Idle from competition since devastating 2A Red Mesa (Arizona) in scrimmage on Aug. 19, the Ignacio Bobcats will kick off their 2022 football season Friday at home versus a second out-of-state opponent.
At 7 p.m., IHS will host the Whitehorse (Utah) Raiders, a team it routed 54-0 last fall in Montezuma Creek.
Formerly an 11-man UHSAA “Freelance” independent, Whitehorse chose this year to become one of a half-dozen schools comprising a reborn eight-man gridiron circuit – Utah’s first reduced-player circuit in over 70 years, and began playing as an eight-man squad Aug. 26 at Monticello, Utah. After falling behind 39-0 early, Whitehorse’s three-score comeback bid came up well short after the also-reclassified Buckaroos pulled away in the third quarter and cruised 64-20.
Last Friday, the Raiders made their second attempt count with an overwhelming 97-46 victory in Ogden over Utah School for the Deaf & Blind. WHS’ 1-1 record is more or less on par with last fall’s 1-5 mark as Whitehorse resumed play after its 2020-21 athletic seasons were canceled because of the pandemic.
Now one of eight programs – also including Randolph-based Rich, Monument Valley, Altamont, Hildale Water Canyon, and Ogden St. Joseph Catholic – either playing or interested in fielding an eight-man crew, Whitehorse has the option of playing 11-man ball if circumstances allow.
Which includes completing a home-and-home with IHS.
The Bobcats’ nonconference schedule will continue with a Sept. 16 trip to Navajo Prep in Farmington.
