EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – CHAMPIONSHIP by Kerry Sherman

EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW – CHAMPIONSHIP

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

After beating Mancos in last week’s semifinal, avenging last year’s title game loss to the Bluejays, Haxtun is in the championship contest for a second straight season. The Fightin’ Bulldogs are appearing in their third title clash over the last four seasons, and searching for the ninth crown in 13 final appearances. Akron is in the championship game for the first time since making it to the big game in 2015 and 2016. The Rams took care of Simla in the semifinals, earning the team a shot at the program’s seventh championship in its 16^th appearance. A win gives them their first eight-man title. The championship game is a rematch of a regular season game that Haxtun won 48-0. The championship game kicks at 5pm on Friday at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.

(Main Picture is off the Higher Seed, Not who I picked in the matchup)

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#1 HAXTUN (11-1) VS #3 AKRON (11-1)

Last week… Ryland Wolff got Haxtun on the board first, racing 85 yards for a first quarter TD, but the Fightin’ Bulldogs trailed #4 Mancos 8-6 at the half. A second touchdown by Wolff early in the third gave Haxtun a 12-8 lead, and they would not trail again. Wolff also had a TD pass to Zach Statz, and Colin Cone sealed the deal with a pick-six in the fourth quarter to secure the 28-8 victory. Wolff completed three of seven passes for 83 yards and the one touchdown, while also running for 128 yards and two scores. Cone connected on his lone attempt for 23 yards. Z. Statz added 43 rushing yards to go with the 62-yard TD reception. Chase Goddard caught three passes for 44 yards.

Coleman Firme was one of three defenders in double figure tackles, racking up a team-high 16. Grant Statz tallied 13 and an interception, and Ryan Davis had a dozen, including a sack. Seth Seger and Brandon Nall each chipped in seven tackles, while Z. Statz and Wolff contributed six and five, respectively. Z. Statz added an interception and a fumble recovery.

Akron led #3 Simla 12-8 after one, with Jace Curtis rushing for one score and passing for the other. The Rams struck two more times in the second, with Curtis adding his second rushing touchdown, and Anderson Filla finding paydirt. Filla and Jakzon Livesay each ran for a TD in the third, as Akron pulled out to a 42-15 lead with one quarter to play. Simla scored twice in that last frame, but a third Filla TD helped the Rams pull out a 48-27 victory. Curtis finished the day a perfect 7-7 through the air, with 201 yards and a TD. He added 81 yards and two scores on the ground. Filla led the rushing attack with 182 yards and three scores, while Livesay had 23 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Poss was the only receiver with more than one catch, as he pulled in three for 124 yards and a TD.

Poss and Curtis shared the team lead with nine tackles. Poss picked up a pair of sacks, while Curtis had one of the team’s three interceptions. Merek Charney added eight tackles and a pick, and Mason Porteus had 1.5 sacks in his seven tackles. Filla and Kolten Randel added six stops apiece, with Filla getting half a sack, and Randel picking off a pass.

Series history… Since Akron dropped to eight-man in 2012, the Rams have an 8-7 edge in the series. They won the first eight contests, while Haxtun rides a seven-game streak entering the title game. The teams have met in the postseason on two other occasions, with Akron winning in 2016, and Haxtun getting a win in 2021.