Fairview, star QB bow to TRidge

HIGHLANDS RANCH» Aidan Atkinson and his Fairview Knights were on the cusp of what was shaping up to be a hallmark win in the football season. Until they weren’t.

Atkinson and the Fairview offense that had churned out 10 firsthalf touchdowns over their first two games received a rude awakening in Thursday’s 2824 loss at ThunderRidge, after the touted quarterback had marched a gritty, wouldbe comeback before receiver Bryce DesJardins fumbled at the goal line on an endaround play for the goahead touchdown.

It was a game marred by offensive miscues, notably on the turnover and a blown twominute offense before halftime that allowed ThunderRidge to mount a lastsecond touchdown manifested just after a scamper from quarterback Ryan Gilmore near midfield.

Atkinson, a junior quarterback who has drawn scholarship offers from several Power Five schools, and Fairview’s nohuddle spread offense at first looked as if it were business as usual. The threestar recruit effectively distributed the ball to the Knights’ army of skillposition players, connecting for two touchdowns to bring his season total to 12 through three games.

Atkinson has scholarship offers from Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State, Nevada, Ole Miss and South Carolina, and that list could grow. Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, UCLA and Oregon sent scouts to watch him last year, and he has visited Michigan, LSU, Stanford and Washington on his own. The 6foot3, 205pound thirdyear starter is listed as a threestar recruit by 247 Sports.

“When we talk to the colleges, they’re pretty excited with the things that he’s working on,” Fairview coach Tom McCartney said. “He’s able to set protections. He’s able to do the audibles. So we don’t predetermine for him where the ball needs to go. He has to do a lot of reading and so forth. The colleges are pretty excited that’s how he’s learning.”