The Summit High School football team has been waiting since last November to host another home game.

While the majority of the team is involved in other sports at the high school, there is nothing quite like a Summit football game at Climax Molybdenum Field. From the roar of the crowd to the smell of burgers grilling on the sidelines, the Summit County community always comes out to support the Tigers on the gridiron.

Summit’s home season opener against Glenwood Springs on Saturday, Aug. 30, was no different. After waiting through a lengthy, 2-hour-plus weather delay, Summit took to the field as the sun tried to break through the clouds. 

Summit started the 2025 season by receiving the opening kickoff from the Glenwood Springs Demons. After a minimal return, senior quarterback Elias Wyatt and the Summit offense marched onto the field for the first time this season.

Wyatt aired the ball out to an open receiver on the opening play, but Summit was tackled in the back field for a loss. Facing third down and 13, Wyatt tried to find a receiver down the field, but was tackled in the backfield.

The lack of offensive production did not discourage Summit, as the team came up huge on defense. Showing his ability to sniff out his opponent, senior captain Henry Eslich hopped on a fumble and took it all the way to the end zone. 

Although the play was massive for the Tigers, the takeaway was soon called back for an illegal block in the back after the recovery. Summit tried to capitalize on its defense’s success, but were forced to punt again after three downs. 

On Glenwood Springs’ second drive of the game, sophomore quarterback Evan Neuman broke through the Summit defense to score a rushing touchdown. With an unsuccessful extra point, the Demons led 6-0 with five minutes remaining in the first frame.

Summit was able to get its initial first down of the game on its next possession when Wyatt found sophomore captain Connor Erwin on a short pass. Erwin used his leg speed to drive the ball deeper into Glenwood Springs’ territory, but the drive was eventually snuffed by the Demons.

Summit started to gain some momentum on its next offensive possession. After struggling to pick up major yardage for most of the game, Wyatt found sophomore Jagger Roberts for a third-down conversion.

Wyatt would go on to convert on two more third-down conversions before the team was forced to bring out senior kicker Johan Gomez for a field-goal attempt. Gomez, who is also the Summit boys soccer team’s starting goalie, kicked the ball far enough, but the field goal attempt barely missed the inside of the uprights.

Glenwood Springs quickly took advantage of the turnover on downs. Following a couple of short-yardage plays, sophomore Lamanie Portillo slunk past the Summit defense and took it all the way to the barn for the touchdown. 

Moments later, Roberts fumbled the ball after receiving a pass from the arm of Wyatt. With the ball on Summit’s own 30-yard line, Glenwood Springs marched into the end zone to further extend its lead. 

After banging on the door of the end zone the last couple of drives, Summit finally broke past Glenwood Springs for a touchdown. 

It was Erwin who brought the ball across the goal line, but it was Roberts who created the opportunity. With under four minutes remaining in the first half, Wyatt found Roberts for a short completion along Summit’s sideline before pitching the ball back to Erwin who sprinted past Glenwood Spring’s defenders for the touchdown.

After 24 minutes of play, Glenwood Springs led 20-8.

Due to more lightning in the area, both teams enjoyed an extended halftime period.

After the weather cleared, Summit picked up where it left off in the final half. Not only was the team able to have strong offensive possessions, but the defense was staunch as well. Although Summit came out of halftime poised to put more points on the board, Glenwood Springs prevented the team from breaking across the goal line. 

Late in the third quarter it looked like Glenwood Springs was going to be the first to score in the second half. With the ball in the red zone, the Demons had the Tigers on its haunches, but the Summit defense forced a field goal attempt.

The field goal went wide of the goal posts, invigorating the Summit crowd and sidelines. Summit’s offense was forced to punt after several downs, but Erwin quickly gave his team the ball back by recovering a muffed Glenwood Springs’ punt return.

With the crowd behind the team, Summit scored its second touchdown of the game on the same Roberts to Erwin pitch play. As the clock ticked under the nine-minute mark, Summit stared down the Glenwood Springs offense and tried to make a play that could give the team the opportunity to take the lead. 

Roberts found the ball for the Tigers, intercepting a pass and running it within the Demons’ s 10-yard line. Erwin flipped into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game, giving Summit a 23-20 lead with a little over eight minutes remaining. 

In a war of attrition, Glenwood Springs drove down the field to score a touchdown of its own. With a successful point-after attempt, the Demons claimed a 27-23 lead.

Needing to score, Wyatt found Erwin for a timely chunk play, successfully keeping Summit’s hopes alive. Still riding high off his interception, Roberts trucked a defender to the ground, bringing the ball closer to the end zone. 

On the precipice of the go-ahead touchdown, Wyatt threw an interception to Glenwood Springs. The Demons subsequently sealed the game with a final touchdown. 

Glenwood Springs outlasted Summit’s comeback attempt, winning 34-23.

“The team looked great,” Erwin said. “A lot of heart from everyone out here. The scoreboard doesn’t show it, but I think we played a really great game. Next week, the scoreboard is going to show something different.”

Summit will have its first away game of the season on Sept. 12 when it faces Canon City. The Tigers’ next home game will be on Sept. 19 against Aspen.