The Bayfield High School and Pagosa Springs football teams stepped on to the field for their final time of the year on Friday in Pagosa Springs. With neither team going to the Class 2A state playoffs, the players were focused on the rivalry game and they went blow for blow for four quarters and then some.
“It was a great game and a lot of fun to be a part of,” said BHS head coach Glenn Wallace.
Pagosa quarterback Aaron Aucoin had a big game and scored first on a six-yard run in the first quarter.
After a Bayfield punt, Keaton Pickering sacked Aucoin on Pagosa’s next drive and PSHS had to punt.
Pickering outfought a defensive back for a reception on Bayfield’s ensuing drive, but Deegan Barnes got intercepted in the red zone after his pass was tipped.
BHS caught a break when an Pagosa touchdown was negated by an illegal man downfield penalty.
The Wolverines then tied the game in the second quarter, 7-7. Barnes completed a couple of first-down passes to Lincoln Williams, a 9-yarder to Pickering and eventually scored on a three-yard run.
After a big kick return, Pagosa converted on fourth-and-short and then Gavin Lindahl scored on a 14-yard run up the middle.
Bayfield answered just before halftime to send the teams into the break tied at 14-14. Pickering made a crazy 63-yard catch after an initial bobble and Barnes eventually punched it in from a yard out.
The Wolverines received the kick to start the second half and drove all the way to Pagosa’s four-yard line. The drive, however, ended with a missed field goal.
Lindahl’s second rushing touchdown put PSHS up 21-14.
On the second play of the third quarter, Barnes threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Austin Wilmer to tie the game back up.
Bayfield then forced Pagosa to fumble and Barnes recovered the loose ball for BHS. Four plays later, Barnes threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Pickering. Dante Candelaria’s kick was blocked so BHS led 27-21.
Pagosa answered almost immediately with two runs over 30 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown run from Lindahl. Bayfield, however, blocked the extra point kick to keep the game even, 27-27, with 8:38 remaining.
The Wolverines, however, weren’t done making big plays. C.J. Lowe ran for 20 yards on first down. Williams caught a 23-yard pass and a 10-yard pass. Candelaria then ran into the end zone from eight yards out, but a holding penalty negated the score. BHS, however, kept fighting and three plays later Lowe scored on a 1-yard rush. The kick missed and Bayfield led 33-27 with 4:47 remaining.
Pagosa responded with a 30-yard run on its next offensive play, but the Wolverines tightened up on defense.
With 9 seconds left in the game, Pagosa Springs called its final timeout with the ball at Bayfield’s 20. The Wolverines tackled Aucoin short of the end zone on he next play, but the clock never started.
After the referees met, they put two seconds back on the clock.
“How did that happen?” Wallace said. “That was a frustrating point, for sure. We all felt we would hang on and get our first win.”
Aucoin did get a first down on his run so the clock would have stopped momentarily to reset the chains, but the pause basically gave Pagosa an extra timeout. When play resumed, Aucoin threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Colt Lewis as time expired.
With the score tied at 37-37, BHS made one more big play.
“Barnes blocked their kick when time was expired to send it into overtime,” Wallace said.
In overtime, both teams started at the 10-yard line with first-and-goal. Bayfield went first, but its drive ended with an incomplete pass. Aucoin then threw a 10-yard shovel pass touchdown to his brother, Seth Aucoin, to give Pagosa a 39-33 victory.
The Wolverines finish their season 0-9 overall and 0-4 in the 2A League 5 while Pagosa finishes 4-5, 3-1.
Wallace, however, was happy with how the team performed at the end.
“It was awesome,” he said. “We knew we would have a good game. We got creative and had Deegan at running back and Lincoln at quarterback for a few plays. It was just a fun week of practice with good vibes all week. It was a good way to end the season.”
In addition to giving Barnes, Williams, Pickering and Lowe praise, the coach also said Gabe Archuleta, Justin (Noah) Westbrook, Hunter Mars and Wilmer also stepped up and had good games for BHS.
“I’m really proud of our seniors for laying the ground work and staying positive in the midst of a challenging year. It’s a good group.”
Ignacio hosted Del Norte for its regular season finale on Friday, needing a win and also a little help to make the Class 1A state playoffs.
The Bobcats took care of what they could control and beat Del Norte 26-6.
John Riepel scored on a 13-yard run in the first quarter and on runs of six yards and 17 yards in the third quarter. Zane Pontine also scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter and IHS took a 26-0 lead into the fourth. Del Norte got on the board with a 50-yard touchdown pass, but the Bobcats still finished comfortably ahead.
Ignacio (5-3) will now have to wait and see if it did enough to be selected for the Class 1A state tournament.
