DOVE CREEK – For plenty of players on the visiting sideline at Dove Creek's Soper Sports Complex, October 6th couldn't come fast enough.
Many of the Bluejays vividly remember standing there 11 months prior, watching Dove Creek celebrate their 44-14 state semifinal victory on their way to the program's first football state title.
While both the Bulldogs and Bluejays had plenty of big-time games during their first half of the schedule, there was no doubt that Friday night's clash was circled on their respective calendars.
In a contest that will go a long way in deciding playoff seeding, and just as importantly – a Mountain League title – Mancos erased some of the memory of last year’s contest, turning to their tried-and-true formula of controlling the trenches to blow past Dove Creek by a final score of 58-14.
Mancos senior quarterback Kail Wayman accounted for six of the eight Bluejay scores, rushing for the game’s opening touchdown as one of his three scores on the ground. He also found junior tight end Kaiden Wyatt for a hat trick of passing connections as Mancos built a 24-6 halftime lead and never looked back.
Behind a front line that punished the Bulldogs all night, Mancos moved the ball at will, scoring on almost every possession in the second half as they put the game out of reach with four fourth quarter touchdowns.
The Jays struck first midway through the first quarter, capitalizing on a short field after Dove Creek opened the game with a three-and-out. Wayman barreled into the end zone from a yard out to give the visitors an early lead.
“It felt awesome to start the game that way,” said sixth-year Mancos head coach Josh Gardner of his team’s strong start, “being a rivalry game – that’s huge.”
From there, the teams exchanged punts, as Dove Creek’s dynamic offense couldn’t get any consistent rhythm against the Mancos defensive front. Bluejay senior Cole Dainty-Guilfoyle spent a good portion of the night in the Bulldog backfield, disrupting the vaunted Dove Creek rushing attack before they could gain a head of steam. Mancos sophomore Jacob Martin and junior Brandon Vannest helped to seal the edges for Gardner’s defense, keeping Dove Creek senior quarterback Colten Fury from breaking containment for most of the night.
“Everybody did their job tonight,” added Gardner of the comprehensive defensive effort, “and that whole unit has been buying into defensive coordinator Jarrod Wyatt’s system.”
Mancos doubled their lead midway through the second quarter, as Wayman dialed up a 21-yard catch and run for Kaiden Wyatt to make the score 16-0.
One of the few highlights for the home team came in the latter stages of the second quarter, as Dove Creek senior Gage Buffington brought back the ensuing kickoff into Mancos territory. A few plays later, Fury enjoyed one of his few moments to break loose, as he raced in from 24 yards to cut the deficit to 16-6.
In a watershed moment in the contest, Mancos received the kickoff near midfield with less than a minute before the intermission, and drove down the field in with clinical precision into the red zone. With just two seconds remaining on the clock, Wayman connected with Wyatt again, this time from 11 yards, to halt the Dove Creek momentum and build a three score lead into halftime.
“Kail was on target tonight,” said Gardner about the air strikes for the Jays, “and Kaiden pulled in a couple nice grabs, which were even more impressive because he was well-defended.”
Out of the break, Mancos senior Elliott Sam, along with sophomores Adam Martinez and Colten Vannest – the Mancos offensive line – took over the game. The Jays punched in five scores in the second half, including four on the ground to leave no doubt. Senior Levi Martin enjoyed a multi-score evening, racing in twice in the fourth quarter, as the Bluejays walked away all smiles from Dove Creek.
“We knew from the start of the game that we needed to take control of the line of scrimmage, and we were able to do that, especially in the second half,” said Gardner of the offensive and defensive line dominance.
Fury added a consolation 52-yard scamper in the fourth quarter for the home team, who turn their focus to a bye week and two remaining Mountain League contests.
Mancos, meanwhile, will finally get to play on their home turf, after spending countless hours on the road in their first six contests. The Bluejays take on Dolores on Friday, Oct. 13 for a 7 p.m. kickoff, opening a three-game homestand to wrap up the regular season.
“We’re excited to play at home,” added Gardner, “and we’re focused on what things we can do to keep getting better.”
