Step one complete: The Mancos High School Bluejays overpowered No. 14 Swink 46-22 Saturday in the opening round of the eight-man Colorado football playoffs.
Senior Ayden Mathews and junior Levi Martin each rushed for a pair of scores, while juniors Kail Wayman and Broc Imel added touchdowns in a dominant first 30 minutes of action.
The No. 3 Bluejays outscored the Lions 24-0 in the second quarter to put the game away and led 40-6 at the break.
Mancos’ defense kept Swink's high-octane offense at bay, as the Jays advance to play Lyons in the quarterfinals.
Official game time is to be determined, but the Jays will again get to defend their home turf, this time against No. 6 Lyons, which beat Dayspring Christian Academy 56-6.
The Dove Creek Bulldogs, seeded No. 2, beat West Grand 52-18, and will play No. 10 Merino.
If both Mancos and Dove Creek win, they would face each other in the semifinals, in a rematch of a regular-season game that Dove Creek won 34-26 with a score in the final minute.
No. 1 Haxton, the defending state champions, has beaten McClave 48-8 to advance to the second round. In 2021, Haxtun beat Mancos for the state title.
This article will be updated Sunday.
