The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

A 50 point win in the first round of playoffs sends the Haxtun Bulldogs to quarterfinals action later this week. Haxtun is set to take on Byers at home on Saturday afternoon in a match up that pits the number three ranked Bulldogs against sixth ranked Byers. Just eight teams remain in Colorado 8-man action, in addition to Haxtun and Byers, Mancos, Sedgwick, Lyons, Dove Creek, Merino and Simla have advanced to the quarterfinals round.

The Bulldogs took on Calhan with home field advantage in the first round of post-season play in a picture perfect day for fall football. As temperatures peaked mid-afternoon Calhan kicked to the Bulldogs and on their first drive, the team put six points on the board for an early advantage. The Bulldogs fell short on the points after attempt but just four plays later, Haxtun would have the ball again.

Calhan turned the ball over on downs inside the Bulldogs 30, giving the home team prime field position. Sophomore Zach Statz punched the ball in with a 13-yard run, his second touchdown in just minutes, to put the Bulldogs up by another six. This time Haxtun added the two points to follow with a run up the middle from senior Kailin Kelley.

Haxtun forced the visiting team to punt in their second possession, giving the Bulldogs the ball on their half of the field yet again. In a fourth down situation, Statz carried the ball to move the chains and plays later, Kelley scored giving Haxtun their third touchdown of the game.

The Bulldog defense came out hot, holding Calhan out of scoring territory for the first 10 minutes of the contest. With two minutes left in the first, the visiting team made it across the 50 but turned the ball over on fourth down.

Haxtun's offense went to work and as the ball snapped, junior quarterback Ryland Wolff dropped back to pass and connected with senior Kaiden Schelling for a 77 yard gain. On fourth down, Wolff ran the ball in with a quarterback sneak to put the Bulldogs up by another six. Statz made good on the PAT attempt and Haxtun led 28-0 minutes into the second quarter.

In Calhan's next possession, Schelling came up with a pick six and Wolff followed with the PAT for a quick eight on the board. Things just seemed to get worse for the visiting team as a fumble on their following drive resulted in a recovery and touchdown from Bulldog senior Mason Bornhoft. Bornhoft's touchdown put Haxtun up by 44 to force a running clock with five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Haxtun went on to add one more touchdown to make it 50-0 at half time. A running clock all of the second half made for a quick finish of the final 24 minutes and after short huddle and prayer, the Bulldogs were singing the fight song in front of a packed home crowd.

The Bulldogs racked up 355 yards on offense on Saturday. Haxtun tallied 36 totals plays including 12 first downs. Under center, Wolff connected with six of seven passes for 111 yards. He averaged 18.5 yards per pass. Sophomore Colin Cone took time as quarterback, he registered 24 yards with five completions.

Haxtun totaled 136 yards in the air, led by Schelling with 85. He caught the ball twice for the Bulldogs. Carter Lock had one 22 yard catch followed by Colglazier with two catches for 17 yards.

Statz led the Bulldog ground game with 134 yards off five carries and three touchdowns. Cone and Kelley both registered 30 rushing yards. One of Kelley's four carries resulted in a touchdown. Wolff carried the ball for six yards including one touchdown.

Zach Statz

Statz also earned top marks in the tackles column; he totaled eight tackles, the team high. Kelley registered seven tackles followed by Wolff with six and Colglazier, Cone and Schelling, each with four.

Quarterfinals action is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. at Adam Wernsman Field on Saturday. Byers enters the contest with a 9-1 record and as the sixth seeded team in State 8-man playoff rankings. Byers' lone loss this season came in late September to Lyons, one of the two teams that remain undefeated in 8-man action this far into the season. The other team is Simla.

On the other side of the bracket, number seven ranked Merino will face second ranked Simla in Simla on Saturday. Should the Bulldogs defeat Byers, they will face the winner of Simla/Merino in semifinals the following week.