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Mike Wnorowski gives Bayfield football a defensive identity

Bayfield football’s first-year coordinator motivates greatness
Bayfield High School defensive coordinator Mike Wnorowski has conducted a near perfect defense in 2015, helping lead the team to the state championship game with a defense that has allowed only 70 points through 11 games.

The crushing defense football fans have watched demolishing opponents at Wolverine Country Stadium has been something to marvel in 2015. It’s a new formation and, more importantly, a new attitude that came along with a new defensive coordinator.

Prior to this season, Bayfield High School’s defense wasn’t much to go brag about. In 2014, the Wolverines were bounced out of the first round of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Playoffs with a 5-5 record and a defense that allowed an average of 25.7 points per game.

In the offseason, Bayfield head coach Gary Heide looked for answers.

Enter first-year defensive coordinator Mike Wnorowski, who in 2015 has already surpassed expectations by leading the Wolverines’ defense in a new direction. So far, Bayfield has only allowed 70 points – 6.3 points per game – while also giving up only 209 yards of total offense to opposing teams through 11 games. Next up for the Bayfield defense is No. 3 Platte Valley in the CHSAA Class 2A state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kersey.

“We have an amazing coach. He inspires us to be the best we can be, and he inspires us to go hard every play,” said Bayfield senior linebacker Kyle Killough, son of Kevin and Lana Killough. “He wants us to play like it’s our last play, and to hit hard and fill holes and do your job and trust others to do theirs.”

The players love playing in his defense and excel when it matters most. In the playoff quarterfinal game against defending state champion Brush, senior Cash Snooks intercepted two passes to help ensure a victory. Snooks said he didn’t have to do much, as Wnorowski game planned well enough to have him in the right place at the right time.

The same was true for the defense in Saturday’s 47-7 semifinal win against No. 4 La Junta. Senior strong safety Zane Phelps said Wnorowski suffered a few sleepless nights trying to figure out the right scheme to stop the Tigers. Whatever he found, it worked.

“Coach said he didn’t shower for two days straight because all he could do was watch film,” said Phelps, son of Dion and Koel Phelps. “He came into practice Thursday and said ‘Alright, I got these (guys) figured out.’ He got us figured out in practice and dialed in. We played his defense and played it with all we got.”

A lifelong defensive coach, Wnorowski grew up in Ohio. He spent time as a radio reporter covering the NFL and eventually moved to Colorado, where he spent time coaching Woodland Park High School from 1990-2001.

He then moved around between Europe and Toledo, Ohio. In Europe, he helped coach an Air Force team. In Ohio, he coached at Central Catholic High School.

While at Central Catholic, Wnorowski was a part of a winning tradition, helping the Fighting Irish to winning records and playoff appearances. In 2012, the Fighting Irish won the Ohio State Division 2 Football Championship.

When Wnorowski came to Bayfield, he began helping Heide in the second half of the 2014 season. The head coach liked what he saw, and the rest is history.

In 2014, Bayfield conducted a 3-3 defensive formation where the Wolverines were in constant attack mode. Wnorowski curtailed out of the 3-3 and changed the defense to a more suitable 3-4 formation with the outside linebackers being the feature of the defense.

Wnorowski had the athletes to make it work, and they haven’t disappointed.

“The talent that was here when I got here was exceptional,” Wnorowski said. “The senior class is phenomenal. The sophomore class is great, and every one of the juniors on the team has a very significant role. Each players is just really exceptional in every way as students, as kids and as football players.”

Wnorowski echoed the rest of the coaching staff by bringing up the 2015 team’s early success at a summer camp at CSU-Pueblo. It was there that the coaches found out the kind of players they were really leading.

“We found out that our team had a lot of determination and no quit in them with hearts the size of lions,” Wnorowski said.

Bayfield will now turn its attention to a third-ranked Platte Valley team that expects to win. In beating Kent Denver 29-23, Platte Valley proved it won’t be a pushover having come back from a 17-0 deficit early in that the semifinal game.

Wnorowski and his defense will be ready.

“It’s rather fascinating with this team, they’re ready to play and don’t want to quit,” Wnorowski said. “They’d like to play another 20 games, they’re that type of players. They love football.”

jmentzer@durangoherald.com

What you need to know to watch or follow the game

Who: No. 1 Bayfield (11-0) at No. 3 Platte Valley (11-1)

What: CHSAA Class 2A State Football Playoffs championship game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Kersey

Ticket Information: Ticket sales will start at 10:30 a.m. at the west entrance of the stadium and 11 a.m. at the east entrance. All gates will open at 11 a.m.

Cost: $9 adults; $7 senior citizens and students (K-12). Prices are set by CHSAA. No passes will be accepted except for CHSAA and CHSCA passes. The pass gate will be located on the west side of the stadium. There is not a pass gate on the east side of the stadium.

Parking: Parking for Bayfield fans will be located in the east lot (weather permitting). There is no charge for parking.

Concessions: A full concessions stand will be available during the game under the west grandstands.

Championship Apparel/Programs: Merchandise will be available for purchase under the west grandstands.

Tailgating: Fans are permitted to tailgate. Bayfield fans are asked to tailgate in the east parking lot. Please do not tailgate in the main stadium parking lot. Alcohol and tobacco are not permitted on school grounds. The Kersey Police Department will provide security, and any violators will be cited.

Listen Live: KLJH 107.1 FM, KFKA 1310 AM

Twitter: @jonathanmentzer, @jlivi2, @durangoherald #copreps #bhstate

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