They've been pushed to the edge of the state before. This time, they'll be asked to keep going.
Facing a 441-mile road trip to the Colorado-Nebraska border town of Sterling, the No. 5 Bayfield High School football team will take on the No. 4 Sterling Tigers in the quarterfinals of the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Playoffs.
BHS (8-2) is no stranger to such trips after going to Brush, only a 38-mile closer trip, last year in the quarterfinals before heading to the same region to play Platte Valley in last year's winning performance in the state championship game.
With a rebuilt offense that has improved each week and a defense to rival last year's dominant state champions, these Wolverines believe in their ability to pull off a road upset.
"We're prepared to win the game," BHS head coach Gary Heide said. "We continue to play together, get better and together we'll be ready to win."
BHS has won six in a row on its way to an Intermountain League title. Sterling claimed the Patriot East League and has won seven in a row after starting the season 0-2 with losses to No. 2 Resurrection Christian and No. 9 D'Evelyn, two teams also playing in this week's quarterfinals.
Sterling plays a well-rounded game with a balanced offense led by junior quarterback Bodie Hume and senior running back Austin Burkholder.
Burkholder has 1,374 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games. He averages 7.1 yards per carry. Hume has passed for 1,513 yards to go with 16 TDs and seven interceptions.
"They've got skilled kids," Heide said. "They can pass it, run it, have great receivers and a big offensive line. They will be one of the most potent, difficult offenses to stop we've seen all year. They are the real deal."
Bayfield's defense has been the real deal all season, allowing only 7.1 points per game. The defense has recovered eight fumbles and collected 13 interceptions, with Brian Mashak leading the team with four.
Keyon Prior and Jesse Westbrook each have three picks.
More impressive is the BHS pass rush, which has 41 sacks this year, with Ryan Phelps leading the way with 11. Cole Wood has another seven, and David Hawkins has six. Hunter Killough is closing in on 100 tackles this season with 93, including 19 for a loss. As a team, BHS has 104 tackles for loss this season.
"Defense travels," linebacker Kirk Malone said after last week's first-round home win against Florence.
Offensively, BHS has been led by Hawkins' 936 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. But Prior, Hunter Killough and Josh and Jesse Westbrook have given the Wolverines a full supply of talented runners, with Carl Heide and Ryan Nava also contributing big plays on the ground.
Josh Westbrook's passing game was at its best last week when he hit Heide and Mashak on deep TD passes. He's up to 930 passing yards and 11 TDs to six interceptions on the season.
Controlling the clock is Bayfield's top priority going into the game, as it hopes to help its two-way players compete at the pace they want.
"We want two long drives per half," coach Heide said.
"Not counting when we're fortunate enough to score quickly. It makes the defense that much better and helps us with confidence when we can grind down the opposing defense.
"Score points, wear them out, that's the goal."
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
No. 5 Bayfield at No. 4 Sterling
What:
CHSAA Class 2A State Football Playoffs, quarterfinals
When:
1 p.m. Saturday
Where:
Sterling, Colorado
Listen Live:
KLJH 107.1 FM
Twitter:
@jlivi2
