The Bayfield High School football team’s offense ran wild in the first half with four touchdowns while the defense forced two safeties to storm out to a 37-0 lead.
BHS continued to trounce Montezuma-Cortez in the second half on the way to a big 43-8 road win. It came a day after the game was postponed because of a stadium light malfunction.
For the Wolverines, it was a good way to bounce back from a 68-19 loss to Farmington a week earlier.
“I’d like to congratulate our players and coaches for a hard-fought win after being drubbed last week,” said BHS head coach Gary Heide. “I thought our offense looked pretty smooth other than a few fumbles, but we played great on both sides of the ball.”
Bayfield (3-4, 2-0 IML) set the tone early on defense, as the Wolverines blocked the opening punt of the game with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. The ball went through the back of the end zone for a safety to make it 2-0 early.
On Bayfield’s first possession, sophomore quarterback Isaac Ross led the Wolverines on a short field that was capped off with a 2-yard plunge from Cade Carlson to make it 8-0 with 4:33 remaining in the opening frame.
After forcing a three-and-out, Ross came back onto the field and delivered again. He found Crosby Edwards, who was wide open for a 30-yard strike. The extra point was good, and BHS had a two-score lead at 15-0.
While BHS held the lead, it was not all clean as the Wolverines fumbled twice in the opening frame.
Bayfield got to work quickly in the second quarter, as Ross found Edwards once again on a play-action pass for a 43-yard TD pass to make it 22-0 with 8:31 left in the half.
Bayfield then forced its second safety of the game after a gang of Wolverines tackled Cortez’s Ty Blackmer in the end zone. Following the safety, Ross found Edwards for his third TD pass of the afternoon – a 24-yard play-action pass – and Edwards walked into the end zone to make it 31-0.
The Wolverines then added one more score for good measure, as Ross found Dillon Vroman for a 46-yard TD reception. The score also put Ross at over 200 yards passing in the first half. Bayfield held a commanding 37-0 lead at halftime.
Heide said Ross has been steadily progressing, and he was proud of his sophomore quarterback’s efforts.
“Isaac’s success is because of his mentality and toughness,” Heide said. “He’s been dedicated and willing to learn. Isaac was great on the (run-pass options) today, and his passing was right on the money. The last touchdown I found particularly impressive because he made a great throw across his body, and it was a great score.”
In the second half, The Wolverines started with the ball and wasted no time. Ross led a six-play, 78-yard drive, and Vroman scored from five yards out to kick off a running clock at 43-0 with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Cortez (1-6, 0-3 IML) would go on to score with the running clock, as Blackmer found an open receiver for a 39-yard touchdown pass with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
BHS will host Pagosa Springs (3-4, 2-0 IML) at 7 p.m. Friday inside Wolverine Country Stadium. It will be a key game in deciding the league champion.
“It’s a big bounce back win for us, and hopefully we’ll have a good week of practice this week and are going to gear up for a big game against Pagosa,” Heide said.
bploen@durangoherald.com
