When it comes to winning football games, small things can make a big difference.
That was the lesson for the Mancos High School team during a 50-14 loss to Sargent on Sept. 27.
Excited to play on their home field, the Bluejays came out firing, using a 53-yard run by quarterback Axel Bonde to set up a one-yard rushing touchdown by Everett Strazza-Whalen to move ahead 6-0.
"We caught them off guard," said Bluejays associate head coach Josh Gardner. "We figured that when we spread (Sargent) out, they would leave the middle open."
On the game's subsequent offensive possession, Sargent responded, pulling ahead 8-6 after a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Justin Hacsi and a successful two-point conversion.
Later in the first quarter, Sargent extended its lead to 14-6 on a five-yard run by Ryan Davis, which culminated an 85-yard drive that included several missed tackles by Bluejays defenders.
"We need to work on our tackling," said Bonde. "We need to break down and actually hit someone better than we did today."
Despite their tackling difficulties, the Bluejays found themselves back in the game with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter after Bonde faked a handoff to Strazza-Whalen and sprinted around the right side for a five-yard touchdown.
A two-point conversion on a run by Strazza-Whalen on the Bluejays subsequent two-point conversion attempt tied the game, 14-14.
From then on, it was all Sargent, which pulled ahead 20-14 after a long kickoff return by Bryce Martinez and extended its lead to 28-14 after a 34-yard touchdown pass from Dax Malone to Hacsi before halftime.
"We need to work with our defensive backs," said Gardner, alluding to the big play.
In the second half, Sargent continued to pour it on, leading 36-14 after a three-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Kenon Miller.
After offensive penalties stalled the Bluejays' subsequent drive, Sargent moved ahead 42-14 with 4:15 left in the third quarter after a 38-yard touchdown pass from Malone to Caleb Cotton.
Sargent scored its final touchdown with 3:14 left in the game after Malone connected with Cotton on a four-yard touchdown pass.
Bonde led the Bluejays in rushing with 104 yards. Andrew Morgan contributed 38 rushing yards, and Brandon Hood-Farley had 50 receiving yards.
"We had a chance in that game and came out dead in the second half," said Gardner. "That goes back to maturity. We need to be more mature and play all four quarters."
With their record now at 1-5 on the season, the Bluejays will take a week off before traveling to Blanca, Colo., for a matchup against Sierra Grande on Oct. 11.
"We had a lot of arm tackling," said Strazza-Whalen. "It's something that we have to work on."