Bulldog football moves onto semifinals slated for this Saturday

The Haxtun Bulldogs are one game closer to the ultimate goal. The Bulldog football team heads into semifinals action this week following a 20-8 win over Byers in quarterfinals on Saturday. The now 10-1 Bulldogs are set to face off with Simla on the road this weekend.

Saturday's action against Byers opened with neither team scoring in their first possession. Haxtun's next attempt brought the Bulldogs inside the 10-yard line in perfect scoring position but Byers' defense held them out. The Byers Bulldogs, in green on the field, scored in their next possession with a long touchdown run. Haxtun was ready to return the favor.

The hometown Bulldogs took over control midfield and with a quarterback keeper, junior Ryland Wolff registered a 38-yard touchdown run. Haxtun came up short on the points after attempt to leave Byers up on the board, 8-6.

Haxtun's defense came up big to hold the Byers Bulldogs on fourth down to regain ball control. With Wolff out with an injury, senior Kaiden Schelling stepped in under center, and he stepped up big. A handoff to Zach Statz resulting in a 53-yard touchdown run gave the Bulldogs their first lead in the contest. Zach's brother, Grant, added the two point conversion to put the Bulldogs up 14-8.

Another big stop from the Bulldog defense put the home team in prime field position at the 49-yard line. As the offensive line went to work, Schelling dropped back to pass and connected with senior Keegan Colglazier for a Haxtun special to put the Bulldogs at the goal line. Despite a holding call that pushed the Bulldogs back, Schelling again connected with Colglazier, this time for a 19-yard pass into the endzone. With just over three minutes left until half time, the Bulldogs led, 20-8.

The entire second half found both Bulldog teams trading downs and possession of the ball. As the clock ticked down, Haxtun remained on top, keeping their season alive another week. Byers' season came to an end.

Haxtun racked up 19 first downs from 63 totals plays on Saturday. On offense, four Bulldogs took snaps under center. Schelling connected with two of four passes for 34 yards and one touchdown pass. Wolff connected with three receivers for 27 yads. Colglazier made one 22 yard pass. Colin Cone also threw for the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Colglazier led the team in receiving yards, registering 55 from three catches including one touchdown. Schelling caught two passes for 22 yards. On the ground, Zach Statz and senior Kailin Kelley combined for 223 total yards; Kelley racked up 122 rushing yards, Zach Statz totaled 101. Wolff registered 89 rushing yards.

Grant Statz totaled 14 tackles against Byers, the team high, followed by Kelley with 11, Wolff with eight and Colglazier and junior Ryan Davis, each with seven.

The win over Byers pits the Bulldogs in a highly anticipated match up with the 11-0 Simla Cubs. The two teams met in playoffs last season, the Cubs taking that win by seven. Simla went on to face Dove Creek in the Championship but fell 26-21 in the contest.

Simla enters semifinals with a 37-14 win over Merino in quarterfinals last week.

Game time in Simla is set for 1 p.m.