More than 20 penalty flags flew in the first half, and the Wolverines lost two key players to knee injuries. Resilient as ever, the Bayfield High School football team responded in the second half.
Bayfield claimed a 21-14 lead at halftime and dominated the entire second half en route to a 48-21 road win Friday night in Aztec. Carl Heide blew away the Tigers with multiple big runs, as he helped Bayfield to a 3-0 record and its first road win of the season.
“I am really proud of this team,” BHS head coach Gary Heide said. “It’s a great step forward for us. We were behind, got hit in the chops a lot. We were frustrated and doing things we shouldn’t have been doing. We came back with great confidence and pride that if we did the right thing and executed and did our talking with our pads that we would prevail. Hats off to the young men who had that belief.”
A lightning delay 17 seconds into the first quarter gave Aztec (0-3) and Bayfield time to stew before the game really began. When play resumed, so many flags flew in the first quarter that it lasted 50 minutes.
In the quarter, the Wolverines lost lineman Ian Nelson to a knee injury. Star junior running back and linebacker David Hawkins also left the game with a knee injury and did not return. He was on crutches on the sideline in the second half.
Despite numerous personal foul penalties among other violations, the Wolverines regrouped after the halftime break and put on a fine display of high school football.
“I was ready to go deliver a beat-down speech at halftime,” coach Heide said. “By the time I was in the locker room, numerous players had already taken the lead about playing the game, moving to the next play and not talking. The leaders stepped up and demanded that from the team, and I didn’t have to say a word. They took care of business themselves.”
Carl Heide broke free on a 60-yard run that set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Hunter Killough to extend the Wolverines’ lead to 28-14. Bayfield’s defense held strong against the Aztec pass attack to get the ball back to its offense, and the Wolverines got on the board again with a touchdown run from Keyon Prior that made it 35-14. That capped off a two-play scoring drive.
After forcing another Aztec punt, Bayfield took over on its own 15-yard line and again needed only two plays to get in the end zone. BHS junior quarterback Hayden Farmer hit Dawson Heide on an 83-yard touchdown pass to make the score 42-14.
Dylan Hilliker put the final exclamation point on the win for the Wolverines when he scored from 3 yards out on a run up the middle to end a strong scoring drive from the Wolverines.
Cody Smith led a last-minute scoring drive for Aztec, and he hit Kenny Grady in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard TD pass.
Aztec struck first with some help from the Wolverines. The two teams exchanged punts to open the game, but Bayfield muffed the Aztec punt and it was recovered by Smith. Smith then led the team down the field, and the Tigers scored on a 3-yard run by Zach Taylor to take a 7-0 lead.
Bayfield answered back on its next offensive drive, as Carl Heide burst around the edge for a 60-yard TD run. The extra point was blocked, but a penalty was called on Aztec. Still, Bayfield couldn’t score on a 2-point conversion try and trailed 7-6.
Aztec then went three-and-out and punted once more. Prior had a nice return to the Aztec 43-yard line. A quick BHS drive ended with a 10-yard TD run by Carl Heide, who also caught a 2-point conversion pass to give the Wolverines a 14-7 lead.
Aztec answered back, as Smith hit his wide receiver Justin Black on two huge pass plays to extend the drive. Smith then plowed into the end zone on a 3-yard run to tie the game at 14-all at the end of the first quarter.
Farmer was intercepted by Black to open the second quarter, but Carl Heide returned the favor by intercepting Smith to get the ball back to the Wolverines. Farmer then led a scoring drive with a big pass play to Carl Heide followed by a 13-yard TD pass to Prior. That gave BHS its 21-14 halftime lead.
“It all goes back to our offensive line,” coach Heide said. “When you run and pass for that many yards, it’s because of the line. I can’t say enough about Michael Kirk coming in to fill a very tough situation at center with (Ian Nelson) going down. He did a fantastic job and was a big part of that.”
BHS entered the week the second-ranked team in Class 2A. The Wolverines will have a bye to prepare for its next game, a home rivalry showdown with Durango (2-0) on Sept. 22.
Bayfield has won 15 consecutive home games, and the program record is 16. But the Wolverines have never beat Durango in program history. Dating back to 1924, the Wolverines are 0-14-1 against the Demons, including last year’s 14-6 OT loss at Durango. That was the first meeting between the two programs in 80 years.
“We will have to execute,” coach Heide said. “We will have to be poised. Durango is a great-coached team. They’ve got players, too. We have the ultimate respect for coach (David) Vogt and what he’s done with the Demons. They win every year, and they’re back at it again. I know whatever we do has to be thought out and well-executed to win that game.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
