Football Roundup: Bluejays seize Mountain League title

Mancos senior Brandon Vannest, seen here running around the end for a first down against Dolores, helped lead the Bluejays to back-to-back Mountain League titles. (Sam Green/Special to the Journal)
Dove Creek also cruises to victory on Friday

The Mancos football team made sure to secure its Mountain League crown before Senior Night, which the Bluejays in fact did thanks to touchdowns on their first six possessions en route to a 46-16 victory over Norwood on Friday.

Seniors Brandon Vannest and Kaiden Wyatt accounted for five of the six scores, as the Bluejays marched virtually unopposed in their first half dominance.

Junior Jonah Ritter added a 74-yard sprint to the mix, while the offensive line and tight ends ensured that the ball carriers seldom met contact.

The defense held up its end of the bargain, shutting out the Mavericks through three quarters.

Mancos (7-1, 4-0 in Mountain League play) will host Sargent at 6 p.m. Nov. 1 on Senior Night.

Dove Creek cruises to victory over Sargent

The Bulldogs continued their path toward the postseason with a 60-8 rout of the Farmers (3-5, 1-3 Mountain League).

The Bulldogs entered the weekend as a top-four team in the CHSAA Seeding Index, meaning they’re on track to play at home in the opening two rounds of the playoffs.

Dove Creek (7-1, 3-1 Mountain League) will host Parents Day game against Sanford at 3 p.m. Nov. 1.

Dolores falls to Sanford

The Bears fell 51-17 on an emotional day.

Dolores honored their six senior football players, including Jesse “JD” Minor, who tragically lost his life earlier this year. Minor’s jersey number, 44, was painted at midfield. Players and fans donned purple in remembrance of Minor.

Dolores (2-6, 0-4 in Mountain League) played inspired football, but couldn’t keep up with the scoring pace posted by the Mustangs (5-3, 3-1 in Mountain League).

Junior Deven Winter hit a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter to get the Bears on the board, down 16-3. Right before halftime, senior Tray Traweek connected with junior Michael Rantz for a 35-yard catch-and-run to cut the score to 24-9.

Sanford’s aerial attack led to four touchdowns. Despite a 46-yard connection between Traweek and Winter for a fourth quarter score, Dolores couldn’t overcome the deficit.

Dolores will wrap up the regular season at Norwood on Nov. 1.

Pagosa Springs crushes Montezuma-Cortez

The Panthers (6-2, 3-1 IML) lost 42-21 to the Pirates (5-3, 2-2 IML) on Friday.

With Pagosa Springs fighting for its playoff lives, however, Montezuma-Cortez ran into an inspired Pirate rushing attack that controlled the time of possession.

Montezuma-Cortez needs one more win to clinch the Intermountain League title, and it looks get it done at home against Bayfield on Nov. 1, starting at 7 p.m.



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