The Pagosa Springs High School (PSHS) Pirate football team won its first-round playoff game last Saturday, Oct. 31, defeating the Banning Lewis Academy Stallions 33-13 in Colorado Springs.
The Pirates trailed 7-0 after the first quarter, but got on the scoreboard a little over halfway through the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown by Alex Pacheco.
Pacheco then converted a two-point attempt, putting the Pirates up 8-7 going into halftime.
The Pirates were able to keep the Stallions from scoring in the third quarter, while adding to their lead with a 31-yard field goal made by Hudson Mazur.
The Pirates led 11-7 going into the fourth quarter, and would put up 22 more points while holding the Stallions to just six points to close out the game.
Mazur added to the Pirates’ score with two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, going for 22 and 13 yards.
Pacheco found the end zone one more time on a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
Mazur converted two extra-point attempts, and Kasen Limebrook converted on a two-point attempt to bring the final score to 33-13.
PSHS Athletic Director and assistant defensive line coach Curtis Nehring explained that the deciding factor in the game was the Pirates’ ability to play with a higher level of physicality than the Stallions.
He noted that the teams were matched up evenly, and that it was a close, hard-fought, back-and-forth kind of game until the fourth quarter.
“It was actually a really good game,” Nehring said, noting that Banning Lewis is a quality team with good athletes.
He said of the Stallions, “Their kids played hard.”
He added, “I don’t think that [Banning Lewis] expected the physicality of Pagosa players.”
Nehring also commended the Pirates’ coaching staff, explaining that they were “really good about making adjustments in the second half.”
Nehring emphasized how the Pirates are “a very physical football team” and credited the players for “going out and just wanting to bring it.”
The Pirates put up a total of 338 yards of total offense, led by Mazur, who ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 13 attempts.
Pacheco racked up 131 yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts, and Gage Sams rushed for 57 yards on six carries.
Limebrook was unsuccessful on two passing attempts, and ran for 5 yards on three carries.
On the defensive side, Colby Ross led the Pirates in solo tackles on the day, coming up with eight.
Sams recorded five solo tackles, as did Ty Garcia.
Sams also came up with one interception, which he returned for 32 yards.
With the win, the Pirates advance to the second round of the 2A state playoffs, and will travel to Wellington to take on the defending state champions, the Wellington Eagles.
The Eagles received a first-round playoff bye and have not played a game since Oct. 23.
Wellington ended the regular season with an overall record of 8-1 and were ranked as the No. 3 team in the state.
The Pirates entered the playoffs as the No. 19 team in the state.
With road closures in effect across the southwest region of the state, Nehring explained that travel details are still being finalized, but the plan is for the Pirates to leave Pagosa Springs today, Nov. 5, and stay near Wellington.
The Pirates are scheduled to take on the Eagles at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Wellington.
Nehring added the Pirates’ mentality going into the matchup is similar to what it was going into their game against Banning Lewis.
He noted that the team isn’t leaving town with any unknowns and all of the players’ families are safe after historic flooding swept through Pagosa Springs.
Nehring commented that this is hopefully a chance for the players to step outside of some of the chaos in town and get to “do something sort of normal.”
“It’s football, it can’t not be fun,” Nehring added.
Coach Nathan Morales was unavailable for comment as of press time Wednesday.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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