Football: Cowboys open season with 41-0 win

The Gunnison High School football team opened its 2026 season with a 41-0 shutout of the Roaring Fork Rams on Friday, Aug. 21.

"It was great," said head coach Chase Starman. "I think the boys played with some energy and some excitement. We started off a little slow and a little flat offensively, but defensively, I don't think we ever missed a stride when it came to our effort and desire."

This year’s team has already matched its season win total from last year after one game. Starman emphasized that the boys played together with great effort and desire, which enabled them to execute in the first game of the season.

The game plan was to stick to basic fundamentals, Starman noted. That turned out to be the ground game.

The Cowboys ran the ball for 247 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns. Nine different Cowboys finished with a rushing attempt. Jakob Miller rushed for 81 yards on 16 carries to lead the team. He also scored two touchdowns.

Deegan Bennett finished second on the team with 70 yards on just three carries and scored a touchdown. Nolan Witzel also scored a touchdown on the ground, rushing for 31 yards on seven carries.

Quarterback Asher Woytek completed six of seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown through the air. He also scored a touchdown on the ground, finishing with eight yards on two carries.

Bennett also caught two passes for 33 yards and a touchdown.

"When it comes to a culture standpoint, I think the boys really played for each other," Starman said. "They forgot about their individual glory and stats and really played for the team and about the team."

After the game, Starman said the boys were excited. They sang the fight song with the crowd after the final whistle blew and celebrated the win afterward.

Still, Starman told his team that they only get 24 hours to celebrate the win, and then it is time to flip their mindsets and get back to work.

After a season with not much to be excited about, the win to start this year was vindication for all the hard work they have put in, Starman noted.

"They've been working hard all offseason," Starman said. "They've been pounding the stone, or I like to say they're just going at it, going at it, going at it. They don't see any results until Friday night comes around. So for them, it's like, hey, you guys did the work. You guys see your potential. Now we have to keep on going until the end."

Up next, the Cowboys will host Grand Valley on Friday, Aug. 28, with kickoff set for seven p.m.

Last year the Cardinals went winless, but this year they have a completely new coaching staff. Starman and his staff have no film on this year’s team either.

"It's probably just another week where it's, hey, we have to worry about us," Starman said. "We have to focus on our stuff. We have to work on our fundamentals and work on being a team. Then it doesn't matter who our opponent is and what they do and what personnel and all that stuff. If we just worry about us and do our stuff, then the results will take care of themselves."