Ignacio hasn’t scored a point on Dolores since 2012, but the Bobcats showed no fear scheduling the Bears for homecoming.
Both teams are coming off losses in 1A Southern Peaks League opening games last week, and the Dolores High School football team will come to Ignacio looking to hold the Bobcats scoreless for a fourth consecutive season. Since 2011, IHS has been outscored by Dolores 144-6.
But this year’s Bobcats have played much-improved football, and IHS has every intention of competing with the Bears (3-2, 0-1 SPL) this year.
IHS (2-3, 0-1 SPL) has already bucked a few trends this year. It won consecutive games for the first time since 2013 and ended a 14-game losing streak that had spanned three seasons.
But since demolishing Montezuma-Cortez 37-12 on the Panthers’ homecoming night, the Bobcats have lost 25-7 to Pagosa Springs and 42-0 at Monte Vista. The offense, led by quarterback Zach Weinreich and playmakers Ethan Appenzeller, Lorenzo Peña, Timmy Plehinger and Lawrence Valdez, will look to get the team back on track this week in front of their homecoming crowd.
Dolores lost its season opener 40-8 to Hotchkiss but won three consecutive games against Shiprock, Dolores Huerta Prep and Whitehorse before a 19-0 loss last week to John Mall of Walsenburg.
The Bears and Bobcats have long been rivals, but that has lacked a lot of luster in recent years. The Bobcats hope to bring more fire to the party this time around.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
Dolores at Ignacio
What:
1A Southern Peaks League football
When:
7 p.m. Friday
Where:
Ignacio High School Stadium
Listen Live:
KSUT 91.3 FM
Twitter:
@jlivi2
