While separated by nearly 200 miles, Sanford and Mancos have developed an intense rivalry in recent years.
The Bluejays and Mustangs have made annual meetings on the gridiron and hardwood as headlining events on the schedule, and the competition has strengthened both athletic programs.
Mancos and Sanford initiated an interesting scheduling arrangement to add an extra level to their rivalry – for a second consecutive year, the Bluejays and Mustangs agreed to play a volleyball match on the same day as their league encounter on the football field.
So, the Bluejays volleyball team, sitting squarely in the projected 2A postseason field, prepped to take on the top 10 Mustangs a few hours before the Bluejays would duel the Mustangs under the Friday night lights. A contingent of blue-and-white would be able to support both programs, while allowing the football players to support the volleyball team, before the Jays’ netters would be able to return the favor a couple hours later.
The arrangement turned out to be profitable for Mancos, as the Bluejays volleyball team collected an upset win over a Sanford program that entered the week ranked in the CHSAA coaches poll. Then, to cap off the road trip for Mancos, the Bluejays football team held on for a 22-20 win over Sanford.
Mancos (14-5, 8-3 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) toppled the Mustangs (14-6, 6-1 2A Southern Peaks) for a second consecutive year in their volleyball/football doubleheader, taking the match 3-1. The victory over Sanford ensured Mancos its first winning season since 2014, as head coach Brianna Yeomans-Allison and her Jays have visions of a postseason run in their future.
The Bluejays turned around the following day and swept past Center, 3-0, thanks to the continued steady hitting of a young Bluejays front line. The Jays are hitting .181 this year, one of their best marks on the attack in the past decade.
Shortly after Mancos dispatched the Mustangs on the court, Mancos football took to the field in their final regular season outing – hoping to secure their seventh win and second-place in the 8-Man League 1.
Head coach Josh Gardner’s group brought early intensity against a motivated Mustangs squad, forcing a safety in the early minutes, before senior quarterback Ayden Mathews provided the game’s first touchdown on a short TD rush to help the Jays build a 10-0 edge.
The Mustangs (5-3, 1-2 League 1) answered with touchdowns in the second and third quarters to seize the lead, 12-10, but Mancos (7-2, 3-1 League 1) turned the tables early in the fourth quarter.
Mathews found Broc Imel for a touchdown strike to restore the lead, and after the defense stuffed the Mustangs, junior Levi Martin returned the ensuing punt for a score to give the Jays their largest lead of the night, 22-12.
A late Mustangs touchdown wasn’t enough, and Mancos improved to 4-0 in their past two seasons of Mancos vs. Sanford volleyball and football contests, while the football team has won seven of their past nine meetings with their league foes.
Mancos football will await their assignment in the eight-man state tournament bracket, which will be released after regular season action concludes next weekend. The Jays appear poised to host an opening round contest, as they sit No. 3 in the most recent CHSAA Seeding Index.
The Jays’ volleyball team preps for one more weekend of regular season play, with a trio of matches in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Oct. 29 to help gear the Jays up for an all-but-assured spot in the 2A regional field.
