SAN LUIS VALLEY – The first time Bayfield returned a kickoff Friday night, it was fumbled.
The first time the Wolverines went aerial, it was intercepted.
The first, second and third times opposing Alamosa controlled the ball ended with not one or two, but three touchdown runs (of two, five and 17 yards) by senior quarterback Tony Griego. Adding Griego’s two-point conversion pass to senior Victor Zepeda after the second score, and the Mean Moose went into the second quarter leading 20-0.
Bayfield never managed to climb out of a chasm which only deepened as homecoming night at AHS ended with Alamosa having racked up 50 unanswered points.
“For years Bayfield has had Alamosa’s number,” said Alamosa head coach Drew Sandlin. “Last year was actually the first time Alamosa had ever beaten Bayfield … and it kind of rolled over to this year. We had a good week of practice; we were pretty discouraged after (home losses to 3A Pueblo) Central and (2A West) Delta. So it was good to see things come together.”
AHS senior Jovanny Mendoza nearly sacked BHS quarterback Cole McWhirter on the second quarter’s first snap, but hurried the Wolverine junior into launching a long, desperate heave picked off by senior Brennon Maez at the Mean Moose 39-yard line. Bayfield’s defense then solidified and, after nearly recovering a Griego fumble, forced Alamosa (3-2 overall, 1-0 2A Intermountain) to punt from the 41.
The Wolverines managed little offensively after starting from their own 25, but senior punter/kicker Ayden Casillas – who made two touchdown-stopping tackles – pinned the Moose back at their 26. AHS then went three-and-out, but after senior A.J. Baker’s punt was downed at BHS’ 42, the Wolverines lost the ball on downs at Alamosa’s 38 with 6:15 left until halftime.
A sack of Griego by Wolverine seniors Jack Waters and Justin Westbrook threatened to stop another AHS series, but Baker’s fake-punt pass to Maez gained a demoralizing 53 yards to Bayfield’s 2-yard line. Essentially rewarded by his coaches for the trickery, Baker then took a Griego handoff into the end zone with 2:31 left, and Griego slung a two-point pass to Maez, increasing Alamosa’s lead, later preserved by Zepeda intercepting McWhirter on the half’s last play, to 28-0.
Casillas’ failed onside kick to begin the third quarter allowed the Moose to work at their own 48. Consecutive Griego-to-Maez connections, plus a five-yard penalty against BHS, advanced Alamosa to BHS’ 14 and Griego, somehow able to break loose in the backfield from Wolverine junior Carter Connon, then patched a broken play with an against-the-grain dart to junior Anthony Montoya in the end zone.
Hernandez’s point-after attempt split the uprights, swelling AHS’ lead to 35-0 with 10:47 left, Penalized back to their own 37 to start its next drive, Alamosa nevertheless proceeded to go the required distance in eight plays and 4:10 worth of clock, with junior Zavier Maez’s four-yard run finishing the drive.
Hernandez again kicked the extra point, enacting a mercy-rule running clock with 5:39 still remaining in the third and the Moose up 42-0.
Homecoming king Griego’s night was done, but backup Evan Anderson’s was just getting started. Helped by a 40-yard Hernandez run down to Bayfield’s 17, the Moose marched 72 yards in six plays and 3:46, and Anderson found junior Elijah Salazar from 12 yards out with 7:49 left in regulation. Hernandez ran in the conversion bringing up AHS’ 50 points.
“Pueblo Central was a (21 to 14) heartbreaker, and Delta (48-14) was just a rough week in general, so it was great to come back on the other side of the scoreboard,” Griego said.
Hoping for some homecoming week magic of their own, the Wolverines (3-2 overall, 0-1 2A Intermountain) will next host Pagosa Springs at 7 p.m. on Friday.
