The Ignacio High School football team will look to rebound after a narrow 12-6 overtime loss to Center last week when it travels to play Monte Vista at 7 p.m. Friday at Monte Vista High School.
The Bobcats (2-4, 0-1 1A Southern Peaks League) have lost four consecutive games but have shown promise, particularly from their run game on offense. Senior running back Dustin Sanchez finished with 163 yards on 26 carries last week in the loss, which led Ignacio.
Meanwhile, junior quarterback Ian Weinreich finished 3-of-16 for 26 yards passing. During the skid, the defense has given up 163 points to their opponents, while the offense has scored just 35.
However, it has not been all doom and gloom for the defense, as it forced two key turnovers last week against Center. Junior defensive tackle Lucas Roderick recovered a fumble, and freshman Shawn Campbell also recorded an interception.
Monte Vista (2-4, 1-1, SPL) has won two of its last three games, but the Pirates were easily handled in a 45-8 loss last week against Centauri, the No. 5 team in the latest Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 1A poll and last year’s state runner-up.
The Pirates are another run-heavy offense and have rushed for more than 1,100 yards as a team. Kaidon Wenta, a junior, has led Monte Vista with 693 rushing yards this season, and he has found the end zone eight times to lead the team.
Wenta has averaged 115.5 yards per game on 119 carries and has scored 56 of the Pirates’ 120 total points this season. In the loss last week, Wenta rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries.
Tyler Vigil, a senior, is second on the team in rushing and has racked up 311 yards on 71 carries and has also scored two touchdowns.
Zach Hindes, Monte Vista’s senior quarterback, has thrown for 106 yards and has averaged 17.7 yards per game.
On defense, Cobi Garcia has led the Pirates, as he has averaged 10.2 tackles per game with 31 solo tackles and 30 assisted. Garcia is also the team leader in tackles for loss with nine, and he has recovered three fumbles and forced two.
The series has been dominated by the Pirates as of late, as Monte Vista has won its last five against the Bobcats.
bploen@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
Ignacio at Monte Vista
What:
CHSAA Class 1A Southern Peaks League football
When:
7 p.m. Friday
Where:
Monte Vista High
