Basalt Crushes Florence 42-0 to Advance to La Junta

Aspen —Basalt High School football outscored Florence 42-0. The margin of victory wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the Tigers are ready for the next round.

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, the No. 11 seed (7-3 overall) dismantled the visiting No. 22 seed from Florence at home in Basalt. The Huskies finish their season with a 3-7 record, but the damage was done long before the final whistle. Basalt built a 35-0 lead by halftime, forcing Florence to run the clock in the second half. The defense was suffocating, and the rushing attack did the rest.

For context, this wasn't a fluke against a weak opponent. Florence is a mutual opponent of Basalt's next challenger, No. 6 La Junta. The Tigers (8-1 overall) earned a first-round bye as one of the top eight seeds in the 24-team Class 2A tournament. La Junta already proved they can handle a team like Florence, beating the Huskies 41-0 on Oct. 9.

The next test is significantly harder. Basalt travels to La Junta for a second-round game this coming Saturday, Nov. 7. A time has not yet been confirmed as of Sunday, according to the Aspen Times.

The stakes are high because the winner of that matchup advances to the quarterfinals on Nov. 14 to face No. 3 Wellington, the defending state champion, or No. 19 Pagosa Springs. Pagosa won its first-round game against No. 14 Banning Lewis Academy, 33-13. Notably, Pagosa is the only team that has beaten La Junta this season (27-22 on Oct. 2). Basalt lost to Pagosa in the regular season, falling 21-16 on Sept. 26.

While Basalt is still alive, the rest of the valley’s football picture has shifted. Aspen’s season ended Saturday with a 6-3 loss at No. 16 Weld Central. The Skiers finish the fall with a 5-5 record, which is a significant improvement from their 2-6 mark last year in coach Bryce Sandoval’s first season. Weld Central moves on to play No. 1 Elizabeth in the second round.

Coal Ridge also advanced, winning 40-24 over No. 18 Resurrection Christian on Saturday to improve its record to 5-4. The Cougars will face No. 2 The Classical Academy on Friday night in the second round.

The other Class 2A second-round matchups are set: No. 4 Delta plays No. 13 University, and No. 12 Strasburg faces No. 5 Eaton.

Meanwhile, the Aspen High School girls cross country team finished third at state. The result caps a strong season for the program, placing them on the podium behind only the top two finishers in the state tournament.

Locally, these results split the community’s attention. Basalt fans are focused on a trip to southern Colorado against a team that has already beaten them in the regular season. Aspen fans are reflecting on a football season that, while short-lived, showed progress over last year’s struggles. And the cross country team is banking a state podium finish that cements their status as one of the region’s top programs.

The practical reality for folks in the valley is simple: the football season isn’t over for Basalt. The next game is a road trip, and the opponent is a proven contender. For everyone else, the fall sports slate has thinned out significantly, leaving only a handful of teams still competing for state titles.