of the night — but the effort once again came up short as Summit turned the ball over when Chabot was sacked in the backfield on fourth down.

The turnover on downs allowed Basalt to run down the rest of the clock and earn its first win of the season.

Although Summit failed to record a win in its first game of the season, team members are still pleased with how the team played during several key moments of the game.

“We have a lot of new kids,” Archambault said. “We have maybe four or five guys that played quality varsity reps last season. I think a lot of kids came out here and got punched in the mouth, but it is a great learning experience. I guarantee it won’t happen next week.”

They will work to build on those flashes of success to fuel the team in its preparation for next week.

“I think everyone knows that the speed really changes from the JV to varsity level,” Archambault said. “Now that we have those quality varsity minutes under us we are going to come back rejuvenated as a whole new team. We are going to know what to expect.”

The Tigers will look to rebound next week when they travel to Woodland Park High School on Friday, Aug. 25. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 at Woodland Park, 7 p.m

Aug. 31 at Thompson Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. Conifer, 6 p.m.

Sept. 22 vs. Wheat Ridge (homecoming), 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 at Lincoln, 11 a.m.

Oct. 6 vs. Durango, 6 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Palisade, 6 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Glenwood Springs, 7 p.m.

Nov. 3 vs. Eagle Valley, 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 / 11 vs. First round of playoffs

Aug 19, 2023

Aug 18, 2023

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Summit's Hank Chabot eyes the end zone during the Tigers' home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Summit fell to 0-1 with a 28-0 loss. The Summit High School football team runs onto the field to take on Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. The Summit High School football team prepares to get the 2023 football season underway in its home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Summit senior Jackson Archambault gets set on defense during Summit’s home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Basalt’s Will Tarallo gets tackled to the ground during Summit’s home game on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge. Noah Johnston looks to hand the ball off during Summit’s home game on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge. Highlights from Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. The Summit High School student section overflows with students as the Summit High School football team hosts Basalt High School. Summit senior quarterback Hank Chabot looks at his play sleeve during Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Summit head football coach Paul Lopez talks to his team during Summit’s home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Basalt’s Will Tarallo attempts to break a tackle during Summit’s home opener on Friday, Aug. 18 in Breckenridge.Hank Chabot hands the ball off to Ben Elam during Summit’s home game against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18.Hank Chabot pulls back in the passing pocket during Summit’s home opener against Basalt on Friday, Aug. 18.Summit’s Hank Chabot eyes the end zone during the Tigers’ home opener against Basalt High School on Friday, Aug. 18. Summit fell to 0-1 with a 28-0 loss. As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.