FOUNTAIN – The Jake Novotny era didn’t get off to the start Fountain-Fort Carson wanted.

That was evident from the opening kickoff, when the Trojans were whistled for being offsides.

For the first time in three decades, the Fountain-Fort Carson football team lined up without Mitch Johnson on the sidelines.

Ralston Valley did just enough to beat the home team 10-6 on Friday night, while the Trojans committed 11 penalties.

“First-game jitters, that’s part of it,” said Novotny, who added that lightning disrupted practices a couple of times leading up to the game this week. “It’s the first time we’ve been out as a group in a game. We’re working through it. We’ll be just fine I think.”

Three offsides calls on the Trojans resulted in first downs for Ralston Valley. A false start midway through the fourth quarter (with the Trojans down 10-0) turned F-FC’s third-and-3 at the 36 into a third-and-8 and saw the Trojans punt one play later. And a delay-of-game penalty essentially ended F-FC’s final drive.

But Jace Christian connected with Gabriel Elliott on a 54-yard touchdown pass with 3:59 to play to cut into the Mustangs’ lead. The extra-point snap being bobbled didn’t help, leaving the Trojans down four instead of three.

The Trojans’ defense proved tough, forcing Ralston Valley to go three-and-out on its next possession.

Fountain-Fort Carson took over at its own 35 with 2:07 to play.

The Trojans moved the ball into Ralston Valley territory, but Christian was sacked for a 7-yard loss and on third-and-11, Fountain was whistled for delay of game – this one costing the Trojans the game as they failed to convert on fourth-and-16.

“We made a lot more (mistakes) than we wanted to, obviously, but we were right there,” said Christian, who completed 10 of 20 attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown.

“We were so close to winning.”

Eric Donnell led the Trojans with 38 yards rushing. Djimon O’Neil led them with 80 yards receiving.

The Mustangs finished with 160 yards rushing on 39 carries, led by Tyler Shannon’s 107 on 19 carries.

“It was very tough. They’re a very, very hard-hitting team,” Shannon said.

His 42-yard run eventually set up the Mustangs’ field goal. A negative-yardage punt by the Trojans that gave the Mustangs the ball on F-FC’s 15 set up Ralston Valley’s touchdown.

Other than that, Fountain’s defense was stingy, making a goal-line stand early in the first quarter.

“It just means to us that we can compete with anybody,” Trojans safety Damon Cruz said. “We’re a lot stronger than we thought we were.”

Over the summer, all coaches at F-FC were asked to reapply for their positions. Johnson did not reapply.

“I was shocked to say the least with feelings of disappointment and frustration,” Johnson wrote in an open letter to the F-FC community in the summer. “The district sent the direct message to all current Head Coaches that they believe they can do much better in the way of athletics. So, given my current situation why would a man of my Integrity, Honor, and Success rationally consider reapplying for a job that I started building twenty nine years ago for our community and School District?”

The Trojans travel to Pomona next week.

FOUNTAIN – The Jake Novotny era didn’t get off to the start Fountain-Fort Carson wanted.

That was evident from the opening kickoff, when the Trojans were whistled for being offsides.

For the first time in three decades, the Fountain-Fort Carson football team lined up without Mitch Johnson on the sidelines.

Ralston Valley did just enough to beat the home team 10-6 on Friday night, while the Trojans committed 11 penalties.

“First-game jitters, that’s part of it,” said Novotny, who added that lightning disrupted practices a couple of times leading up to the game this week. “It’s the first time we’ve been out as a group in a game. We’re working through it. We’ll be just fine I think.”

Three offsides calls on the Trojans resulted in first downs for Ralston Valley. A false start midway through the fourth quarter (with the Trojans down 10-0) turned F-FC’s third-and-3 at the 36 into a third-and-8 and saw the Trojans punt one play later. And a delay-of-game penalty essentially ended F-FC’s final drive.

But Jace Christian connected with Gabriel Elliott on a 54-yard touchdown pass with 3:59 to play to cut into the Mustangs’ lead. The extra-point snap being bobbled didn’t help, leaving the Trojans down four instead of three.

The Trojans’ defense proved tough, forcing Ralston Valley to go three-and-out on its next possession.

Fountain-Fort Carson took over at its own 35 with 2:07 to play.

The Trojans moved the ball into Ralston Valley territory, but Christian was sacked for a 7-yard loss and on third-and-11, Fountain was whistled for delay of game – this one costing the Trojans the game as they failed to convert on fourth-and-16.

“We made a lot more (mistakes) than we wanted to, obviously, but we were right there,” said Christian, who completed 10 of 20 attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown.

“We were so close to winning.”

Eric Donnell led the Trojans with 38 yards rushing. Djimon O’Neil led them with 80 yards receiving.

The Mustangs finished with 160 yards rushing on 39 carries, led by Tyler Shannon’s 107 on 19 carries.

“It was very tough. They’re a very, very hard-hitting team,” Shannon said.

His 42-yard run eventually set up the Mustangs’ field goal. A negative-yardage punt by the Trojans that gave the Mustangs the ball on F-FC’s 15 set up Ralston Valley’s touchdown.

Other than that, Fountain’s defense was stingy, making a goal-line stand early in the first quarter.

“It just means to us that we can compete with anybody,” Trojans safety Damon Cruz said. “We’re a lot stronger than we thought we were.”

Over the summer, all coaches at F-FC were asked to reapply for their positions. Johnson did not reapply.

“I was shocked to say the least with feelings of disappointment and frustration,” Johnson wrote in an open letter to the F-FC community in the summer. “The district sent the direct message to all current Head Coaches that they believe they can do much better in the way of athletics. So, given my current situation why would a man of my Integrity, Honor, and Success rationally consider reapplying for a job that I started building twenty nine years ago for our community and School District?”

The Trojans travel to Pomona next week.