FAIRPLAY – Mancos has made Fairplay their home away from home for the past several years.
Facing some of the Eastern Plains powerhouses, the Bluejays have met Merino and Haxtun for so-called “halfway games” at South Park High School in the central mountains to spare both programs a full day’s drive.
The road-tested Bluejays added another positive memory from their travels, as they dispatched Merino 66-14 to continue their perfect start to the season. The victory sets up a battle of top-three teams when Mancos returns to Fairplay this Saturday to face the No. 1 team in 8-man football, according to the CHSAA coaches poll, the Haxtun Bulldogs.
The matchup will serve as a rematch of the 2021 state championship game, with a handful of players from both teams having played on the field two years ago in Pueblo.
Mancos’ vaunted rushing attack, led by senior quarterback Kail Wayman, has piled up points with ease through the Bluejays’ 3-0 start. In each of their three outings, Mancos has scored at least 58 points, with the dual-threat QB accounting for a bundle of touchdowns, joining classmate Levi Martin among the top rushers in the state.
The victory over Merino served as the fourth straight win for the Jays in the series, as the two programs in opposite corners of the state have made their rivalry into an annual reunion.
The offensive line for the Bluejays, led by sophomore Colten Vannest, has dictated the point of attack for head coach Josh Gardner’s squad – while senior Elliott Sam and the Mancos defense has made life difficult for opposition.
Their test this weekend against Haxtun (2-0) appears to be Mancos’ toughest test up to this point, however, as the Bulldogs have also easily handled their early opposition. Junior quarterback Ryland Wolff, much like Wayman, is capable of breaking free at any moment for big gains, while also using his arm to find a variety of different targets.
Mancos will seek their first win over Haxtun in three tries, with the Bulldogs defeating the Bluejays in the regular season last year in Fairplay, along with their title victory two seasons ago.
For fans unable to make the trek to Fairplay, Saturday’s contest can be heard on local radio station 98.7 FM KRTZ and on krtzradio.com. Pregame broadcast coverage for the titanic clash will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the kickoff slated for 1 p.m. from South Park High School.
