FOUR MONTEZUMA-CORTEZ High School football players were honored by the Class 3A Western Slope League for their outstanding play during the 2001 season. They are (bottom row, left to right): First Team: Kevin Wayman; Second Team: Elias Lehi, Derique Duran, and Devin Sena. The MCHS football coaches are (top row left to right): assistant Roger Andresson, assistant Chris Brock, assistant Chuck Cotter, assistant Andy Brock, assistant Todd Plewe, head coach Karl McGee, and assistant Doug LaMunyon.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

One Montezuma-Cortez High School player made First Team and three others earned Second Team Football All-Conference honors as the Class 3A Western Slope League coaches announced today, Nov. 20.

Senior Kevin Wayman was chosen First Team while fellow seniors Devin Sena, Derique Duran, and Elias Lehi were tabbed Second Team.

The league coaches vote for players. The top 25 players earn First Team and the next 25 Second Team honors. They are not voted for by positions, like the way the Class A San Juan Basin League hands out its post-season honors. As a result, several players who normally would be voted for the First Team ended up on the Second Team. Skill players also receive more votes than do linemen, so more skill players are on the First Team. Linemen Duran and Lehi actually tied for First Team. A revote was cast and another skill player was named First Team.

From a runningback position, Wayman had 202 carries for 1,332 yards for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns. Wayman also spent a couple games starting at quarterback and spent portions of other games in that position as well.

On defense, Wayman made 44 solo tackles with 27 assisted for a total of 71. He also sacked opposing quarterbacks three times.

"Realistically, Wayman will be recruited as a runningback. He was named our Most Valuable Player this year. Offensively and defensively he provided a spark," second-year MCHS head coach Karl McGee said. "Kevin cleaned up on some tackles a lot. He stopped a lot of cutbacks. On offense, he was our go-to guy. With a 6.5-yard per carry average, he picked up a first down every two carries. He would break some for 40, 50 or 60 yards. He was a very tough runner to bring down. His yards after contact were probably higher than on a first carry."

Sena, also from a runningback spot, had 94 carries for 323 yards rushing for an average of 3.4 yards per carry. On defense, he was the team’s leading tackler with 45 solo and 39 assisted for 84 total. He had one fumble recovery and one sack.

"Devin was valuable to us on the offensive side of the ball. He was a Gatorade Player of the Week for us one week. He was an integral cog on what we did on offense. Devin also did a great job blocking for Wayman. Defensively, Devin called our signals. He was a leader on the field."

Lehi played both sides of ball on the line for MCHS. On defense, he had 42 tackles (21 solo and 21 assisted). He also had a fumble recovery.

"He did a great job for us," he said. "He played nose guard (on defense). He was voted our Most Inspirational Player by the coaches. Elias is a great example of what high school athletics is all about. He worked hard every single day. He hardly left the field, except for kickoff and kickoff returns. He was a longsnapper on punts and for field goals. He was on the field for punt returns."

Duran also played both sides of the ball on the line. On defense, he only had 14 tackles but runners ran away from his spot.

"A majority of our yards were scored over his position on the offensive line. He was a man amongst boys out there in a lot of our games. He did a great job for us inside. He was our best offensive and defensive lineman. He was probably our most complete football player. He worked very, very hard and it paid off for him. As the season progressed, the offensive and defensive line were his domain."

Those four guys also received nomination to go to the Down Under Bowl in Australia this coming summer.

"They have all worked their tails off for four years. They deserve to go on this trip and with some community support, they will be able to go. They will be doing some fund-raising. Those businesses or individuals wanting to help them can contact Mike Allison (MCHS athletic director) at the school," McGee remarked.

Senior Keve Goodall was named the team’s Most Improved Player, according to McGee.

"He really worked hard this year to become a good football player. His leadership was probably more valuable than a lot of people on the field. He was always willing to step up to get the team fired up. He played both sides of the ball for us and he provided a good spark for us. He just improved a whole lot from this point last year," McGee said.

Senior Richard Yake was the team’s leading receiver with 19 catches for 363 yards for a 19.1-yard average and three TDs. Senior Gabe Evans also had 19 receptions for 297 for 15.2-yard average which is outstanding for a tight end.

Yake and junior Mike Rivas led the team with interceptions with five each.

Others making WSL All-Conference First Team were Andrew Salazar of Battle Mountain; Jake Schmalz, Seth Lewis, Richard Englehart, and Ramon Jackson from Delta; Jeremy Wilson from Glenwood Springs; Mike Charchalis and John Counts from Moffat County; Dan Lewis, Chard Kelley, Mark Widigrin, Jeremiah Hartley, and Travis Bounds from Palisade; Ryan Whittington, Anthony Alfini, Jason Enewald, Ryan Enright, Nick Bosworth, and Tony Allen from Rifle; and Mike Radford, Joey Marias, Wes Adams, Gaspar Perricone, and Steven Mahosky from Steamboat Springs. Those making Second Team were Troy Torres and Doug Mason of Battle Mountain; Justin Loy of Delta; Dain Reardon and Tony Campagna of Glenwood Springs; Ryan Linsacum and Travis Linsacum from Moffat County; Dustin Harris and Mike Frazier of Palisade; Ryan Gilbert, Ross Hunter, Ryan Schoeppner, and Danny Donahue from Rifle; Patrick McMahon, Ray Banning, Raimundo Moreno, and Tanner Barr from Steamboat Springs.

The WSL Back of the Year was Whittington from Rifle. Lineman of the Year went to Radford of Steamboat Springs. Special Teams Player of the year went to Jackson of Delta. Coach of the Year was Darrel Gorham of Rifle.

As for the 2-8 season, McGee said his Panthers were a much-improved football team than from a year ago.

"We had some good games. The Bloomfield game really sticks in my craw as one that got away. We played well against Piedra Vista (Farmington) but lost it. Even the first 19 minutes against Durango we played very well but then it fell apart on us. Against Steamboat Springs, we led 6-0 but then let it get a away from us. In the Delta game, a couple calls here and there hurt us. Against Moffat County were up 15-0 and then we lost Kevin Wayman and that popped our bubble. We lost some close games and could have finished 5-5 very easily. We’re already looking forward to next year," he added.