The Zane show – Phelps and Westbrook – propelled the Bayfield High School football team to a 22-15 victory over Grand Valley High School on Friday at Wolverine Country Stadium in Bayfield.
Running back Zane Phelps ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns and added a receiving touchdown, while defensive lineman Zane Westbrook sealed the game with an interception late in the fourth quarter.
“Their line let me through, and I read it as a screen” said Westbrook, son of Kathy and Richard Westbrook. “I just watched the quarterback’s eyes.”
Phelps put a bow on the final score with a 38-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 33 seconds remaining to go along with his three-yard run with just less than six minutes left.
Both touchdowns came after Phelps fumbled the ball earlier in the fourth quarter in an 8-8 game.
“He’s been our workhorse all year,” BHS head coach Gary Heide said. “That’s gonna happen, but as a young man he’s got to learn that when he’s out in the open field, a good thing is happening, and he needs to secure that ball.”
Phelps and the Wolverines rushing attack found themselves in the open field more often in the second half, picking up 108 of their 164 yards on the ground after halftime.
“I thought they got more and more physical with us and really attacked us up the middle,” Grand Valley head coach Mike Johnson said. “We just kind of wore down a little bit.”
BHS scored on its first possession of the second half on a 14-yard pass from Kelton McCoy to Phelps.
“Getting that first touchdown gave us energy,” Heide said. “When you get the lead on that first touchdown drive you know you can do it. The gentlemen are starting to execute better.”
The first half featured more interceptions (three) than points.
Grand Valley (0-5, 0-3 Western League) blocked a punt with 51 seconds remaining to start at the BHS 43, but Grand Valley quarterback Tyler Scott threw an interception, and the Wolverines kneeled out the rest of the half.
BHS (3-2, 2-1 Western League) entered the red zone once and didn’t score after losing possession on a failed fourth down attempt after three incomplete passes.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
