It doesn’t get any easier for the Dolores Bears.
After dropping their fourth consecutive winnable game, against Center during their homecoming game last week, the Bears will travel to Monte Vista to take on the fourth- ranked team in Class 1A in the 6-1 Pirates.
Since losing their first game to Paonia in early September, the Pirates have rattled off six consecutive wins.
Offensively, the Pirates prefer to stick to the ground, with seniors Michael Valdez and Presley Garcia getting the bulk of the carries. Monte Vista averages 230 yards rushing and just a shade under 40 yards passing per game.
The run-heavy offense will put pressure on the Dolores front seven.
The Bears will look to Tyln Yarbrough, Riley Syra and Kyle Biery to disrupt the Pirates initially, then for backers Forrest Pejsa, Talon Zwicker and Trevor Robinson to dissect the play and make clean tackles.
The Bears fell into lapses against Center where they attempted to make arm-tackles, and the Vikings made them pay for the sloppy technique.
Head coach Chris Trusler made sure to address proper tackling and reiterate the importance of wrapping up to his team this week in practice.
While the Monte Vista offense is consistent - although less-than flashy - its defense is its calling card.
The Pirates have allowed only eight points in their last three games, and opponents have scored an average of just 9.2 points-per-game against them this season.
“They’re going to blitz a lot,” Trusler said. “We’re going to expect to see a lot of pressure coming from their linebackers.”
The Pirates’ defense has forced 12 interceptions in seven games – and the Bears threw four last week against Center - so the offensive line and backfield will need to pick up the blitz to protect Balderrama.
“Our line has got to give our QB time,” Trusler said. “And our receivers have got to run good routes.”
