For the first time ever, the 2A Bayfield Wolverines defeated the 3A Durango Demons in football.
It couldn't have been better for Bayfield fans and players who were disappointed about last year's loss in Durango.
It was in Wolverine Country Stadium.
It was ideal weather, after some blustery conditions before the game.
And it was Bayfield's Homecoming.
Carl Heide started the scoring with a romp into the endzone just one minute and three seconds into the game. The largest-ever crowd at the stadium roared its approval.
Chris Mooney made the extra point, then it was called back for Bayfield, and he had to move back another five yards for a do-over. The second kick missed.
Then the Durango Demons, showing they weren't going to be outdone, came back and scored a TD, then made the extra point, and it was 7-6 for the rest of the quarter.
Toward the end of the second half, Dax Snooks made another touchdown, and Mooney kicked the extra point, so the Wolverines were hoping they would go into the locker room at the half 13-7.
Not so fast.
The Demons again responded with another touchdown, and it was 13-13 at the half.
At halftime, the Bayfield Wolverettes performed to a medley of Dr. Seuss songs, the BHS cheer squad performed some impressive stunts, and the Marching Wolverines premiered their James Bond-inspired show for this fall.
BriAnne Marr was crowned homecoming queen, and touchdown-king Heide also was named homecoming king.
At the start of the third, the Wolverines came out flat, but the hard-working defenses of both teams kept slugging it out on the field. Cole Wood, Kirk Malone, Cade Killough, Hunter Killough and the rest of the Wolverine defense kept hammering on the Demons as fans on both sides of the field worried about a possible tie or overtime. Finally toward the end of the fourth, quarterback Hayden Farmer threw a beautiful pass to Snooks, who jumped to catch it and ran in to take it to 19-13. Mooney's final kick of the evening was good, and it was 20-13.
The Demons still weren't done.
They mounted a tough offense and marched it down the field with a minute to go and hovered between the 20-yard and 10-yard lines. Ryan Phelps deflected a pass directed toward the endzone, eliciting a grateful sigh of relief in the stands. Finally, the quarterback threw a pass, and Hunter Killough intercepted with 20 seconds left.
The crowd erupted with approval, and it was done for the Demons.
