Even with senior Keegan Johnston, lost late in the first quarter to a possible concussion, back on the sideline after halftime in full pads and willing to rejoin the fray, Bayfield’s drive to play for their injured quarterback wasn’t going so well.
The drive was a microcosm for the game as Montezuma-Cortez cruised to a 41-12 victory.
Winding down the 2025 season Friday night at home against Montezuma-Cortez, the Wolverines had lost senior Kaiden Witte with 0:59 left in the second quarter when, blitzing in from the right-handed Witte’s blind side, M-CHS senior Wyatt Oliver flattened Witte for a nine-yard loss and in need of medical aid to be helped off Wolverine Country Stadium’s grass.
Having seen Witte taken off on a stretcher, both teams knelt and prayed for his – and the remaining players’ – health, and after a pause of more than 10 minutes, BHS head coach Jason Wenzlau looked to Harrison Williams to direct the offense. But the versatile sophomore struggled, as one would expect an emergency backup QB to do, and closed out the half going 1-for-5 passing and throwing incomplete to senior Estevan Gonzales as time expired.
Trailing the Panthers 20-3 as intermission began, Bayfield somehow forced a four-play turnover-on-downs when M-CHS junior quarterback Cody Case threw incomplete to senior Cooper Sopha.
Set up at their own 33 with 10:14 left in the third, the Wolverines quickly gained 29 yards via three carries by senior Tyler Harriman and, aided by penalties against M-CHS for face-masking and pass-interference, eventually reached the Panthers’ 16 before Williams, hesitant under pressure, tossed up an underhand throw easily intercepted by M-CHS senior Rusty Snyder at the 11 with 5:26 left.
About two minutes later Montezuma-Cortez was in the end zone after senior Parker Conrad caught a Case throw to the right flat and then legged out an 85-yard touchdown paralleling BHS’ sideline. Making matters worse, Harriman was ejected for misconduct after the play, and Case easily carried the two-point conversion in – putting the Panthers up 28-3 and leaving the Wolverines needing anything to rekindle hope.
Gonzales answered the call almost immediately; receiving M-CHS’ kickoff at Bayfield’s 5, Gonzales gained speed right in front of the visitors’ bench, spun out of a tackle without really slowing, and completed an electric 95-yard return. Casillas’ point-after kick was good, and the Wolverines were back to 28-10 with 3:03 still left in the third.
Oliver then smothered Casillas’ short kickoff into empty space, setting the Panthers up at their own 30. After another taking another five-yard penalty, Montezuma-Cortez quickly regained all the momentum with Conrad broke loose for a 75-yard TD run with 2:47 to go. Case’s conversion carry was stopped short, but M-CHS’ 34-10 lead would ultimately prove too great.
Senior Justin Westbrook then covered M-CHS’ kickoff, giving Bayfield possession at M-CHS’ 40 with 7:51 left. Two snaps later, however, Williams was intercepted and the Panthers took over at their own 41 with 6:49 to go. Overcoming a holding penalty, Montezuma-Cortez covered the 59 yards in six plays, and Case hit Snyder for a 23-yard score. The point-after kick was good, rebuilding the lead to 41-12.
Case & Co. were then able to run out the final 2:15, but after a 23-yard Conrad carry to M-CHS’ 48, Wenzlau made sure all his remaining and serviceable seniors were on the field for the last 56 seconds.
Bayfield finished its season 3-6 overall and 0-5 in the 2A Intermountain League. Montezuma-Cortez finished its season 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the 2A Intermountain League.
