IGNACIO – So that’s what a state champion looks like.
Defending Class 1A state champion Paonia High School burst through the ribbon-cutting for Ignacio’s new turf field with 246 yards rushing in a 47-14 win Friday at Ignacio High School.
“We knew it was going to be difficult to stop them. This is a returning state champion,” IHS head coach Lupe Huerta said. “A lot of the things that happened were missed assignments, kids going the wrong direction. I didn’t expect anything less from (Paonia).”
Paonia’s Taylor Walter ran for 69 yards on five carries, scoring two touchdowns. He added another score through the air, then didn’t play after halftime.
“He makes it real easy to call plays,” Paonia head coach Brent McRae said.
The top-ranked Eagles started a running clock with 8 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Dagan Rienks to Joel Simianer.
Ignacio (0-2) didn’t pick up a first down until there were just more than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Bobcats didn’t gain positive yardage until a Paonia (2-0) encroachment penalty with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Eagles also had an interception return and punt return touchdowns negated by holding penalties in the first half.
IHS junior Anthony Manzanares delivered Ignacio’s biggest highlight with 5 minutes left in the third quarter when he caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Adison Jones.
“When I caught it, I was thinking, ‘break to the outside,’ then I remembered our coaching staff always says, ‘break through middle, weakest spot,’” said Manzanares, son of Carlos and Georgia Leon. “I got through.”
Jones finished 14-of-30 passing for 145 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
The Bobcats sustained drives late in both halves but turned the ball over on both occasions.
They recovered a fumble to set up a Jones 1-yard touchdown run with 2:03 left.
“After a while, at halftime, I told them, I said, ‘We’re playing for pride now. Are you going to fold or you gonna fight?’” Huerta said. “We did some good things. I’m proud of the kids. They have not given up. Sometimes you’re just overmanned.”
Ignacio’s schedule doesn’t get any easier.
Class 2A Pagosa Springs High School will visit IHS at 7 p.m. Friday for Ignacio’s homecoming.
“I thin we need to improve on running our routes and recognizing what the defense is running,” Manzanres said. “Some of them were double-teaming us, but we had chances to get other guys the ball. And talking on defense.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
