Still living up to its famous billing, milk certainly "did a body good" for Bayfield football this fall. More specifically, for a moo-tivated Cole Wood.
Partially prepared for the two-way rigors of being an offensive guard and middle linebacker on defense by guzzling and gulping down an incredible amount of the dairy drink, the 6-foot, 195-pound junior tortured opposing quarterbacks and recorded 11 sacks to earn Second Team All-2A by CHSAA, Colorado Preps and MaxPreps.
"The diet's called the 'Go Mad Diet,'" Wood explained Tuesday morning, with a laugh at the implied mad-cow disease punchline. "And it's a gallon of milk every day - I did it for 26 days - and it was not worth it. I mean, I did gain weight and it was helpful, but it comes with a lot of ... uhm ... issues."
One of which, fortunately, was the statewide recognition.
"It was great," he said. "That was a good accomplishment for me, and I'm hoping to do better next year."
All told, Wood was one of six Wolverines honored, with senior center/nose guard Sam Westbrook about as clear-cut a First Team choice as there was.
With a name sounding something like an Old West town marshal, the 6'5", 275-pound boss pivot led the way for a rushing attack which gained almost 2,500 yards and scored 30 touchdowns during BHS' 9-3 campaign. He also triggered the passing game, snapping to fellow senior and First Team pick Josh Westbrook (69-of-128, 1,180 yards, 15:7 TD-to-INT ratio; 298 yards rushing, 4 TD).
Twin brother of senior Jesse Westbrook, and cousin of Sam and sophomore brother Daniel Westbrook, Josh Westbrook also was a defensive regular as part of Bayfield's devastating linebacking corps. "His drive to lead the team was apparent," head coach Gary Heide told the Durango Herald, parent paper of the Times. "Didn't come in for stats or to showcase himself; he wanted to put the team on his shoulders and win."
Junior defensive end/tight end Ryan Phelps was also a Second Team All-2A pick after booking a team-high 13 sacks amongst 17 tackles-for-loss defensively to go along with 21-191 receiving figures and a TD. Used as the Wolverines' punter as well, Phelps averaged 34.2 yards on 38 kicks. Sam Westbrook had eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss; Wood had 13 TFLs.
Wide receiver/defensive back Brian Mashak also received Second Team status for his many contributions.
The speedy senior grabbed 26 passes for a field-stretching 785 yards (30.2 per catch) and a crucial 11 scores, was 30-of-44 in point-after kicks, and also picked off a team-best five enemy throws.
"He played through some pain and, like all the seniors, put the burden on himself to lead the team," said Heide. "He grew from a young man to a man."
Finally, junior running back/defensive back Hunter Killough was named Honorable Mention All-2A after logging a team-best 121 total tackles (25 TFL), and rushing/receiving for 339 total yards and four TDs on offense.
"We're just all-around talented, and we're going to do better next year," Wood said. "I think just how this year ended, will motivate us even more - that we came that close, that we could do better." Bayfield lost to La Junta 14-13 in the 2A semifinal game on Thanksgiving weekend. Whether that means more milk between now and then, however, Wood quickly declared his opposition.
"I would not recommend it to anyone," he laughed. "They try to make you drink throughout the day, and I wasn't very good at doing that. So I'd drink, like, half a gallon at night, and after 26 days, it starts to taste different."
