In the hallways there are whispers, and in the community there is talk of grandeur while channeling 1996. Smiles fill the air in remembrance of the last time Bayfield High School football looked so good, so polished, and ready to take the torch that was placed before.
On a November Saturday afternoon at Wolverine Country Stadium, Bayfield will look to its destiny.
“There is great anticipation and great excitement,” Bayfield head coach Gary Heide said Thursday in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Our main goal was to get to this spot. I know we have a big task ahead of us. We have to focus on this game right now. (The town) is excited about the team.”
No. 1 seeded Bayfield will begin its quest to a Colorado High School Activities Association state championship when it hosts the No. 16 Manitou Springs Mustangs in the first round of the 2015 CHSAA Class 2A State Football Playoffs at noon Saturday in Bayfield.
The Wolverines (8-0, 5-0 2A Western Slope South League) plowed through the regular season on their way to the top seed, which has created some chatter of Bayfield’s lone 1996 state championship.
“I don’t like to hear about that stuff, but we’ll take it one game at a time,” Heide said. “We’ll have to play our best football in November. If we do that, we’ll move on. I know the community and school is excited about playoff football.”
The town has a reason to be excited right now, as the Wolverines have dismantled the competition all season. Between a suffocating defense and a running game that epitomizes a tough, grinding style of offense, the Wolverines have a good chance at running the table.
Bayfield has allowed a mere 49 points all season and haven’t allowed more than eight points in a single game. Senior linebacker Kyle Killough leads the Wolverines with 59 tackles – all solo – in only seven games. Freshman David Hawkins is second on Bayfield with 38 solo tackles.
Bayfield’s defense not only thrives off holding its opponents at bay with points, but its also an opportunistic squad. The Wolverines have totaled 10 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries, with senior Taed Heydinger leading Bayfield with three interceptions. Another 11 players have recovered at least one fumble.
Against Manitou Springs (3-6, 3-2 2A Tri-Peaks League), Bayfield’s defense will need to be in top form to stop a Mustang offense that is built around a shotgun formation with tight wing formations toggled in. The Mustangs are led by third year head coach Monte Gutowski, who has dynamic players such as senior running back Chase Norman. He is able to run the ball and mix up the offense with a combination of spread and power.
With a losing overall record, the Mustangs squeaked in the playoffs. Manitou Springs started the year with an abysmal 0-5 record, but four of those losses came to playoff teams. The Mustangs earned a playoff spot with a 3-2 league record and a 53-0 win against St. Mary’s to end the season. The victory gave Manitou Springs a runner-up spot in the Tri-Peaks League.
In that game, the Mustangs held the Pirates to 60 yards rushing, but St. Mary’s rushing attack is nothing like Bayfield’s.
The Wolverines haven’t been held under 100 yards on the ground all year, and most of the load has come from senior running back Zane Phelps, who led the Wolverines with 1,168 yards and 19 total touchdowns on 172 carries as he boasted a hefty 6.8 yard-per-carry average. Phelps has also done his fair share of stopping the run. As a linebacker, Phelps has totaled 35 solo tackles on defense.
Bayfield is also led by senior quarterback Kelton McCoy, who finished the regular season with 565 yards on 45-of-89 passing. McCoy’s senior season hasn’t had much to do with massing up a lot of yardage but rather having precise passing. McCoy has eight touchdowns and only one interception while posting a 96.0 quarterback rating.
Senior Wyatt Freier led Bayfield in receiving with 324 yards on 17 receptions for four touchdowns. His 19.1 yard-per-catch average is best on the team.
With 13 seniors, the Bayfield Wolverines have a lot to play for, and their leadership and maturity has shown why this Wolverine team is different.
“They’re loose and quite a confident group, I haven’t seen anything different from them the past two months which makes me happy,” Heide said. “The senior class gives me confidence.”
Heide’s group of seniors are not concerned about where the games are or who they play against. Their only concern is how many points they’ll put up and how many points they’ll keep the opposition from scoring. The team is ready to play and rested up with no injuries.
“We’re in really good shape,” Heide said. “We’re fortunate to be in as good of shape as we are heading into the playoffs.”
jmentzer@durangoherald.com
If You Go
Who: No. 16 Manitou Springs at No. 1 Bayfield
What: CHSAA Class 2A State Football Playoffs, first round
When: noon Saturday
Where: Wolverine Country Stadium, Bayfield
Listen Live: KLJH 107.1 FM
Twitter: @jonathanmentzer
