In spite of its 6-0 record and wins over three teams currently ranked in the Top 10 of the Colorado High School Activities Associations’ eight-man football poll, the Mancos High School football team is ranked just No. 5.
If the Bluejays keep performing like they did during a 34-18 road victory Sanford on Oct. 5, however, the team’s ranking and will continue to rise and a state championship could be in order.
Among the top performers for Mancos against Sanford was senior running back Chance Garcia, who ran the ball 24 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Breccen Morelli ran the ball for 58 yards and one touchdown and completed seven passes for 142 yards.
On the receiving end of six of Morelli’s passes was sophomore Christian Cova, who continued to showcase big-play ability while amassing 117 receiving yards. Junior Anthony Medina ran for 18 yards and accumulated 25 receiving yards while anchoring the Bluejays’ vaunted defense from his safety position.
After Mancos pulled ahead of Sanford 12-0 during an impressive first quarter, the Indians came back with 12 points of their own during the next 12 minutes and the teams entered halftime tied, 12-12.
With the score tied 18-18 and the game hanging in the balance entering the fourth quarter, the Bluejays stepped on the accelerator and scored 16 unanswered points to move ahead 34-18 and put the game away.
Mancos improved to 6-0 on the season with the win, while Sanford dropped to 5-1 with the loss. The victory improved the Bluejays record to 4-0 in the A-8 Mountain League, which places them ahead of Sanford (2-1), Sargent (2-1), and Dove Creek (2-1), with three games left in the season.
Next up for the Bluejays will be a road matchup against Norwood High School, which will take place on Oct. 12.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.