Semifinal Football Thoughts (Class 2A thru 6-Man)

Semifinal Football Thoughts (Class 2A thru 6-Man)

I have decided to do a new article for the playoffs and talk about the previous rounds and give some thoughts on the games.  In the first round I put them in different categories for the Quarterfinals. I am just going to touch on all the games. 

Any playoff win is a big win for the Football Program regardless.

Class 2A

#1 Delta over #12 Moffat 28 to 10

This was a very competitive game from the beginning and the game was much closer than the score indicated.  Delta got off to a great start in the 1^st Quarter taking a 14 to 0 lead and never looking back.  Delta then added another TD in the 2^nd Quarter to take a 21 to 3 lead into halftime.  Delta defensively came to play forcing 3 turnovers and multiple sacks.  Offensively they established the run and kept Moffat County off balanced.  Moffat County had a great postseason run this year and played physical in this game. 

#3 Rifle over #15 Eaton 24 to 15

Another competitive game in Class 2A featured Rifle and Eaton.  Rifle got things started early with 6 points in the 1^st quarter.  Rifle then added 12 in the second quarter to take a 18 to 0 lead.  Eaton before halftime was able to get 7 on the board and make things interesting heading into halftime.  Eaton struck again in the 3^rd quarter making the score 18 to 15.  Rifle answered in that quarter with another TD and getting our final score of 24 to 15.  This was a very physical defensive game.  Scoring was kept to a minimum with both teams looking for their defense to make big play.  Rifle was able to put up some big offensive numbers but had turnovers.  Defense ruled the day in this game with Rifle moving on.

Class 1A

#1 Limon over #4 Meeker 28 to 7

If you wanted a physical smash mouth game, then this was the game to watch.  This game started out with a bang with Limon scoring on a long pass play but Meeker was able to respond putting us at a tie.  Limon would then tighten up defensively and not allow Meeker to score again.  Meeker also played very tough defense and kept their team in the game.  Limon turned to QB Jordan Rockwell to carry the offensive load and he a 3 TDs in this game.  Defense was the name of the game in this game for both teams.  This was a great game with both teams putting in great effort and playing physical till the end.

#6 Strasburg over #7 Wray 28 to 27 OT

One of the games of the week and it lived up to the hype.  Two very evenly matched teams and it showed with this game going to OT and coming down to a two-point conversion.  Strasburg and Wray played an even game with Strasburg taking the 14 to 7 lead into halftime.  Wray would even things up in the 3^rd Quarter with a rushing TD.  Wray would then take their first lead of the game in the 4^th Quarter with about 4 minutes left to play.  Strasburg would not wait long and hit a long pass play to tie things up at 21 and we would go to OT.  Strasburg had the ball first and scored and kicked the PAT to go up 7.  Wray would answer I believe in two plays to push things to 28 to 27.  Wray then took the gamble and went for two.  Strasburg made the final big play of the game stopping a pitch to the outside and winning 28 to 27.  This was a phenomenal game.  Great effort by both teams and both teams leaving everything out on the field.  Great Game by both teams and this was a very fun game to listen and watch.

8-Man Football

#1 Mancos over #4 Lyons 44 to 22

This was a much closer game than the final scored indicated.  Mancos and Lyons was a great matchup with teams trading blows and defensive stands.  Mancos took the early 8 to 6 lead after the 1^st Quarter then took the 14 to 6 lead into halftime.  Mancos would come out hot after halftime pushing the lead to 20 to 6.  Lyons would answer with back-to-back TDs and taking their first lead of the game 22 to 20.  Mancos would then turn to their QB Kail Wayman and answer with a score of their own and take the 28 to 22 lead.  Mancos would then keep their physical defense going and never look back.  Mancos had 3 unanswered TDs in the 4^th Quarter to get the win.  This game had tons of momentum changes with each team forcing key turnovers, but this game came down to the fourth quarter.  Mancos played physical defensively and offensively ran at will rushing for 6.3 yards per carry.  Lyons played well in this game and momentum was key and Mancos had the last big momentum push.  Great effort by both teams.

#3 Haxtun over #2 Simla 30 to 12

Defense was the name of the game in this one early on.  Haxtun and Simla had little going offensively with Haxtun taking the 8 to 0 lead into halftime and easily could have been 8 to 8 but Haxtun made a key defensive stand on the goal line.  The second halt started with Haxtun coming out firing and taking a 22 to 0 lead.  Simla answered with a pair of TDs a key one after a great INT.  Simla kept momentum going after a strip fumble recovery and it looked like Simla would push things even closer.  Haxtun then made their biggest defensive stand of the game forcing an INT on a long 4^th down try.  That stop was the big difference in the game and Haxtun never looked back.  This was a physical game between two teams who were evenly matched.  Defense turned out to be the difference in this game.  Another game that I enjoyed watching and came down to a few key plays.

6-Man Football

#1 Stratton over #4 Idalia 54 to 0

Stratton came out firing on all cylinders in this game.  Stratton jumped out quick in the first quarter taking a 20 to 0 lead before pushing things to the running clock with a 28 second quarter and a 48 to 0 lead.  Stratton got the running game going rushing for 12.4 yards per carry.  Defensively Stratton also had things click keeping Idalia off the scoreboard.  Idalia offensively looked for the passing attack to get going and I will give Idalia credit for no turnovers in the game.  Stratton continues it march towards the state title and will face a familiar foe in the state championship game.

#6 Cheyenne Wells over #2 Otis 66 to 60

 This was one of the games of the week and it lived up to the hype.  Each team had an explosive quarter, and it came down to the 4^th Quarter.  Otis got things going early taking a 16 to 8 after the 1^st Quarter.  Cheyenne Wells then had a huge 2^nd Quarter outscoring Otis 30 to 14 and taking a 38 to 30 lead into halftime.  Otis then answered with their big Quarter of the day outscoring Cheyenne Wells 20 to 8 and taking a 50 to 46 lead into the 4^th Quarter.  Cheyenne Wells and Otis would then trade a few scores, but we saw Otis hold a 60 to 58 lead over Cheyenne Wells late in the 4^th Quarter.  Cheyenne Wells then recovered an onside kick and that proved to be the difference in this game.  Cheyenne Wells the next play after the onside kick recovery scored and took the 66 to 60 lead.  This was a great game with teams trading blow after blow and it came down to a key onside kick recovery.  Great game by both teams and both left it all out on the field.