Dolores

Dolores, Dolores County dominate SJBL honors

Nov. 17, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

It comes as no surprise that Dolores and Dolores County dominated the choices, as voted for by the coaches, for San Juan Basin League All-Conference Football.

Dolores captured the San Juan Basin League title, defeated South Park before falling to Lyons in the Class A State Playoffs. Dolores County finished as league runner-up. The Bulldogs defeated Hayden but lost to Akron in the State Playoffs. Nucla, which won the state title a year ago but slipped to third place in league this year, had a few players on the First Team. Mancos, which finished in last place, did not have any players make the First Team.

Several Bears and Bulldogs are on the First Team and a few garnered honorable mention honors on offense. Dolores senior Derek Thompson is the First Team center. Dolores County senior Lyle Joe is an honorable mention guard. DCHS senior James Smith is a First Team tackle. Dolores senior Waylon Bennett and Dove Creek senior Dallas Coker are First Team ends. Dolores senior Cullen Zion is the First Team quarterback. DCHS senior Keith Pierce is on the honorable mention list. Dolores senior Casey Garvin, Dolores County senior Bru Meyer are the First Team runningbacks. DHS senior Garrett Nielson is an honorable mention runningback. Coker is the honorable mention place-kicker.

Senior Shane Ficklin made First Team guard. Senior Travis Clark of Mancos is an honorable mention guard. Ficklin also is a First Team tackle. Junior Fred Spor of Norwood is an honorable mention tackle while senior Daniel Grimes of Norwood is an honorable mention end. Nucla senior Sabin Mock also is a First Team runningback. Mancos senior Nick Rubino is an honorable mention runningback.

Again several Bears and Bulldogs made First Team and a few picked up honorable mention honors on defense. Smith is a First Team lineman. DHS senior Brady Blackmer also is a First Team lineman. Thompson added First Team linebacker to his resume. Meyer also is a two-way choice as he is a First Team linebacker. Garvin is a honorable mention linebacker. Pierce and Bennett are First Team defensive backs. Zion is an honorable mention linebacker. Coker is the First Team kick returner.

Ficklin is on the First Team as a lineman. Senior Brandon Alexander of Norwood is an honorable mention lineman. Junior Chancy Marolf of Norwood is a First Team linebacker. Mancos senior Scott Koppenhafer is an honorable mention linebacker. Norwood sophomore Zane Wilson is a First Team defensive back. Norwood sophomore Walker Melzer is a First Team kicker.

Receiver of the Year honor went to Coker. Back of the Year was Zion. Lineman of the year was Thompson.

Second-season head coach Don Story of Dolores was honored by his peers as Coach of the Year. Of course, all he did was help turn from being doormats last season at 1-8 overall record to State Playoff Quarterfinalist at 8-3.