State Champs finish 12-1; 9 players earn All-Conference honors

Nine members of the Haxtun Bulldog football team earned All-Conference accolades for their performances on the 2024 State Championship team. The Bulldogs went 12-1 this season, finishing with an 8-man State title last week.

Seniors Grant Statz, Ryland Wolff, Ryan Davis and Tate Michael along with juniors Zach Statz and Colin Cone received All-Conference designations. Senior Brandon Nall and juniors Seth Seger and Cole Firme were named All-Conference, Honorable Mention. Post-season honors are decided by a vote of head coaches from each team's respective league, in Haxtun's case, the Plains League.

Senior captain, running back and middle linebacker, Statz played in a total of 44 varsity games as a Haxtun Bulldog. His senior year, he completed three passes under center for 99 yards and two touchdowns. On the receiving end, he caught a total of 18 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns in his four football years. Throughout his career, he carried the ball 243 times for a total of 2,432 yards and 35 touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, in his four years, Statz racked up 186 solo tackles and 250 assisted tackles for a total of 436. He also registered 21 sacks. Statz grabbed three interceptions and a fumble recovery while also causing six fumbles in his high school career. As a kicker, Statz totaled 42 kickoffs for 1,953 yards and six touchbacks. He also registered six returns for 112 yards. Statz has been selected to play in the Colorado All Classification All-State games set for next spring.

Wolff, a senior captain, played quarterback for the Bulldogs. He completed 156 passes for a total of 3,232 yards and 38 touchdowns in his four years on the field. On the ground, he racked up 4,048 yards off 337 carries for an average of 8.7 yards per carry. Wolff scored 53 rushing touchdowns in his time as a Haxtun Bulldog. On special teams, Wolff tallied 16 kickoff returns for a total of 318 yards. He averaged 19.9 yards per return in his four years of high school football. On the other side of the ball, he registered 149 solo tackles and 134 assisted for a total of 283. He also came up with 10 interceptions in his four years in high school. Wolff was named Player of the Game following the 8-man State Championship against Akron on Friday.

Davis, who played defensive end and guard for the Bulldogs, racked up 34 solo and 109 assisted tackles for a total of 143 in his four years with the Bulldog football team. He also registered six sacks in his high school career, according to stats on MaxPreps. Davis tallied two fumble recoveries and two blocked punts in his career. His senior year, he carried the ball twice, once resulting in a Bulldog touchdown.

Captain, defensive end and guard Michael played in a total of 51 varsity contests as a Bulldog. He racked up 13 solo and 20 assisted tackles for a total of 33 in his career. He also has two sacks on his resume. Offensively, he carried the ball one time, in his senior season, resulting in a 10-yard touchdown with a tatertot casserole play.

Junior Zach Statz plays running back, wide receiver and is on the offensive line for the Bulldogs. He carried the ball 101 times for a total of 847 yards including 14 rushing touchdowns this season. In the air Statz caught nine passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. On defense he registered a total of 80 tackles, 36 solo and 44 assisted. Statz had a single interception his junior year, picking off a throw against Mancos.

Cone, who takes time under center, also plays wide receiver and is the Bulldog's kicker. In his third year with the Bulldogs, Cone completed 25 passes for 557 yards and four passing touchdowns. On the ground he carried the ball 41 times for 342 yards while scoring three touchdowns. Cone returned eight kickoffs for the Bulldogs for 294 total yards. On defense, Cone racked up 56 total blocks including 25 solo and 31 assisted. He also had four interceptions this season. As the Bulldog kicker, Cone sent the ball in the air 58 times for a total of 2,697 yards and 10 touchbacks. He punted the ball four times for 129 total yards.

Nall, a guard and defensive end, played in 30 varsity games as a Haxtun Bulldog. On defense, he racked up 24 solo and 62 assisted tackles for a total of 86. Nall also tallied three sacks and one fumble recovery throughout his time on the football field. In his senior season, he carried the ball once for a 13-yard touchdown in a contest with Crowley County.

Seger, who played guard, nose guard and defensive end, registered 72 total tackles his junior season. He had 25 solo and 47 assisted tackles. Seger also tallied three sacks and one fumble recovery this year.

Firme, a junior running back, racked up 351 yards off 58 carries for a total of five touchdowns this season. He also completed 10 conversions for the Bulldogs. Defensively, he registered 124 tackles, 44 of those solo and 80 assisted. He also tallied two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Firme carried the ball once on a kickoff return, against Sedgwick County, for a total of six yards.