Though slammed by some of the same storm which surged through western New Mexico -including the town of Crownpoint, roughly 100 road miles to the south, where Pine River Valley neighbors Ignacio were clashing with CHS (see related story,) Bayfield couldn't be stopped from battering Bloomfield in the Land of Enchantment.
Sophomore David Hawkins gained 151 yards on 29 rushing attempts and scored four touchdowns, and the Wolverines' defense held the hosting Bobcats to fewer than 100 yards of total offense as the Coloradans ignored a second-half lightning/rain delay and secured a 35-0 shutout last Friday.
Two Hawkins scores followed the weather interruption, and Bayfield (1-1, 0-0 2A Intermountain) polished off a vicious bounce-back from a scoreless Zero Week loss in Blanding, Utah, with a 56-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Hayden Farmer to Keyon Prior - the first varsity score for each sophomore.
Senior Brian Mashak then managed to hit the point-after kick, enacting the New Mexico Activities Association's 35-point running-clock mercy rule (CHSAA's starts at 40) and all but bringing the extended night to a welcome end.
Holding matters up for over an hour, the wild weather became too much at the midway mark of the third quarter. The lightning delay brought the 'Cats (0-2, 0-0 NMAA District 1-5A) no relief on their own ground after trailing just 16-zip before the stoppage.
Diminutive senior Rudy Vigil led Bloomfield with 31 rushing yards - of the Bobcats' reported 29 - on ten carries, while senior QB Brendon Charley gained just 25 on 5-of-11 passing while under constant pressure.
Senior starting QB Josh Westbrook reportedly finished 3-of-5 for 62 yards for the Wolverines and Farmer 3-of-3 for 71. Mashak caught two throws for 54 as the Wolverines outgained the Bobcats 339-57. Defensively Bayfield pressured Bloomfield into six punts, forced four fumbles and recovered two, and sacked Charley four times (senior Chris Kane was credited with two).
Up next, Bayfield will host Aztec at 7 p.m. Friday. Recovering from a sound 64-20 home loss to Dist. 5-5A Los Lunas beginning their season, the 1-5A Tigers reintroduced themselves to their fans and built up some major morale by clipping 3A Durango - upcoming for BHS on Sept. 23 - last week by one, 13-12.
