Ignacio High School senior Zach Weinreich has led the reincarnation of the Bobcats football program this season.
As a junior, the left-handed quarterback led an Ignacio team that had lost every game in the 2015 season. However, getting discouraged and giving up isn’t part of Weinreich’s DNA.
Hard work, positivity and embracing an increasing leadership role in his senior year has made a huge impact on the Bobcats football program, just as he did last year on a successful IHS baseball team.
“I’m not a loud, rah-rah kind of leader, so I had to really learn how to lead by example,” said Weinreich, son of Francesca and Ian Weinreich. “I spend a lot of time in the weight room. I try to be a leader in class, too, and prove that you can play ball and still get good grades. I just try to do good and improve myself and hope other people will be inspired to do the same.”
After losing 14 consecutive games over the last two seasons, the first goal was to break the streak, and it didn’t take long for this year’s team to do just that.
Following a season-opening 52-16 loss to Ellicott, Weinreich and the Bobcats finally had enough. His touchdown run on the opening drive in the next week’s game against Crownpoint flipped a switch, and the team never let up. When the buzzer sounded Ignacio broke the two-year drought with a dominant 42-0 win.
Since then, the Bobcats have been a different animal.
“It was just a matter of proving that we could do it and when we did, it just took off from there,” Weinreich said.
“The losing was tough, but we all worked hard and I knew it would pay off. We got that gorilla off our backs and then the Cortez game was huge because they’re a bigger school than we are and nobody expected us to win.”
Montezuma-Cortez expected it too, as the Panthers scheduled Ignacio for their homecoming game, but Weinreich and company weren’t going to be part of the celebration. The left arm of Ignacio’s No. 11 tossed four touchdowns en route to a 37-12 rout that gave the Bobcats a winning record.
After dropping the next two games, Ignacio returned to their own turf for homecoming and treated the hometown faithful to a 49-6 bludgeoning of Dolores.
The home win shattered another streak as it was the first home win for Ignacio since 2013.
“I think even some of the students and the fans were surprised that we had that kind of potential,” Weinreich said. “It was really neat because winning is never guaranteed but to win on your senior homecoming that’s special. We want to keep it going and win out to get to the playoffs. We’ve come this far already, why not?”
The Bobcats will start that quest at on their home field, at 1 p.m. Saturday against Centauri.
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is your favorite sports movie?:
Rudy
Which quarterback do you model your game after?:
Steve Young and a little bit of Brett Favre.
What is your favorite subject in school?:
History. It’s always been interesting to me.
What music do you listen to before games?:
I like 90’s rock and old metal. The Offspring’s “Self Esteem” gets me going.
Who is your celebrity crush?:
Jessica Alba.
What is your favorite restaurant?:
Serious Texas.
What is your favorite childhood book?:
I loved the Lord of the Rings series and Harry Potter.
Why do you wear No. 11?:
Well, my dad wore it and two of my favorite lefty quarterbacks, Matt Leinart and Kellen Moore.
Do you have any superstitions on gameday?:
Yeah, a lot. I listen to the same music every week and try to take a nap. I also say a prayer before each game.
What are your favorite sports teams?:
Notre Dame football and the Dallas Cowboys.
