It was the game of the year for one team and a game to forget for the other.
After spending the first quarter feeling each other out, the Class 2A No. 3 Bayfield High School football team clamped down on the No. 1-ranked Class 1A Paonia Eagles and didn’t let go all night while peeling off the win, 35-0, to remain undefeated at 3-0.
The Wolverines entered Friday night’s game looking to end the Eagles’ illustrious streak of 26 wins. The Wolverines smacked around the Eagles on both sides of the ball all night in front of Bayfield High School’s homecoming crowd. Paonia now stands at 3-1 and will recoup after their first loss in such a long time.
Paonia head coach Brent McRae admitted Bayfield was the more dominant team. The Eagles were pushed around on the offensive and defensive line. It also helped Bayfield was coming off a bye week, which meant the Wolverines worked on game plan for such a big game.
“We had an extra week to work on some things,” senior running back Zane Phelps, son of Dion and Koel Phelps, said.
Phelps led the way with 155 yards on 28 carries for two touchdowns.
“We’re a good team, and we knew they were a good team. They had a 26-game win streak for a reason, and we just came out and knew we had to play hard, and everyone did their jobs,” Phleps said. “In the first half, they were giving us the middle, but we got a little more diverse and spread it out a little more. Our O-line and D-line killed it. I owe all those yards to those guys up front.”
Bayfield struck gold first in the second quarter when senior quarterback Kelton McCoy threw a dart over the middle of the end zone from eight yards out to senior Taed Heydinger. A McCoy pass to Phelps converted the two-point conversion.
McCoy finished the night going 7-for-8 for 79 yards and three passing touchdowns. Heydinger finished the night with two touchdown receptions.
“This feels really good to beat a team like that,” said McCoy, son of Derek and Loreca McCoy. “This is a big win for momentum for sure.”
The Wolverines started feeling the momentum when senior linebacker Wyatt Freier recovered a fumble and put Bayfield on Paonia’s 20-yard line. Three plays later, Phelps rumbled into the end zone for another score from two yards out.
“That was a good football team, and that extra week really helped our guys prepare for this,” said head coach Gary Heide after the game.
Bayfield scored just before halftime when McCoy found Heydinger once more on a skinny post route from 20 yards out.
The Wolverines opened the fourth quarter with a score when McCoy found senior tight end and linebacker Wyatt Freier in the back of the end zone from five yards out. Bayfield missed the extra-point try.
After senior Brody Mcghehey recovered a fumble, which was caused by senior Noah Loutherback, the Wolverines found the end zone again when Phelps capped off a seven-play drive when he scooted in for the score.
The Eagles couldn’t force the Wolverines to make mistakes all night. A well-oiled conservative running attack will do that, as Paonia’s defense was neutralized from Bayfield’s potent running attack. Paonia entered Friday night’s game boasting 14 interceptions, but with Bayfield keeping the ball on the ground, Paonia’s defense couldn’t stop the constant pounding from Bayfield’s strong and experienced offensive line. Having to deal with Phelps didn’t help much, either. The senior running back trucked his way to positive gains all night.
Senior Taylor Walters did all he could for Paonia as he threw, ran and punted for most of the night, albeit in the face of numerous Bayfield defenders. Walters finished the night with 92 yards on 14 rushes on the ground while going 3-for-17 for 32 yards through the air.
After half time, the Wolverine defense didn’t let up on Paonia’s offense. Bayfield had 16 first downs versus Paonia’s six. Bayfield forced three turnovers, while Paonia was penalized eight times in the game. Bayfield played a more precise game than Paonia, which made all the difference.
Next week, Bayfield is at home against Olathe to begin the league schedule.
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
