Bulldogs travel to Sargent for first round of playoffs

Bulldogs travel to Sargent for first round of playoffs

Nov. 4, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Dolores County High School’s football team certainly is in a familiar position. The no. 6 ranked Bulldogs (8-1 overall) have played in many, many Class A Playoffs through the years. And they will participate in another at 1 p.m. today, Nov. 4, against no. 5 rated Sargent (8-1) at Monte Vista in first round action.

The Bulldogs finished second in San Juan Basin League standings with a 3-1 record. Top-ranked Nucla (9-0 and 4-0) will host Las Animas (4-5) today in another first round game. Other games in Class A, according to the Colorado High School Activities Association, has Akron (9-0) hosting Ellicott (6-3), Limon (7-2) hosting Lyons (6-3), John Mall (6-3) hosting Hayden (5-4), Peyton (8-1) hosting Byers (7-2), Plateau Valley (6-3) hosting Custer County (6-3), and Wiggins (8-1) hosting Del Norte (7-2). Wiggins, which defeated DCHS last year in the quarterfinals, is the defending champ.

If the Bulldogs win, they will likely get a home game (Akron is heavily favored against Ellicott) for the quarterfinals on Nov. 11. A loss would end the season.

DCHS is coming off a 45-7 win at Mancos last weekend. Sargent is a common opponent. The Farmers defeated the Blue Jays 30-14 at home the second game of the season.

"We are not working on anything special offensively or defensively for Sargent," DCHS head coach Ken Soper said. "We are just trying to refine some things. We have things in our playbook we haven’t even used this season. It is a little too late to try and add something."

Sargent has a big team.

"They have a big tackle (280 pounds), big center (215) and a guard (185). They also have another lineman who weighs 290. But what I do notice is that they are tall (many players of 6-feet). What I’ve seen on film is they substitute quite a few in and out. This is a power football team, both offensively and defensively," Soper added.

Sargent will run a power-I, wishbone, slot-I, and pro set. Running back Chance Parsons shows up in the state statistics as he is averaging 7.2-yards per carry.

On defense, the Farmers will utilize a 4-3 with 4-5 and 5-2 looks.

Members of the Bulldogs team include: Dallas Daves, Chris Kail, Terence Gardner, Bru Meyer, Keith Pierce, Dallas Coker, James Smith, Lyle Joe, Joseph Buffington, Kyle Krafka, Riley Williams, Brandon Neely, Trent Daves, Jake Williams, Trinity Cressler, Nathan Adams, Rick Jones, Chase Davis, Matt Beanland, Matt Phillips, and Alden James.

Pierce is the top quarterback in Class A in Colorado. He leads the state in nearly every statistic. He has completed 100 of 186 attempts. He averages 155.9 yards per game. He has called his number numerous times and has rushed 105 times for 1,508 yards. Kail is his favorite target. He has caught 45 for 692 yards and seven touchdowns. Coker has caught 17 passes for 351 yards. Gardner has carried the pigskin for 548 yards.

On defense, Daves leads the team with 75 tackles.

Montezuma-Cortez High School is the only other area school still playing football. The Panthers, 0-6 in league and 0-9 overall under first-year head coach Karl McGee, will try to avoid a winless regular season by hosting Moffat County in a Class 3A Western Slope League game at noon today at Panther Stadium. Cortez is coming off losing a heartbreaker against Battle Mountain 31-30 last weekend in Minturn. Moffat County is 3-3 in league and 4-5 overall.

This will mark the final game for seniors Josh Lee, Daniel Walker, Conrad Jacket, Kenny Brengle, Dan O’Neal, Tramaine Howard, Colin Tansey, Jake Gordanier, Nick Patterson, Frankie Ogo, Patrick Reed, and Ryan Gray.

The Bears, who lost 45-0 to Nucla, and the Blue Jays closed out their respective seasons last weekend. Dolores finished 1-8 overall and 0-4 in league while Mancos ended 2-7 and 1-3.