Bulldogs earn third League title in four years; sit #1 in 8-man action

The Haxtun Bulldogs are the 2024 Plains League Champions. The team clinched the title following a 32-6 win over Sedgwick County on Friday night. The championship marks the Bulldog's third in the last four years.

"Our League is special, proof of that is 90 percent of the State Championships have come out of it over the last 35 years," Bulldog Head Coach JD Stone said. "Winning our third league title in the last four years is very special to us, it was a major goal of ours, but it isn't our ultimate goal."

With an overall 8-1 record and going undefeated in the Lower Platte League gives the Haxtun Bulldogs the number one spot in Colorado High School Activities Association final RIP rankings in 8-man football. Seeded first, Haxtun is now set to face 16th seeded Hoehne in the first round of post-season play.

Haxtun went up 20-0 in first half action in Julesburg against the Cougars on Friday night. With the outcome of the league title on the line, the Bulldogs came out in the second half, holding the Cougars to only six points while adding another 12 for a final 32-6 victory and the Plains League Championship in the final week of regular season play.

"We played very physically, both on the front and back end of our defense," Stone said of the Bulldog's performance on Friday night.

In the absence of senior quarterback Ryland Wolff due to an ankle injury, junior Colin Cone started for Haxtun's offense. He completed six of 11 passes for 102 yards and completed one touchdown pass. Senior Grant Statz threw one pass, resulting in a 32-yard score for the Bulldogs.

Chase Goddard racked up 103 yards off four receptions including two touchdowns on Friday. He averaged 25.8 yard per catch.

Grant Statz led the Bulldog's ground game with 142 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Cone carried the ball 11 times for 106 yards. Junior Zach Statz carried the ball 10 times for 32 yards, including one trip into the end zone.

Total the Bulldogs earned 410 yards on offense against the Cougars.

Grant Statz and Cole Firme led in tackles, combing for a total of 26. Grant Statz totaled 16 including nine solo and seven assisted. Firme racked up 11 with seven solo and four assisted. Zach Statz, Kanin Koberstein and Corbin Andersen each registered six total tackles.

Seth Seger sacked the Cougars quarterback once.

The release of CHSAA'S final RPI rankings and 8-man playoff bracket puts Haxtun in a first round contest against Hoehne on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at Adam Wernsman Field. According to MaxPreps, the Hoehne Farmers are 6-3 overall and went 5-0 in their league.

"We must be mentally prepared, both for the weather and for Hoehne's 35 different offensive formations," Stone said of preparations for this week's game.

CHSAA information states that all higher seeded teams in the bracket will host until the finals.

A win this week in the first round would send Haxtun to the quarterfinals in a match up against the winner of a contest between eighth ranked Sanford and Springfield, who came in ninth.

"This team has goals and is willing to do almost anything it takes to reach them," Stone said of his Bulldogs.

A complete playoff bracket can be found at chsaanow.com.