The Ignacio High School football team is out to a strong start in 2018.
Five days after a 41-0 win at home against Lake County, the Bobcats rolled into New Mexico and picked up a 21-8 win against Crownpoint on Thursday.
Ignacio (2-0) marched 62 yards in 11 plays and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run by Dylan Lebarthe with 6 minutes, 32 seconds to play in the first quarter. Mike Archuleta made the extra point, and Ignacio had a 7-0 lead.
The Bobcats’ defense was smothering Thursday. The team forced six fumbles, including one on Crownpoint’s first drive of the game, and had an interception by Lawrence Toledo in the fourth quarter.
With 7:21 to go in the second quarter, Ignacio quarterback Ian Weinreich scored on a 1-yard run. Archuleta’s extra point hit the upright and was no good to make the game 13-0.
The teams traded fumbles, and the first half ended with Ignacio’s lead still 13-0. Colten Jackson recovered a fumble by Crownpoint to open the second half. But it was Crownpoint (0-2) that would score first in the third quarter, as Jaylan Wagner scored on a 10-yard run. The 2-point try failed, and Ignacio’s lead was 13-6 with 5:06 to play in the third quarter.
Ignacio answered with 9:39 to play in the game. Dustin Sanchez scored on a 9-yard run. Ignacio’s offense got the ball on the 3-yard-line but backed up because of penalties. Jackson returned a short punt to the 3 to set up the field position.
On the extra-point try, Ignacio had a bad snap, and holder Lee-Roy Monroe picked it up and rolled out and threw a pass to Jackson for a successful 2-point conversion.
Crownpoint would add one more score on a safety, but the Bobcats had no problem holding on to win 21-8.
Ignacio will travel to New Mexico again next week to face Newcomb at 7 p.m. Sept. 7.
Pine River Times sports writer Joel Priest contributed to this report.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
