Four seniors score First Team nods
Knowing they represented a lion’s share of talent available to Ignacio Football’s coaching staff this fall, the Bobcat seniors weren’t afraid to be vocal – for better or worse – leaders on the field.
But once off it, there was always one last stop to make before returning to the locker room: The sideline, as close to the bleachers as possible, to lead themselves and their supporters in a rendition of the IHS Fight Song. And most often, striking up the ‘band,’ as it were, after victory – or even defeat – was Elliott Hendren.
Unafraid to also lead a pre-game invocation on bended knee, the senior lineman, whether pass-blocking for sophomore quarterback Zane Pontine, helping open lanes for Ignacio’s capable ground game – powered by senior Nate Hendren, junior D.J. Hendren and sophomore Lincoln deKay – or rushing the opposing QB when on defense, was key to the team’s successes and was named First Team All-South Central.
“Elliott’s a really big part of our team; he’s like the ‘hype man’ of everyone,” D.J. Hendren said early in the season. “I’m just glad someone stepped in to do the part.”
Frequently taking up the vocal-leadership mantle on off-days, when many ’Cats could be found inside IHS Gymnasium supporting the volleyball team, senior lineman Cruz Martinez – the pivot of any offensive play, being IHS’ center – was also named First Team All-Conference. Joining the two trenchmen were seniors Devante Montoya and Rylan Maez, two-thirds of IHS’ primary pass-catching triumvirate offensively, and two of the Bobcats’ top playmakers defensively as Ignacio finished 4-5 overall in 2023, 3-2 in the re-named (from ‘Southern Peaks’) SCC.
“I’m so proud of our seniors. Coached them for four years, and I love ’em,” stated head coach Alfonso ‘Ponch’ Garcia. “I love the whole team, but with those guys you build such a different relationship because they’ve been there four years. And how they perform day in and day out, it’s amazing.”
deKay and senior lineman/kickoff specialist Wade Dunbar were both named Second Team All-Conference, while D.J. Hendren and Pontine each received Honorable Mention All-SCC.
“Ponch wanted to get D.J. into my shoes, into the run game, but also wanted to get him a little into Devante’s shoes also,” Nate Hendren explained after the Bobcats’ game at Moab, UT, Grand County, during which D.J. Hendren’s emergence – vital for the future, considering the outgoing players he was to emulate – effectively started. “He can go for a pass, he can run … he can do it all.”
“We love to throw the ball. But you’ve got to have the combination of good wide receivers and a good quarterback,” Garcia said during the season, “and Zane’s developing into that.”
First place in conference via a 5-0 mark sewn up via a 45-0 trouncing of Monte Vista, Centauri – the only South-Central squad to reach the postseason – inexplicably failed to advance out of the Class 1A State Playoffs’ opening Round-of-16 after being hammered 59-27 at Wray. The winning Eagles had been the No. 7 seed; the defeated Falcons (7-3 overall) the No. 10.
“Obviously we’ve still got to clean up some silly stuff, but overall I’m happy,” said CHS head coach Kyle Forster. “It’s better to be on the winning side, but … we have to play every minute. We want to continually get better, and the only way you can do that is by playing at your level and keeping it there.”
Unsurprisingly, CHS paced the conference in First Team All-SCC selections – headed up by senior Deven Brady, who also shared Offensive Player-of-the-Year honors with MVHS junior Jacob Pacheco. Centauri seniors Josh Polkowske and Troy Huffaker were also First Teamers and shared Defensive Player-of-the-Year, while Forster was voted Coach-of-the-Year.
AFTERMATH
To the surprise of few, top-seeded Limon rampaged through the Playoffs and bagged that school’s 22nd State Championship, 50-13 over 6-seed Strasburg – which had stunned WHS by a point in one semifinal – on Saturday, November 25, at CSU-Pueblo’s ThunderBowl. Champion of the Frontier Conference (LHS ruled the North Central, Wray included), SHS finished up 10-3 while the Badgers – having extended the program’s current winning streak to 26 games since a loss to Centauri in the ’21 grand finale – closed up shop standing 13-0.
JUST BECAUSE HISTORY
Based on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Record Book’s contents, LHS’ 22 crowns rank no lower than 14th nationwide – and No. 1 in Colorado by a long shot – amongst all 11-man programs. Just above Limon on the list with 23, Pine Bluff, Ark., was denied a desired 24th after losing on the 24th in the AHSAA/Centennial Bank Class 5A State Playoffs’ semis.
For added comparison, Artesia, New Mexico’s 35-21 victory over Roswell in the NMAA/Nusenda Credit Union Class 5A State Football Championship – another 11/25 showdown – was that school’s 32nd, moving AHS into a tie with Little Rock, Ark., Central for second, behind only Sioux Falls, S.D., Washington’s 41. (Second-winningest in Land of Enchantment annals, 4A Lovington captured its 20th title with a 57-21 win on the 25th at Portales.)
ADDITIONAL FIRST TEAM ALL-SCC
Centauri – junior Parker Buhr, sophomore Spencer Smith, senior Zach Gallardo; Monte Vista (6-3 overall, 4-1 SCC) – sophomore Azariah Hurtado, junior Alex Marquez, senior Jack Noonan, junior Kaden Madrid; Del Norte (3-6, 2-3) – senior Craig Williams, senior Jace Pacheco, senior Cody Worz; Center (1-8, 1-4) – senior Jesus Valadez, junior Luis Valadez; Trinidad (0-9, 0-5) – freshman Andrew East, sophomore Xavier Garcia.
ADDITIONAL SECOND TEAM
Centauri – senior Jordan Garcia, senior Shelton Sowards, senior Skylar Montague; MVHS – junior Kevin Cisneros, junior Ismael Medina; DNHS – Marques Quintana, sophomore Kelby Mondragon; Center – freshman Caden Ruggles, senior Jordan Duran; THS – sophomore Cisco Duran.
ADDITIONAL HONORABLE MENTION
Centauri – sophomore Carson Shawcroft, sophomore Marcos Atencio, sophomore Sean Jarvies, junior Jace Haslett; MVHS – sophomore Chayse Bouet; DNHS – sophomore Paul Neal, senior Colby Gandy; Center – senior Lorenzo Trujillo, senior Devan Thompson, senior Francisco Villa; THS – junior David Romero, senior Corbin Popoff.