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Ignacio football cash in 2nd straight Peaks title
IHS earns businesslike 46-0 win vs. Del Norte
Herald Sports Writer
IGNACIO - Before the game, coach Lupe Huerta asked the Bobcats to take care of business.
They had some ups and downs this year. But they came up (Friday night) and made the plays when they had to.
- Lupe Huerta, Ignacio football coach
They responded with a football monopoly, cashing in every conceivable opportunity in a 46-0 victory over Del Norte on Friday night to win their second consecutive Southern Peaks League title.
High School will host its second consecutive Class 1A state football postseason game next Saturday.
"These kids earned it," Huerta said amid a wild, albeit cold, postgame celebration on the Bobcats' home field.
"They've played hard. They had some ups and downs this year. But they came up (Friday night) and made the plays when they had to," Huerta said after the Bobcats improved to 7-2 overall, 4-0 in the Southern Peaks League.
While their bull-market offense dominated early, the Bobcats' bear-market defense was the biggest stockholder in the Friday-night shutout.
"The defense has been playing really hard the last couple of games," Huerta said.
"We've been working hard to make sure we don't make too many mistakes. We want to hold our positions. (Friday night) we were able to do that," he said after the disciplined Ignacio defense held Del Norte to only 57 rushing yards.
With Chance Wyatt, Ethan Pearson and Colton Wyatt leading the defensive charge, the Bobcats also shut down the Del Norte passing game with four interceptions - one each by Pedro Vigil, Shane Brooks, Kent Kerrigan and Oakley Hayes.
Vigil returned his interception 33 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter right after the Bobcats had taken a 6-0 lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Brooks to Josh Plehinger.
Vigil's interception return and his conversion kick boosted the early lead to 13-0 with 9:39 to play in the first quarter.
Chance Wyatt, who also blocked a punt for the Bobcats, added a short touchdown run to extend Ignacio's lead to 20-0 with 7:07 remaining in the first.
Russel Hubert completed the first-half scoring when he ran across from 4 yards out right before halftime.
Leading 27-0, the Bobcats opened the second half with a turnover when Brooks intercepted Nick Trujillo on Del Norte's first series.
Ignacio quickly moved 55 yards in four plays with Vigil scoring on a 10-yard run to increase the lead to 34-0 (with his successful conversion kick).
Vigil would add two more field goals in the second half - one from 26 yards and the other from 37 yards.
Hayes, with a handful of tackles, also scored on a 15-yard reverse through the Tigers' defense.
Plehinger, also with a handful of defensive stops, contributed two big kick returns for the Bobcats. He returned the opening kickoff 29 yards to set up Ignacio's first touchdown (on his 34-yard reception).
Later in the first, Plehinger had a 33-yard punt return to set up Chance Wyatt's short TD run.
"It's really important for us to start out quick," Huerta said, adding that the early lead helped in the cold temperatures that gripped the Ignacio field Friday night.
"We've had trouble getting off to a good start. We needed that," the Ignacio coach said, furthering the praise for his position-conscious defense.
"Chance (Wyatt) ... played great. We've been moving him around, but we got him back to where he finished last year. He's been a beast ever since," Huerta said.
Pearson, a thorn for Del Norte all night, also earned some words of praise from his coach.
"He's been a big, big surprise for us," Huerta said.
"He got kind of a late start, but he's come out and done everything we've asked." The Bobcats finished with more than 200 yards rushing, led by 59 yards from Vigil on nine carries. Hubert added 56 yards on 10 carries.
Ignacio also had more than 100 passing yards.
Del Norte fell to 2-6, 1-3 in the Southern Peaks League.
Playoff details for Ignacio will be announced by the Colorado High School Activities Association on Sunday or Monday.
dstrode@durangoherald.com
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