BAYFIELD – The Bayfield High School Wolverines celebrated with a parade and pep rally Tuesday afternoon after taking home their second state football championship in school history.

Cheerleaders, dancers and the marching band paraded with the football team from downtown Bayfield to the school’s main doors, where the players received a warm welcome from students, faculty, family and even Bayfield Mayor Rick Smith.

A huddle of proud football moms sported their spirit in the BHS purple, gold and black colors.

“It’s been a crazy journey,” said Robin McGhehey, whose son Brody is running back and free safety on defense.

“They exhibited confidence and humility. They never underestimated any opponent, and they’ve always shown good sportsmanship. I’ve seen tremendous growth and overcoming of fear.”

Beating Platte Valley High School 28-20 last Saturday in Kersey marked the end of the team’s perfect 12-0 season in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 2A State Football Championship.

With Saturday’s win, the Bayfield Wolverines claimed the school’s first state football championship title in 19 years.

Freshman Keyon Prior followed in the footsteps of his dad, Kevin Prior, who was on the BHS football team that took the title in 1996.

“It just feels great for our school and our community,” Keyon Prior said.

The team truly inherited a legacy, as several players and Coach Gary Heide revealed when they told The Durango Herald about a large rock that sits near the BHS football field. The rock was found and carried to the field by the last BHS state champions 20 years ago as a symbol of brotherhood and teamwork, and it now serves as an emblem of luck for the players today. A few of the team’s dads even brought the rock to the game against Platte Valley last week to motivate Bayfield’s players.

“I think the boys had a dream of winning, but they came to realize what it meant to the community,” Heide said. Over the season, he said, the players have matured and developed a sense of brotherhood. “Brotherhood” is taken quite literally – according to several of the team moms, there are six sets of siblings on the team.

Former BHS cheerleader Harley Turner graduated last year, but she still came out to support her boyfriend, Noah Louthervack, a senior on the football team this year.

“It’s cool to see how good they are,” Turner said. “No one thought they could do it. We’ve been to state before, it’s just hard to win. You play teams with a lot more money or resources.”

But junior Kiara Stacey, the team’s singular female who plays left guard, had little doubt this year belonged to the Wolverines.

“We knew we’d make it. It was our turn, our time,” she said. “It makes me want to return to the team next year.”

jpace@durangoherald.com