If the Bayfield High School football team repeats as Class 2A state champions, the Wolverines will have to do it from the fifth seed in the bracket.

Brackets for the state playoffs were released Sunday, and Bayfield (7-2) received the No. 5 seed and will host No. 12 Florence (5-4) in the opening round of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Playoffs. BHS hosts the game, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.

Bayfield wrapped up a second consecutive Intermountain League championship Saturday night with a 44-0 win against Alamosa. The IML head three teams make the playoffs, with No. 10 Delta (6-3) and No. 14 Alamosa (5-4). BHS went 5-0 in the IML and allowed only 17 points to opponents in league games.

Bayfield boasts one of the best defenses in Class 2A and came together for a five-game winning streak after a 14-6 overtime loss to La Plata County rival Durango, a team in the hunt for a playoff spot in Class 3A. The Wolverines lost their season opener against San Juan High School of Blanding, Utah. San Juan is the No. 1 seed in the south bracket in Utah's Class 2A state playoffs and have advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Florence competes in the 2A Tri-Peaks League and finished third with a 2-3 record. The Tri-Peaks League was the best in 2A football in Colorado this year with No. 1 La Junta (9-0), No. 3 The Classical Academy (8-1) and No. 13 Manitou Springs (6-3).

Bayfield met La Junta in the state semifinals last season and came away with a big home win to advance to the state championship, where the Wolverines beat Platte Valley for the title. This year, Platte Valley scratched its way into the playoffs as a 15-seed and will meet No. 2 Resurrection Christian (9-0) in the first round. This year, La Junta (9-0) is the top seed and could once again be on a collision course with Bayfield if both teams advance that far.

With a win against Florence, Bayfield would face the winner of No. 4 Sterling (6-3) and Manitou Springs.

La Junta will open against No. 16 University and could face the winner of No. 8 Basalt and No. 9 D'Evelyn in the quarterfinals.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 6 Kent Denver (8-1) will welcome No. 11 Weld Central (8-1), while No. 14 Alamosa will travel to No. 3 The Classical Academy. No. 7 Faith Christian (6-3) will also host No. 10 Delta.

For more on Bayfield's first-round matchup with Florence, keep following www.durangoherald.com.

jlivingston@durangoherald.com