The title defense begins now.
Eleven months after capturing the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A football state championship, the Bayfield High School Wolverines are back in the postseason as the fifth-seed in the 16-team tournament.
First up is a showdown with No. 12 Florence at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wolverine Country Stadium, where Bayfield hasn’t lost since Oct. 10, 2014, building a nine-game home winning streak in the process. It will be a special day in Bayfield, with the volleyball team hosting the 3A Region 5 Tournament in the morning with a chance to reach the state tournament in Denver next week. When volleyball wraps up, fans will head to the football stadium to complete a loaded day of postseason action.
“The teachers and everyone in the halls are talking about how exciting it is to have volleyball and then football,” BHS head coach Gary Heide said. “It’s fun to have all that stuff at home. It’s a chance to exhibit the talent Bayfield has throughout the community in all of its sports.”
After two non-conference losses in close games, the Wolverines went on a five-game winning streak to claim a second-consecutive Intermountain League championship.
A dominant defense was key to getting Bayfield that title in a beefed up league that included Delta this season. BHS dominated a road game at Delta, holding the state’s leading rusher to less than 40 yards. Delta is the 10-seed in these playoffs, and Alamosa earned the 14-seed after claiming third in the IML. After playing what essentially amounted to playoff games the last two weeks against Alamosa and Delta, the Wolverines are battle tested and ready for what comes next.
BHS is also healthy despite a few key players exiting last week’s win against Alamosa early. Quarterback Josh Westbrook will start Saturday, and sophomore running back David Hawkins, who leads the team in touchdowns, will also play.
“We’ve had some guys taking it easy in practice the last few weeks, but fortunately, we haven’t had to hold anyone out entirely,” Heide said. “We’ve been precautionary, but we’re healthy and ready to go.”
Hawkins’ presence is also key on defense, but the Wolverines are loaded at all 11 defensive positions. For the second consecutive season, a Killough leads the Wolverines in tackles. Hunter Killough has already surpassed Kyle Killough’s mark of last season with 84 tackles. Ryan Phelps has 58, and Jesse Westbrook and Cole Wood each have 56. Of Killough’s 84 tackles, 19 have gone for a loss. BHS has an astounding 96 tackles for a loss this season.
Phelps has given opposing quarterbacks nightmares with a team-leading eight sacks. Sam Westbrook and Wood each have five, and Hawkins has sacked the QB four times.
That will come in handy against Florence (5-4), which is led by the QB play of senior Alec Lucero. He has passed for six TDs and nine interceptions this year to go with 860 yards, but he’s a bigger threat running the ball with 1,195 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“They’ve got a real good quarterback who is the basis of their offense,” Heide said. “He is very disciplined, and the team is well-organized on offense.”
Heide said the Huskies’ defense is led by potent linebackers and beefy defensive tackles, similar to what his Wolverines saw from Alamosa and Delta. That puts line play at a premium, and that’s where BHS is at its best.
The winner of Saturday’s game will move on to the quarterfinals to face the winner of No. 4 Sterling and No. 13 Manitou Springs.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
No. 12 Florence and No. 5 Bayfield
What:
CHSAA Class 2A State Football Playoffs, first round
When:
1 p.m. Saturday
Where:
Wolverine Country Stadium, Bayfield
Listen Live:
KLJH 107.1 FM
Twitter:
@jlivi2
