BAYFIELD – Behind a historic defense, the Bayfield Wolverines won the state football championship a year ago. The team graduated its top-six tacklers and its top-four sack masters on a team that set the Colorado single-season record for sacks.
While this year’s Wolverines (5-1, 2-0 Class 2A Intermountain League) aren’t on any kind of record-breaking pace for sacks, there is a man in the middle of the defensive line who has put fear into opposing offenses: Isaac Lorenzen.
Lorenzen, a Bayfield senior, leads this year’s team with 10 sacks, and he has another nine tackles for a loss through six games. He had two sacks last Friday in a 39-3 home win against Montezuma-Cortez. Lorenzen has done it all from the nose guard position, where he is the team’s primary run stuffer. It’s rare in the modern day of football for a nose guard to lead a team in sacks, but the 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior credits his success to the play of his fellow seniors at the defensive end positions, Rhett Hoover and Daniel Westbrook.
“I’ve been playing with Rhett and David on the line since third-grade,” Lorenzen said. “They’ve always been the two D-ends, and I’m the D-tackle. ...We definitely replaced our D-line talent from last year. We’ve got speed with both our ends who are tall and aggressive and both athletic. That’s helped us get back to where we were last year for sure. Those guys are both amazing at D-end.”
Lorenzen is sandwiched between Hoover and Westbrook on the D-line. He’s also sandwiched between them amongst the team leaders for tackles this year. Lorenzen ranks third with 38 tackles, while Hoover is second with 39 and Westbrook is fourth with 37.
The trio have combined for 20 sacks this year, but what they take even more pride in is their run defense, which has been beat only once this year and rarely during the last three years.
“We do a great job. I love playing nose guard and getting those guys up the middle,” the son of Aaron and Josh Lorenzen said. “I think our run defense is one of our big pride and joys.”
On last year’s championship team, Lorenzen boasted four of the team’s state record-setting 65 sacks and was seventh on the team with 62 tackles.
Lorenzen and his linemates have been coached by Fran Hawkins since the third grade. Hawkins played at Texas Christian University and in the NFL with the Bengals and 49ers. Lorenzen said he has learned something new from Hawkins each of the last eight years.
Hawkins said Lorenzen wanted to be a linebacker. But an injury slowed Lorenzen a bit as he tried to come back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one of his knees during his sophomore season.
“Isaac is one of the hardest-working players we have and would do anything for his team,” Hawkins said. “Two years ago after his ACL surgery, he wasn’t the fastest linebacker, and we talked to him about moving to nose guard and putting on weight, getting stronger. That’s what he did.”
Hawkins said he watches Lorenzen go to the weight room the day after a game and dead lift more than 500 pounds and squat more than 400 pounds. Lorenzen said weightlifting is one of his passions, and it has helped him become an unstoppable force to opposing offensive lines.
“He is a relentless player and gives us 150 percent every play,” Hawkins said. “I love my nose guard. He’s a great young man that I have had the pleasure of coaching since third-grade.”
While this year’s Bayfield defense may not be on any record pace, the Wolverines still have a defense to be feared across Class 2A, no matter the opponent. With one more win, this year’s senior class could reach 40 wins during their high school career, which would be a new school record during a four-year streak. The team also has a chance to make the state playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, which would also be a new record streak, and this senior class will already graduate with the best winning percentage in BHS history.
Still, Lorenzen and the Wolverines are laser focused on one game at a time, and that will continue at 7 p.m. Friday at Pagosa Springs in the penultimate game of the regular season.
“I think we got a great defense, but we’re taking it one game at a time and looking forward to the next opponent each week,” Lorenzen said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
Who is your favorite athlete:
I absolutely loved Brett Keisel when he was playing and James Harrison for the Steelers.
Do you have a nickname?:
Penn State, that’s my favorite college team and they call me that.
What is your favorite thing to eat after a game:
Whatever I can find, I’ll eat it.
Do you have a dream car?:
Not really. Just something that gets me from point A to point B with good mileage.
If you could take a vacation after this season, where would you go?:
Scotland
Who is your favorite superhero:
Deadpool. I like his regenerative power.
What is your favorite sports movie?:
“Rudy”
What is your favorite outdoor activity?:
Hiking and skiing. I really want to ski Breckenridge.
What is your favorite childhood book:
The one with the caterpillar that eats everything (“The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” by Eric Carle).
What teacher has had a great impact on your life?:
I definitely think Mr. Jeff Meisner. He definitely is a great teacher and helps us do our best. He’s one of the greatest teachers ever.
