All three games left on the Bayfield High School football schedule became must-wins when the Wolverines lost 39-14 to Gunnison last week.
The team knows it.
BHS head coach Gary Heide knows it.
Their first chance to take a step toward the postseason is 7 p.m. Friday at Wolverine Country Stadium against Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A No. 10 Montezuma-Cortez High School.
“We know what we have to do the last three games,” Heide said of the Wolverines (3-3, 1-1 Western Slope League). “Keep in mind we have to take one game at a time. The other two don’t matter unless we get out and do our very best.”
It’ll take a strong effort from the Wolverines to stop a Cortez (4-2, 1-1 Western Slope South) team that is adjusting well to the Western Slope South League in 2A after moving down from the 3A Western Slope League.
The Panthers average 320.8 rushing yards per game this season, led by senior running back Randy Haley’s 988 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 106 carries.
Montezuma-Cortez senior Jonathan Walk provides a breather for Haley with 487 yards and six touchdowns on the year.
“I think they’re big and physical, have a great running attack,” Heide said of the Panthers. “They have a good pursuit from their defensive players. We’re gonna have to play real strong and not turn the ball over.”
All three BHS interceptions have come in losses, and the team fumbled in last week’s loss to Gunnison. The loss didn’t shake BHS, though.
“I think we’ve been very focused,” Heide said. “We know the task at hand and really want to put our best effort forward.”
The Panthers bounced back from their own loss to state-ranked Gunnison on Sept. 26 with a 41-6 home win Friday over Pagosa Springs.
“Offensively, we need to be focused on our execution and play with a lot of confidence and passion,” Heide said. “I think if we go out and execute and succeed, that confidence will go up. Football is all about passion and aggression. Last week, I think both sides of the ball didn’t really show that as much as they needed to to win. Both sides are going to need to show that to win against Montezuma-Cortez.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
