Bayfield’s dominant defense has team on brink of Colorado state football title

Ryan Phelps highlights
Watch the Bayfield standout in action against Resurrection Christian in the Class 2A semifinals.

The last time an opponent managed any points against the defense of Bayfield's football team, it was the first quarter of an Oct. 13 game against Pagosa Springs.

Since that time, there have a whole lot of goose eggs for opposing teams – 23 quarters in a row, in fact. A Wolverines defense that has been historically good this fall has posted five consecutive shutouts headed into the Class 2A state championship game against La Junta this weekend.

The kickoff between No. 3 Bayfield (12-1) and the fourth-seeded Tigers (11-1) is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in Bayfield. The Wolverines won the 2A title in 2015, and La Junta took it a year ago. This will be the third consecutive postseason meeting between the two teams.

"They are just a fantastic, well-coached team. They have real tough kids and great talent. Combine those three together and you have a great football team," Wolverines coach Gary Heide said of La Junta. "You've got both teams' defenses that are great. I know for both teams, every yard you make on offense is going to be well-earned."

La Junta has posted two shutouts in the playoffs and four overall. Bayfield hasn't allowed a point in eight of its 12 games – tied for eighth all-time in the state record books with the 1978 Valley team – and has allowed only 49 points overall.

"I've got to give credit to the players. We have a lot of talented players that really came in with the attitude and mentality that they were going to have a great defense based on the previous year," Heide said. "But I've also got to credit (defensive coordinator) Mike Wnorowski, who is almost like a defensive savant … quite frankly he's a defensive mastermind. The staff that works under him – Frank Hawkins is the line coach, and the rest of the staff – hats off to them."

The defense posted 50 sacks a year ago and has upped that total to 56 this season, which currently ranks fifth all-time in the state. Senior Ryan Phelps became just the fifth player to record at least 20 sacks in a season with three last weekend in a 21-0 shutout of Resurrection Christian (Loveland) in the semifinals.

Phelps has 34 in his career, which is tied for sixth-best in the record books.

"He's an all-state basketball player and was top-five in discus and shot. He had a great season last year, and he is just a phenomenal athlete," Heide said. "You take that along with his size at 6-foot-4 … he just leads by example, he's a humble kid and one of the hardest workers I've ever seen."

Bayfield's defense has eight seniors and three juniors. The pressure up front from the line (Phelps, Mike Kirk and Daniel Westbrook) and the linebackers (Cole Wood and Kirk Malone inside, with David Hawkins and Wyatt Killinen on the outside) has provided ample pressure to allow the secondary to generate 28 interceptions.

"Our philosophy is to try not to be too physical during the week. We try to build up a lot of energy and then let it go Friday night and Saturday afternoon," Heide said. "They get upset with first downs or the ball in our territory. It seems they really take a lot of pride in that and take on the challenge."

That's just the defense. The offense has produced points in bunches, with quarterback Hayden Farmer tossing 30 touchdowns going into last weekend's semifinal, and Dax Snooks hauling in 13 of those.

La Junta has won eight in a row since a loss to Kent Denver (Cherry Hills Village), including last weekend's 42-0 victory over Eaton in the semis. Quarterback Jon Nuschy has rushed for 1,430 yards and 22 touchdowns, and Wyatt Buhr has added 898 yards and 10 scores.

Bayfield will have the added bonus of getting to play at home. The Wolverines are hoping to send their fans home happy with one final standout performance to cap what has been a season to remember and a defense that will leave a lasting legacy.

"No matter what the outcome is on Saturday, they've already set a precedent and made a name for themselves," Heide said. "No doubt about it, it's one of the best 2A defenses I've witnessed."

Besides the 2A title game, championships will also be decided in 1A and 8-Man on Saturday. The semifinals in 5A, 4A and 3A are also set, with the final championship weekend Dec. 2.

Here is a look at the remaining five classifications headed into this weekend:

Colorado MaxPreps state football brackets

Class 1A
No. 4 Strasburg at No. 3 Centauri (La Jara), 1 p.m., Saturday, Centauri High School
The 1A championship pits two teams that have taken different paths to the title game. Fourth-seeded Strasburg, the defending state champion, upset previously undefeated Bennett 41-34 in the semifinals behind three touchdowns from quarterback Jacob Miller. The Indians (11-1) had lost to Bennett by 23 points back in September, but a strong first-half finish keyed the victory. Senior Hunter Bergstrom entered that game with more than 1,200 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns this season.

On the other side, Centauri (12-0) has quietly gone about its business. The Falcons shut down Limon 20-12 in the semifinals, only the third time this season an opponent managed more than 10 points against the defense. Senior Brandon Buhr and sophomore Taj Cornum have done much of the damage on the ground for Centauri, which hasn't been to the title game since 2013. The Falcons are quick to provide pressure, with senior Brian Shawcroft and junior Bennie Chacon getting to the quarterback on a regular basis this season.

Class 8-Man
No. 2 West Grand (Kremmling) at No. 1 Sedgwick County, 1 p.m., Saturday, Julesburg High School
Two-time defending state champion Sedgwick County (11-0) has been all but untouchable over the past three seasons. The Cougars are a combined 36-1, with the only setback coming last season to an out-of-state squad. They've outscored their three postseason opponents 134-14 through three games. Senior quarterback Brennan Ehmke has tossed 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions, and junior Layne Green has rushed for 1,525 yards and 22 scores. Senior Cade Mckinley has hauled in 43 catches for 864 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Enter West Grand (12-0), which hasn't won a title since taking the 1A crown in 1998. The Mustangs had to rally past upstart Soroco with a 30-point second half last weekend in the semifinals, one week after holding off Sargent by six points. But the Mustangs have a strong defense that posted six shutouts in the regular season, and an offense with a two-pronged rushing attack in Luis Dominguez (937 yards, 25 touchdowns) and Hugh Wheatley (987 yards, 14 TDs). Those two also have a combined 11 interceptions on defense.

The key may come down to West Grand keeping the score close; Sedgwick County hasn't had a close game since defeating Perkins County (Neb.) by five points in mid-September.

Class 5A
No. 3 Columbine (Littleton) at No. 2 Eaglecrest (Centennial), Noon, Saturday, Legacy Stadium
No. 4 Pomona (Arvada) at No. 8 Grandview (Aurora), 5 p.m., Saturday, Legacy Stadium
Legacy Stadium in Aurora will be busy Saturday as Eaglecrest and Grandview host a pair of Jeffco powerhouses in Columbine and Pomona.

Eaglecrest (12-0) has not won a championship since 1993, but the Raptors have the team to do it this fall. Eaglecrest didn't allow Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) to get on the board until late in the game in a 26-7 quarterfinal victory. Seniors Kenny Wanting and Jalen Mergerson provide the offensive sparks.

Columbine has won five championships, the most recent coming in 2011. The Rebels (11-1) defeated Regis Jesuit (Aurora) 28-18 last week behind a ground game that produced 293 yards and four touchdowns.

In the other semifinal, Grandview (10-2) shocked the state with a 28-16 victory over top-seeded Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch). It was just the second postseason loss for the Eagles in nine years. The Wolves scored 28 unanswered points in sloppy conditions behind 229 yards and two touchdowns from Jordan Billingsley.

In order for Grandview to get back to the title game for the first time since 2007, though, the Wolves will have to solve the high-powered offense of Pomona (10-2). The Panthers have averaged nearly 45 points a game, and senior Max Borghi has 23 touchdowns on the year. Quarterback Ryan Marquez has thrown for more than 2,000 yards in only eight games, and junior Billy Pospisil has 55 catches for 1,334 yards and 15 scores.

Class 4A
No. 4 Pueblo West at No. 1 Pine Creek (Colorado Springs), 1 p.m., Saturday, District 20 Stadium
No. 15 Broomfield at No. 6 Pueblo South, 1 p.m., Saturday, Dutch Clark Stadium
The city of Pueblo is eyeing an all-Pueblo title game in two weeks, but there are still a couple of roadblocks in the way in last year's 4A finalists.

Pine Creek (11-1) has captured three of the previous four 4A titles, and the Eagles are hungry for another. The team has notched three shutouts in its past five games and allowed only one touchdown in the playoffs. David Moore III rushed for 155 yards and a score and JC Coulter tossed a touchdown in a 29-7 victory over Rampart (Colorado Springs) in the quarterfinals.

The Eagles' semifinal opponent, Pueblo West (11-1) rallied to knock off Chatfield (Littleton) 24-21 last weekend. West's only loss this season came to Pine Creek by a touchdown on Oct. 14. Senior Pierre Taylor has run wild this fall, with more than 1,700 yards and 23 scores going into last week as the Cyclones look for their first title since 2007.

On the other side of the bracket, Pueblo South (11-1) averages 44 points a game, and its only loss was a two-overtime 55-54 thriller to Pueblo West. The Colts' offense is a handful: Senior quarterback Zach Cozzolino (2,949 yards, 44 touchdowns) has a prime target in Marcell Barbee (60 catches, 1,156 yards and 21 scores), and Steve Brock has rushed for more than 1,500 yards.

Broomfield (8-4) has been a wrecking machine in the playoffs though, upsetting No. 2 Windsor and No. 7 Loveland. The Eagles, the 2016 runner-up, dropped four of their first six, but are rolling in the season's second half. The team rushed for 178 yards and three scores in an overtime victory over previously undefeated Loveland last Saturday.

Class 3A
No. 8 Longmont at No. 5 Erie, 1 p.m., Saturday, Erie High School
No. 6 Palisade at No. 2 Palmer Ridge (Monument), 1 p.m., Saturday
Upsets have ruled in the 3A bracket thus far, as only one of the field's top four seeds made it to the semifinals. A new champion will be crowned for the first time in four years after three-time defending champion Pueblo East fell in the first round.

No. 2 Palmer Ridge (12-0) brings its prolific passing attack to the semis. The Bears, who average 46 points a game, have junior Ty Evans (3,210 yards, 39 touchdowns) leading the surge. Sophomore Anthony Roberson II and senior Cory McLellan have combined for 114 catches and 21 touchdowns.

Palisade (10-2) last won a title in 2003. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 Roosevelt (Johnstown) 17-14 in the quarterfinals, and have three players with more than 1,00 yards rushing in Terrance Williams, Austin Bernal and Cameron Tucker.

Longmont pulled off the upset of top-seeded and previously undefeated Mead in the quarterfinals. The Trojans (9-3) haven't won a title since taking 5A back in 1991. Senior Drake Engelking rushed for three touchdowns in the upset of the Mavericks.

Erie (10-2) has had to pull off late rallies in the first two rounds to upend Pueblo East (22-21) and Durango (35-28). Noah Roper rushed for 209 yards against the Demons and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to secure the victory. The junior has 2,282 yards and 32 touchdowns on the season. The Tigers' only championship came back in 1997 in 1A.