On a cool early fall evening, the Rye High School Thunderbolts hosted the Manitou Springs Mustangs for their season opener of the 2025 football season.

Last year, the Thunderbolts lost to the Mustangs, but this year, the young team led by freshman quarterback Brady Baumgartner was prepared to take on their opponents from the north.

Early on, the defense for the Thunderbolts carried the team. Despite an almost 10-minute-long opening drive from the Mustangs, Rye’s defense was able to come away with an interception in the end zone by Kyran Baker.

The Thunderbolts would turn that into points with a touchdown run by Jackson Bjorum. Later in the second quarter, the defense would come away with two more turnovers, resulting in a touchdown run by Beau Hicks.

“It's always hard to be happy this

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