Big defensive plays in the second half paired with passing touchdowns from Isaiah Jacket led the Ignacio High School football team to a big road win that spoiled homecoming night for the Dolores Bears. Dolores tied the game at 14-14 with 7 minutes, 47 seconds to play in the third quarter, but it was all Ignacio the rest of the way.
Dolores quarterback Jayden Karo was intercepted by Ignacio’s Colten Jackson and had it returned 24 yards for a Bobcats touchdown that gave Ignacio a 20-14 lead it wouldn’t surrender in a 35-14 road victory.
Ignacio improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the 1A Southern Peaks League. Dolores fell to 3-3 and 1-1 in league.
The Bobcats opened the scoring with 7:19 to go in the first quarter when Jacket connected with Lawrence Valdez on a 30-yard TD pass.
The extra point from Trace Lovelace was good to give Ignacio an early 7-0 lead.
Valdez finished with 73 receiving yards on five catches.
A 29-yard TD run from Talon Zwicker got Dolores on the board with 7:55 to go in the first half. A 2-point conversion run by Austin Hackney gave the Bears an 8-7 lead.
Ignacio answered with 2:30 to play before halftime, as Jacket hit Jackson on a 26-yard TD pass, and a Lovelace extra point gave the Bobcats a 14-8 lead at halftime.
Jacket finished the game 8-of-18 passing for 135 yards and three scores. He also was intercepted once on the Bobcats’ opening drive.
Dolores tied the game early in the third quarter on a 36-yard TD pass from Karo to Josh Corbitt.
The 2-point conversion was unsuccessful and kept the game knotted at 14-all.
After Jackson’s interception return for a score, the Bobcats scored another defensive touchdown. This time, a Natoni Cundiff sack sent Karo twisting around in the backfield.
Karo tried to throw the ball, but it went backward as a lateral. Cesar Pedragon scooped up the ball on the 6-yard line and ran in for an Ignacio touchdown, and a Lovelace extra point gave Ignacio a 27-14 advantage.
Pedragon then came up with a sack of Karo in the end zone for a safety to push the Bobcat lead to 29-14.
The game’s final score came with 3:32 to play, as Jacket hit Marcus Chapman over the middle for a 20-yard TD pass.
Lovelace finished with 65 rushing yards for the Bobcats on five carries.
Ignacio has a tough game ahead on the road at 7 p.m. Friday at Centauri.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
