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No. 1 Bayfield vs. No. 4 La Junta CHSAA Class 2A state semifinal football

No. 1 Wolverines set for semifinal test against NO. 4 La Junta

When the No. 4 La Junta Tigers visit the No. 1 Bayfield Wolverines for the semifinal round of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Playoffs, it will mark the first meeting between the two schools in a clash to see who will play for the state title.

Both teams enter the semifinal round with extremely good offenses and punishing defenses. Bayfield (10-0) is averaging 38.6 points per game while allowing just an average of 6.3. La Junta (11-0) is averaging 35.4 points and giving up only 5.7. When Sterling scored against the Tigers in the third quarter of the quarterfinal game, it ended La Junta’s 18 consecutive quarters without allowing a score. La Junta has shutout 37-of-44 quarters this season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Wolverine Country Stadium in Bayfield.

The weather is forecasted to be mostly sunny with high near 42 degrees with 5 mph winds coming from the Northeast.

The winner between Bayfield and La Junta will see the winner between No. 3 Platte Valley (10-1) and No. 2 Kent Denver (11-0). That game will be played simultaneously during Bayfield and La Junta’s game.

The last time La Junta advanced to the state semifinals was in 1989 when the team won 10 games. This year’s 11-win mark is only the second time in school history the Tigers eclipsed that mark.

This is Bayfield head coach Gary Heide’s fourth year as coach of the Wolverines. Heide has gone 31-10 with two Western Slope South League titles.

La Junta is coached by Clint Buderus, who is in his eighth year with the Tigers. Buderus has gone 45-35 with one Tri-Peaks League title.

Here are some more notes on the matchup:

Common Opponents

Bayfield vs. Alamosa, Oct. 23: Bayfield wins 41-7; Zane Phelps 165 yards, 2 TDs.

Bayfield vs. Manitou Springs, Nov. 7: Bayfield wins in 1st round of playoffs, 40-0; Phelps 103 yards, 1 TD; Kelton McCoy 204 passing yards, 1 TD.

La Junta vs. Alamosa, Sept. 11: La Junta wins, 27-8.

La Junta vs. Manitou Springs, Oct. 2: La Junta wins, 47-0.

La Junta vs. Alamosa, Nov. 7: La Junta wins 39-0 in 1st round of playoffs, 39-0.

Quarterfinal Offensive Stats

Bayfield: QB Kelton McCoy 12-15, 191 yards, 1 TD; RB Zane Phelps 33 rushes, 188 yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions, 29 yards, 217 total yards; Wyatt Freier 3 rec, 46 yards; Taed Heydinger 3 rec, 34 yards; Brody Mcghehey 1 rec, 27 yards, 1 TD.

La Junta: QB Cole Bryant 6-8, 85 yards, 1 TD, 19 rushes, 134 yards, 2 TDs; RB Dax Bender 14 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TDs; Garron Espinoza 3 rec, 52 yards, 1 TD.

jmentzer@durangoherald.com



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