Basalt and Aspen High Schools Kick Off New Football Seasons

Aspen —The air over the Roaring Fork Valley has shifted, shedding that heavy, humid blanket of July for a crispness that smells faintly of cut grass and distant woodsmoke. High school parking lots, usually empty until late afternoon in August, are beginning to hum with the low rumble of idling engines and the sharp clatter of cleats on asphalt. There is a palpable sense of return, a collective exhalation as students trade summer lethargy for the structured rhythm of the academic year.

This week marks the official end of summer hiatus and the beginning of a new high school sports season, with some teams already taking the field while others prepare for their debut in the coming days. The Friday Night Lights are back, and with them comes a fresh slate of narratives for the Western Slope’s athletic programs.

In Rifle, the Basalt football team travels for new head coach Danny Popish’s debut against the 3A Bears, who are looking to bounce back from a difficult 1-9 season in 2025. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and while the Bears have long been a regional power, Popish brings a homegrown perspective to the sideline. A 2002 Basalt High School graduate, Popish takes over for Carl Frerichs, who stepped down during the offseason after an 18-year tenure that included five years as an assistant. Under Frerichs, the Longhorns reached some of the highest points in the program’s history, and Popish inherits a squad coming off a somewhat disappointing 6-4 season. BHS began 2-3, with one win being a forfeit, before a four-game winning streak propelled them into the postseason as the No. 16 seed in Class 2A, where they lost a close 21-17 contest at No. 1 Strasburg.

Basalt opens its new look 2A Western Slope League play on Sept. 11 against Gunnison, but before that league action begins, the Longhorns face a busy stretch. Following Friday’s non-league game at Rifle, Basalt heads to Glenwood Springs next week, with their home opener scheduled for Sept. 4 against Eagle Valley. The remainder of the regular season includes league games at Pagosa Springs on Sept. 26, home matches against Coal Ridge and Delta in October, a road trip to Montezuma-Cortez on Oct. 16, and the season finale at Aspen on Oct. 24.

Aspen is also entering its second season under head coach Bryce Sandoval, who guided the Skiers to a 2-6 overall record in 2025, including wins over Grand Valley and Moffat County. Although Aspen does not play in zero week, they will open their season next Friday, Aug. 28, with a non-league game at North Fork, followed by their home opener on Sept. 4 against Summit on the AHS turf. The Skiers will open their Western Slope League play in Game 3 on Sept. 11 when Delta comes to town, with a schedule that takes them to Gunnison, Lyman, Montezuma-Cortez, Pagosa Springs, and Coal Ridge before the Oct. 24 finale against Basalt.

Meanwhile, Roaring Fork football returns to Class 1A for the 2026 season. The Rams, who did not field a varsity team in 2025, will open the season with a zero week game on Friday, Aug. 21, against Gunnison at home in Carbondale. After a Week 1 bye, Roaring Fork will host Battle Mountain on Sept. 2.

On the soccer pitch, Aspen boys soccer begins its season on Aug. 27 with a home game at 6 p.m., adding another layer to the valley’s athletic calendar. As the sun dips below the mountain peaks, casting long shadows across the fields, the community settles into a familiar groove. The noise of the crowd mixes with the chirping of crickets, and for a few hours each week, the valley belongs to its students.