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Bayfield football lining up for a state championship

Bayfield leans on its offensive line to reach the state championship

BAYFIELD

Much of the success of the top-ranked Bayfield High School football team and its offense can be credited to a gritty group of linemen.

Fans undoubtedly know the name of star senior running back Zane Phelps, senior quarterback Kelton McCoy along with offensive weapons such as Wyatt Freier, Taed Heydiner and Brody McGhehey, but none of their success would be possible without the strong offensive line paving the way for all those yards and touchdowns.

“We take a lot of pride in that. Zane gets all the articles and all the yards are credited to him, but we do know we are the reason he goes out and gets it,” said junior center Sam Westbrook, son of Kirsten and Mark Westbrook.

The line will be in focus at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kersey, as the No. 1 Bayfield Wolverines (11-0) take on No. 3 Platte Valley (11-1) in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Championship.

“We gotta be at the top of our game. It’s won and lost in the trenches where we are,” said senior right tackle Noah Loutherback, son of Brad and Jennifer Loutherback.

In 11 games this year, the Bayfield offense has rushed for 2,646 yards and 38 touchdowns. The numbers are comparable to the 2014 season in which the Wolverines went 5-5. The difference has been in the passing production. The team passed for only 615 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago but have produced 1,288 yards and 16 passing scores this season.

That means the dominant Bayfield offensive line that likes to fire off the ball has had to be more disciplined when staying home to pass block this year. Westbrook said it has required more thinking, but the linemen agreed it hasn’t been a difficult challenge.

“It’s not much different,” said sophomore right guard Wyatt Killinen, son of Dustin and Rachel Killinen. “Our coach has us work on both in practice, and it’s just kind of come naturally to us.”

The line has been coached up by Frank Hawkins this season. Killinen said the team has improved a lot this year under his guidance, and he has seen a big improvement while watching film comparing this year’s line play to that of last season.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the line. Early in the year, starting tackle Kyle Killough had a shoulder injury. It created a space for sophomore Ryan Phelps to fill in at left tackle. Killough is healthy now, but the Wolverines discovered they had plenty of depth to rotate players in and out if needed thanks to the strong play of Phelps and another sophomore Cade Killough.

“With Kyle going down next to me after putting his shoulder out, I was working in with Ryan and younger tackles subbing in next to me,” said senior left guard Cam Seivert, son of Jeff and Kami Seivert. “It was a challenge but fun.”

Phelps said he has learned a lot from the upperclassmen that will help him be a leader of the line in coming years. When asked what lesson he has taken to heart most, the answer was easy.

“Do your part and the guy next to you will do his,” said Phelps, son of Nancy and Trent Phelps.

When the Bayfield linemen put their hand on the frozen field of Platte Valley in the championship game Saturday, they know the game will be won or lost in the fight up front.

“It’s going to take everything we’ve been working on all year,” Loutherback said. “It’s coming to a peak here. We have to use all the skills we’ve worked on all year, in the film room, here on the field, all the weight room training we’ve been doing since we were underclassmen. It’s going to take all the support of our town and our brothers on the field. Ultimately, if we get all of that, we will come out on top.”

jlivingston@durangoherald.com



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