The Ignacio High School football team got off to a quick start Friday night at Bobcat Stadium in Ignacio, leading 15-0 midway through the second quarter against John Mall of Walsenburg. However, that’s when Wesley Van Matre took over for John Mall, as he scored two times and converted multiple 2-point conversions en route to a 44-23 John Mall victory against the Bobcats.
Ignacio (2-2) started off the game strong and went up 8-0 early in the first quarter when Bobcats quarterback Ian Weinriech threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Sean Campbell to give IHS the lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats continued to find success on the running ground with Dylan Labarthe, as he scored on a 16-yard run to give Ignacio a 15-0 lead. That’s when the John Mall offense came to life. John Mall (1-2), On the ensuing Panther drive, Van Matre scored on a 23-yard run to get the Panthers within one score, as Ignacio held on to a 15-8 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, John Mall quarterback Nikko Vallejos scored from four yards out to bring the score to 15-14. Vallejos’s night continued to improve, as he scored on a 44-yard keeper on the team’s next drive to give John Mall its first lead of the night at 22-15.
Ignacio was not out of it yet by any means thanks in part to Dustin Sanchez, as he helped give Ignacio back the lead with a 61-yard run with 1:09 left in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion was good, and Ignacio led 23-22. That would be the score heading into the final frame.
While so much went right for Ignacio, the fourth quarter dashed the hopes of the Bobcat faithful, as two possessions cost Ignacio a potential win. Van Matre scored with 5:38 left to give John Mall the lead for good at 30-23.
During the next Bobcat possession, Weinreich was intercepted. The very next play would prove to be the nail in the coffin for Ignacio, as Phillip Valdez IV scored on a 38-yard run and Van Matre added the 2-point conversion to give the Panthers a 14-point lead.
Weinriech was intercepted again on the next Ignacio drive and the Panthers poured it on late, scoring on a 5-play, 30-yard drive capped off by an Anthony Aldretti 1-yard plunge to make it 44-23.
Despite the loss, Ignacio’s Sanchez led both teams with 165 yards on 11 carries. For the Panthers, Van Matre finished with 150 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Weinreich was 3-of-14 for 33 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Ignacio will have a bye week before taking on Colorado Springs Christian on Sept. 28.
bploen@durangoherald.com
