Bulldogs remain one of four; move into semifinals

The Haxtun Bulldogs are moving onto semifinals this week. The Bulldog football team took down the Akron Rams for the second time this season to advance another step further in the 8-man State playoff bracket. Just four teams remain in all of Colorado 8-man action including number one ranked Haxtun, fifth seeded Holly, 11th ranked Sanford and number two seeded Mancos.

For the second time in just two weeks the Bulldogs met up with the Rams on their home turf for a Plains League matchup on the gridiron. The two teams faced off in late October in the final regular season game; that outcome going to the now 11-0 Bulldogs with a 58-0 shutout.

The second meeting went the same way with a slightly closer score. Shortly after kickoff, Haxtun senior running back Isaac Andersen found an opening for a 60-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs on the board first. Andersen also punched in the point-after attempt to put Haxtun up eight early in contest. With just under three minutes left to play in the first quarter, the Rams added their first six of the game with a rushing touchdown. Haxtun held the home-team out of the endzone on the point after attempt to control the lead. Nineteen seconds later, Andersen found the end zone again, this time with an 81-yard run to open the scoring gap by six. His touchdown would close out the first quarter Haxtun up, 14-6.

Midway through the second quarter, Michael Gerk broke free for a 61-yard rushing touchdown to give Haxtun a 22-6 advantage at half time.

Akron opened the second half with a 70-yard touchdown run for a quick six points early in the third quarter. The Bulldog defense held the Rams from scoring on the two-point conversion attempt and with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter, quarterback Owen Knode ran in a six-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a larger lead. The Bulldogs added one more touchdown in the third to leave the score 34-12 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Akron scored twice before the final buzzer, but Haxtun's offense added one of their own to go onto claim the 18-point win to keep their season alive and advance to play another week.

"It's always hard to beat a good team twice, we knew going into the week Akron had learned more from us than we did of them in our first meeting," Head Coach JD Stone said after his team's quarterfinal win in Akron Saturday. "Akron has a great coaching staff, they changed up some fronts on defense and made some adjustments on offense that caught us off guard, our kids adjusted well and played hard."

Haxtun completed 58 plays in Akron on Saturday, including seven first downs. The team suffered six penalties for a total loss of 65 yards.

Under center, Knode completed four of 10 passes for 103 yards in the air and one touchdown. Kyle Fryrear was on the receiving end of one of those passes for a 65-yard touchdown.

On the ground, Gerk registered 230 yards from 21 carries and two touchdowns. Andersen, who also tallied two touchdowns in Saturday's win, racked up 186 yards from 15 carries. Knode carried the ball 10 times for 36 yards and one rushing touchdown.

The Bulldogs had an impressive showing on defense, five registering double digits in the tackles column. Andersen led his team with 15 total tackles, five solo and 10 assisted. Grant Statz tallied three solo and 11 tackles for a total of 14. Kailin Kelley added 11 total tackles, five on his own, six assisted. Osman Coss and Knode each added 10 total tackles on the day. Knode and Statz each registered a sack on the Akron Ram's quarterback.

The win in Akron last week advances the Bulldogs to semi-finals action this week. Haxtun is set to face off with number five seeded Holly in a home contest at Adam Wernsman Field. According to Maxpreps, the Holly Wildcats are 10-1 overall and have made it to the final four with playoff wins over Swink and Dove Creek.

"Defensively this week we have to switch or focus from run and gap responsibility to coverage and pressures," Stone said. "Holly's quarterback is possibly the best we have seen in years, he is athletic, quick and with the flick of his wrist he can throw the ball 50 yards."

A win over Holly this week would send the Bulldogs to the championship contest slated for Friday, Nov. 26 in Pueblo. The winner of Haxtun and Holly will meet the winner of Sanford and Mancos the day after Thanksgiving. Mancos and Sanford play this Saturday at 1 p.m.

"The team is excited to be moving on, but they are a very focused group with one goal in mind," Stone said of his undefeated Bulldogs.

Game time in Haxtun on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.