Bulldogs hold onto perfect 4-0 record; prepare for Akron this week

Nearly half way through the regular season and the Haxtun Bulldogs hold onto an unblemished record and just four games into their schedule have outscored their opponents 200-46. The most recent win came by means of a 46-0 blowout against the Fleming Wildcats at Adam Wernsman Field in Haxtun on Friday night in the annual homecoming contest held in conjunction with Corn Festival weekend.

The game in Haxtun on Friday drew a record crowd as Haxtun and Fleming fans packed the stands for an 8-man contest between the neighboring schools. The Wildcats kicked off to start the clock, forcing the Bulldogs in a fourth down situation in which Haxtun responded. Quarterback Ryland Wolff kept the ball in the do or die situation for along 47-yard run and the Bulldog’s first six points in the game. Michael Gerk got the call for the two-points to follow to put the Bulldogs on top by eight early in the first.

Haxtun’s defense was tough for the Wildcats as their first outing on offense ended in a blocked pass deep in Bulldog territory. A bad exchange on the punt attempt put the Bulldogs in perfect scoring position and just two plays later, Gerk found a hole for a six-yard run resulting in six more points for Haxtun. Another successful two-point conversion put the Bulldogs up by 16. Just before the end of the first, Haxtun added another six points to the board to take a 22 point advantage.

Haxtun went on to make two more trips into the end zone before half time, including touchdowns from the Wolff-Gerk duo and Kailin Kelley, to hold a 38-0 lead at the half. Following a slow third quarter, the Bulldogs forced a running-clock situation with a 60-yard touchdown run from Grant Statz to put the Bulldogs up by more than 40.

A 46-0 win for the Bulldogs leaves Haxtun with a perfect 4-0 record heading into league play this week. Haxtun is one of seven 8-man teams in Colorado to remain unbeaten this far into the 2022 season. That list also includes West Grand, Crowley County, Simla, Lyons, Caliche and Dove Creek.

The Bulldogs completed 37 total plays against Fleming on Friday night including 15 first downs and just four penalties.

In the quarterback position, Wolff completed five of eight passes for 105 yards in the air. He averaged 21 yards per pass on Friday. Gerk caught two of Wolff’s passes for a total of 71 yards and one touchdown. Kelley registered 21 receiving yards followed by Zach Statz with 10.

Wolff and Gerk also led in the Bulldog ground game; Gerk registered 107 yards from nine carries and one touchdown while Wolff racked up 105 yards from seven carries and two rushing TDs. Kelley carried the ball five times for 82 yards and a touchdown followed by Grant Statz with 61 yards from two carries and a solo touchdown.

Three Bulldogs registered double digits in the tackles department. Kelley had five solo and eight assisted tackles for the team high of 13. Statz came in with 12 including seven solo and five assisted. Gerk registered 10, four solo and six assisted. Wolff tallied seven tackles followed by Maclin Tempel with six. Tempel brought down the Fleming quarter back three times to lead his team in sacks. Kyle Fryrear and Grant Statz each had one sack in the Bulldog win.

Haxtun begins league play this week with a home game scheduled for Friday night against the Akron Rams. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

According to MaxPreps, the Rams are 3-1 with a recent loss to Holly and wins over Byers, St. Mary’s and Fowler.