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Cowboys clip Wolverines at home, 28-27

BHS’ run defense devastated on Senior Day
Bayfield sophomore Cole McWhirter (16) goes aerial during the Wolverines' Senior Day game Saturday afternoon versus Gunnison. He threw for 201 yards on 17 completions with two TDs and one interception, but BHS fell 28-27 to the Cowboys. (Joel Priest/Special to the Herald)

Trailing visiting Gunnison by seven points with 1:43 remaining, Bayfield sophomore quarterback Cole McWhirter completed five of six passes while driving the home team 61 yards in seven total plays and just 77 seconds, with senior Lincoln Williams catching a short throw, then slicing through the Cowboys’ defense for a 15-yard touchdown.

Possibly Bayfield’s most well-executed series Saturday afternoon, it unluckily went for naught as the PAT failed when the snap to McWhirter, holding for junior kicker Ayden Casillas, skidded along the grass and couldn’t be fielded to even hazard a desperation run by either. Bayfield trailed 28-27.

But having seen the Wolverines’ quick-strike capability multiple times – including BHS’ very first scoring drive, a five-play, 74-yard series using just 1:45 of the first quarter while promptly answering GHS’ ice-breaking 45-yard possession – Gunnison head coach Paul Vickers knew his team wasn’t quite out of the woods.

“They run a very effective passing attack,” Vickers said. “We were probably a little weak in some spots out there – I had a couple of freshmen playing today because of injuries – so at the end of the day, we just tried to rally and help each other where we could. We knew sometimes they were just going to gash us and hopefully it wasn’t too bad.”

With 26 ticks still showing on Wolverine Country Stadium’s scoreboard clock, Casillas lined up for the expected onside kick – and hit it practically perfect, as it took two or three mini-bounces then shot high overhead as it neared the guests’ sideline. Unfortunately, no purple jerseys could pull it down and secure it. After the ball deflected out of bounds, the Cowboys took over at midfield with a 28-27 lead … and the Wolverines with zero timeouts available.

Senior quarterback/kicker Talon Kibler then took the final snap and knelt for a 1-yard loss, clinching a hard-earned road win.

Bayfield fell to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the 2A Intermountain League. Gunnison improved to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the 2A Intermountain League.

The Cowboys’ win was ultimately made possible by the efforts of senior running back Graden Buckhanan.

After Casillas barely missed a 52-yard field goal with 11:08 remaining in the final frame, Vickers suddenly elected to go hurry-up offense, only to see his team gain just six yards out to GHS’ 26 in three plays, and then Bayfield junior Brody LaVenture barge into the backfield on fourth down and block Tate Taramarcaz’s punt.

BHS recovered at the 3-yard line, and after two Austin Wilmer goal line plunges led 20-14 prior to Casillas’ successful PAT kick and touchback on his subsequent kickoff. Now, with just 8:34 left in regulation, Vickers wasn’t about to make another hasty mistake; he went back to what had worked and for which Bayfield had no apparent answer.

Set up at their own 20, Buckhanan’s number was called five straight times – the last producing a 34-yard TD carry with 6:34 still to go. Kibler’s PAT was good enough, and retied the score. McWhirter, Williams & Co. would then go back to work from their own 30 and advanced to GHS’ 36 in eight plays, before McWhirter took a six-yard sack on second down and junior Estevan Gonzales was dropped by Taramarcaz for a ten-yard loss on third.

Casillas punted from his own 38 and Gunnison set up shop at their 36 with 2:25 remaining. Knowing Buckhanan would get the ball, the Wolverines still couldn’t stop him as he immediately broke off a 41-yarder along Gunnison’s sideline. Correctly assuming Vickers wouldn’t put the ball in the air – especially after Kibler had been intercepted three times, BHS head coach Glenn Wallace used his first timeout with 2:12 to go.

Buckhanan then gained five yards down to Bayfield’s 18-yard line and a face-mask penalty called on Wolverine junior Caelan Ramos pushed the ball to the 9-yard line. Buckhanan followed blocking around right end for the go-ahead TD, and Kibler added the extra point – making the score Gunnison 28, Bayfield 21 with 1:46 left.

“I was a little worried about their passing game; they’re pretty good at throwing the ball, so I’m glad we could chew the clock up,” Buckhanan admitted. “So we were planning on running quite a bit and it was working really well; our O-line was making some amazing blocks.”

All told, Buckhanan totaled (unofficially) a jaw-dropping 403 yards rushing on 38 carries, with TDs of 8, 62, 34 and 9 yards. Seven of his runs went for 20 yards or more – while he played with a still-healing, but padded and protected left forearm, no less.

“Broke it the very first play of the first game, so I’ve just been dealing with it all season,” he explained. “But I think I have pretty good patience; our coaches have great run schemes and I’ve been trying to let the O-line do their thing before I exploit a hole. Let runs develop before I do my thing.”

In defeat, Bayfield had led 7-6 after the first quarter but went into halftime down 14-7 after Buckhanan’s longest scoring burst (and ensuing two-point conversion carry) occurred with 4:40 left in the second quarter. That deficit could have been greater; Buckhanan had netted 57 yards on six consecutive attempts during GHS’ last drive, but with the Cowboys threatening from BHS’ 17, Williams then intercepted Kibler at the goal line with just 25 seconds to go.

Williams ended up with two picks, seven receptions for 150 yards, two touchdowns and also gained 77 yards on 11 carries. McWhirter had 17 completions for 201 yards.

Up next, the Wolverines will head to Montezuma-Cortez (6-2, 3-1 2A Intermountain) for their regular-season finale Friday night. Kickoff at Panther Stadium is set for 7 p.m.