In the waning minutes of the fourth quarter on Saturday's second-round matchup of the Colorado High School Athletic Association Class 2A State Football Playoffs, the No. 1 Bayfield Wolverines hung to a 14-point lead as No. 9 Brush threatened to score.
Even though the Wolverines were leading, they needed a big play to ensure the win. And on cue they received not one, but two big plays from the same player. Senior free safety Cash Snooks helped guarantee that the Wolverines would return home victorious to host a semifinal playoff game when he intercepted two passes in the final minutes of the game, stalling any comeback Brush had in store.
“Brush scored on us with a couple of lucky plays, but for them to have beaten us, they would have to do something drastically different,” said Snooks, son of Michael and Kristen Snooks. “We're going to do what we do; our defense is not going to change.”
Bayfield escaped Brush with a 28-14 win, and the hopes for a CHSAA Class 2A state title stayed in tact. Bayfield (10-0) will now face No. 4 La Junta (11-0) at 1 p.m., Saturday at Wolverine Country Stadium.
“We're excited, energized and ready to go,” Snooks said. “Our saying this year was 'Make History.' We're just happy that we're making history, leaving our legacy.”
Along with two important interceptions, Snooks has been playing well all year, finishing the regular season with four interceptions, 27 tackles and two fumble recoveries. During the winter he wrestles, which has helped his tackling, and as a free safety many tackles are made in the open field, which is extremely difficult.
“He's a great tackler,” said Bayfield head coach Gary Heide. “Any time you have a free safety who is a great tackler then that is a great asset.”
It's no coincidence that the senior found himself at the center of two huge turnovers. The senior has played multiple roles on the team before landing the spot of free safety.
In previous years, Snooks was an outside linebacker who switched to tight end. Then at the beginning of the 2015 season, he was written in as the starting strong safety, but didn't find his groove until defensive coordinator Mike Wnorowski moved him to free safety where he could roam freely and make big plays with coverage and run support. With multiple years of playing football at multiple positions, Snooks was poised to make plays.
“Teamwork. You have to communicate with your team and understand your team before you react to something you don't know about,” Snooks said about what he's learned most from football.
He added that as a senior he has learned dedication as a student-athlete as well.
“You have to get your work in,” he added. “You have to make sure you talk to all your teachers and get everything when you're gone for sports.”
Snooks, 17, has played multiple positions, while studying film and understanding the coaching staff's instructions. All of the coaching he's received culminated on the field last Saturday in Brush.
With the Beetdiggers driving midway though the fourth quarter, the Bayfield defense noticed Brush lining up with a trips formation. The Wolverine defense called an audible and switched to their 'Chicago' formation where one side of the secondary was in man-to-man and the other side was in a variation of a cover-3 zone scheme.
Snooks was free in the middle and when the ball was snapped, he began to backpedal and saw a Brush player break through the first line of defense. When Brush quarterback Arnaldo Malto-Garcia eyed his receiver, Snooks read Malto-Garcia's eyes and barely needed to move.
For the second interception, Snooks read what Brush was trying to do, and ran about 4 yards in. Malto-Garcia dropped the ball into coverage and Snooks was there to make the catch. He cradled the ball to ensure possession, and if it wasn't for an untimely penalty, he would have taken the ball in for a 65-yard pick-6 touchdown.
“It was the last 35 seconds of the game so I was going for anything that I could get,” Snooks said.
All of Snooks' interceptions were based off of great defensive schematics, and according to Heide, Bayfield's safeties have been in the right position all year.
The senior ball hawk has developed into a quarterback of sorts on defense in the free safety position, coordinating everything and securing the last line of defense for a team that has allowed just 6.3 points per game all year.
“Cash is very savvy back there, he has a good feel for the game,” Heide said. “He has knowledge of the game, he's been playing it for a long time. He's played linebacker and played tight end, which has helped him know the game of football. He's also a real encourager, and always optimistic.”
With excitement from last weekend's game dying down, the attention will quickly shift to this Saturday's game against La Junta. According to Snooks, he hasn't seen La Junta play very much, but said the Wolverines will approach Saturday's game just like every game.
“We're going to attack their running backs with assignment football, break them down, make tackles and make plays,” Snooks said.
He added that his dream scenario would be to beat La Junta and have No. 2 Kent Denver (11-0) beat No. 3 Platte Valley (10-1). If Platte Valley wins, Bayfield is on the road one more time. If Kent Denver wins, Bayfield will host the state championship.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Who is your favorite athlete?
Adrian Peterson
What is your favorite sports movie? 'Friday Night Lights'
What is your favorite place to take a date? Movies, my girlfriend works there so it's free.
What song is stuck in your head? I Can't Feel My Face by The Weekend
Which teacher has had the greatest impact on you? Miss Webb. She doesn't work at BHS anymore, but she was an English teacher. The amount of hours she spent with me to try and help me understand English.
Who is your celebrity crush? Selena Gomez or Kate Upton
What is your favorite all-time video game? 2014 NCAA College Football
What place have you never been to but want to visit? Hawaii or Australia. I'm going to get lucky and go to Australia this summer
Do you have any superstitions? When it comes to football, if I don't wear the same pair of socks I've worn all year then bad things will happen. I wear a white pair underneath my purple pair, and I don't wash the white pair.
What is your nickname? Cashew
