Timnath football outlasts The Academy in double OT for first win in new school's history

The Cubs are finally in the win column.

In the program's second season, the Timnath football team got its first win since the new middle-high school opened last fall with a dramatic 25-22 double-overtime victory over The Academy Friday night out at PSD Stadium.

Alex Kolczak booted the walk-off 25-yard field goal in the second overtime, sparking a massive celebration for Cubs players and Timnath fans who had been rowdy all night.

"It was just so fantastic to see the kids excited and get to celebrate a win like that," Timnath head coach Jayson Robinson said after the game.

And this game had everything. Lead changes. Crucial turnovers. Clutch plays.

And most importantly, a long-awaited win for this new Timnath program, its first since the school's former iteration shut down in 1960.

After an 0-8 debut season last fall with only freshmen and sophomores and a 43-0 season-opening loss to Berthoud, this was especially sweet for the Cubs (1-1), who are growing up fast.

"We've been waiting for this one," Robinson said.

More: 2023 Northern Colorado high school football scores, schedule, standings

Vince Hochhalter ran for a first-half touchdown, part of a strong Timnath opening half that included a forced safety, two forced turnovers and march after march down the field.

Hochhalter's physical running style only got tougher into the fourth quarter, and the running back kept drives alive late with some critical runs that moved the chains.

"Vince really willed our team to that," Robinson said. "He was pounding away at their defense by the end of the game."

Kolczak had also booted a field goal to give the Cubs a 12-7 halftime edge.

It was a big night for the strong-legged, highly-regarded junior kicker. He made three of his four field goals, including the game-winner while missing only from 45 yards out.

"It's nice to have a golden leg and a guy like him that you can rely on," Robinson said. "I don't even hesitate to put Alex out there."

The Wildcats (0-1) fought back in the third quarter with a 50-yard touchdown pass and 2-point conversion that only briefly deflated the home crowd.

The Cubs responded, getting another Kolczak field goal to tie it up at 15-15 with four minutes left in the game.

Timnath's defense came up huge, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble to stop potential game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.

"Our (assistant coach) Greg Biekert really simplifies things, and it allows our kids to play fast and attack the ball," Robinson said. "It showed tonight. We believe this is going to be a really stout defense."

That sent it to overtime, where the Cubs got on the board first with a clutch 16-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Craig to Jackson Barker on 3rd and goal.

The Academy tied it up on the ensuing OT drive but a botched snap on its first second-overtime possession ultimately prevented points.

All the Cubs needed was one last kick. It went right through the uprights for a monumental win.

"I had kind of dreamed that Alex could kick the game-winner for our first win since he scored our first points (last year)," Robinson said. "So that was really cool."

Timnath is back in action Thursday, Sept. 7, with a chance for another first: a winning streak. There's a great shot at it with a road trip to struggling Prospect Academy, which is 0-2 with multiple 40-plus point losses.

Cubs news: Timnath's Izzy Schimmelpfennig voted Blue Federal Credit Union's Athlete of the Week

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado high school football: Timnath wins first game in modern era