From the opening kickoff to the final horn, Mancos High School football players played their hearts out, intent on making this year's Homecoming a memorable one.
Despite the Bluejays best efforts however, a victory was not to be , as Mancos lost to Sangre de Cristo, 48-6, on Oct. 17.
With the victory, Sangre de Cristo improved to 9-0 on the season, while Mancos dropped to 2-6 .
Throughout the early part of the contest, the Bluejays played disciplined team defense, forcing the Sangre de Cristo to turn the ball over on downs on the game's opening possession.
After taking possession of the ball, the Mancos offense moved inside Sangre de Cristo's 20-yard-line before the drive stalled and the Bluejays turned the ball over on downs.
"We came out on fire and hit them hard," said Mancos quarterback/linebacker Axel Bonde. "I think it shocked them. They weren't expecting any team to come out and hit them as hard as we did."
With 1:47 left in the first quarter, Sangre de Cristo finally broke through, pulling ahead 6-0 after running back Cory Cooley took the ball straight up the middle for a one yard touchdown.
The Thunderbirds extended their lead to 12-0 with 9:28 left in the second quarter after quarterback Kyle Beirgiger escaped the pocket on a designed pass play and scrambled into the end zone from five yards out.
An interception by Mancos safety Adrian Hernandez later in the quarter and several nice runs by Andrew Morgan, Everett Strazza-Whalen and Hernandez kept the game close.
"It started with the offensive line," said Hernandez. "They blocked well and we were able to find holes and get some big runs."
Trailing 18-0 to begin the second half, the Bluejays offense struggled to move the ball and Sangre de Cristo's offense found its rhythm.
A 65-yard touchdown run by Cooley on a perfectly executed option play put the Thunderbirds ahead 26-0 with 9:26 left in the second quarter.
A five-yard touchdown run by Beirgiger on another well-run option play extended the Thunderbirds lead to 32-0 entering the fourth quarter.
"(Beirgiger) was really good," said Bonde. "He drew that defense end in strong and he pitched quick."
"To be honest, they're pretty good at running the option," added Mancos associate head coach Josh Gardner.
The Mancos offense scored its loan touchdown early in the fourth quarter thanks to a long pass from Nigel Henry to Andrew Plunkett, a long pass from Bonde to Plunkett and a two yard touchdown run by Andrew Morgan.
Sangre de Cristo added two more fourth quarter touchdowns to close out the game.
Gardner was by no means displeased with his team's effort, however.
"Our guys played with a lot of heart this week," said the Mancos coach. "We came into the game and we didn't' care what their record was. We just wanted to win the game."
Next up for the Bluejays will be a road matchup against Dove Creek, which will take place on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
"Dove Creek is a tough team," said Gardner. "They don't have very many guys on their team, but every one of them is a good player who plays hard."
"I'm excited to go play (Dove Creek)," added Strazza-Whalen. "It'll be a tough game. It always is."
