The Bayfield High School football team came up short against the Elizabeth Cardinals on Saturday in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs.
Elizabeth kicked a field goal and then added a touchdown just before halftime. The Cardinals then scored once more after the break to win the game, 17-0.
“The guys played with a lot of heart and never quit,” said BHS head coach Gary Heide. “I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. They never quit, never got chippy and played with class the whole game.”
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, BHS quarterback Isaac Ross completed a 68-yard pass to Deegan Barnes to get deep inside Elizabeth territory. The Wolverines, however, fumbled at the end zone to end the drive.
“If we get that first touchdown, who knows?” Heide said.
BHS threatened a couple more times in the game, but EHS defensive back Jace Perez intercepted three passes for the Cardinals, including one in the end zone.
The Wolverines conclude their season 7-2 overall. Elizabeth, meanwhile, advances to the quarterfinals where they’ll face No. 1 Eaton, which beat Kent Denver 45-6 in the first round.
Both Bayfield and Ignacio earned the right to host regional volleyball championships after their seasons. On Saturday, both teams won regional championships on their home courts.
No. 12 3A Bayfield beat No. 25 Colorado Academy 25-16, 25-21 and 25-18 to start the tournament. Then, after No. 13 Valley beat Colorado Academy 3-0, the Wolverines beat Valley in three games, 25-19, 25-19 and 25-17 to punch its ticket to the state championships.
“It was wonderfully imperfect,” said BHS head coach Terene Foutz. “We stayed the course regardless of errors and I’m proud of them for having the right mindset.”
No. 12 2A Ignacio, meanwhile, started the tournament by beating Plateau Valley in three games, 25-20, 27-25 and 27-25.
No. 13 Union Colony Prep then beat Plateau Valley in three to set up a championship game with the Volleycats.
Union Colony started strong and took the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-20. Ignacio, however, rallied back and won the next three sets, 25-222, 25-17 and 15-10 to win its region and keep its season alive.
No. 28 4A Durango, meanwhile, started its regional tournament by upsetting the No. 9 seed, The Classical Academy, 25-15, 16-25, 25-17 and 25-22.
“In that first match we played phenomenal,” said DHS head coach Kelley Rifilato.
DHS then went up against No. 16 Berthoud, but came up short, 19-25, 25-21, 24-26 and 12-25.
“Berthoud just tipped and rolled on us the whole game,” Rifilato said.
TCA beat Berthoud in five games, forcing a three-way tie. Durango played a one-game tie breaker to 25 against TCA, but this time came up a bit short, 25-22, to end its season.
At press time, TCA and Berthoud were playing a tiebreaker to decide which team would advance to state.
The Durango boys soccer team was also in action on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament.
No. 5 Durango traveled to No. 4 Denver North for the contest. Denver North, however, scored twice in the first half and once more in the second half to win the game, 3-0.
See Wednesday’s edition of The Durango Herald for the complete stories.
