Log In


Reset Password
Pine River Times Pine River Times opinion Pine River Times news Pine River Times sports

Bayfield High School must beware Broncos' balance

BHS must beware Broncos' balance

Computer spell-check programs hate his last name.

Football opponents know it and fear it, but fear the man - senior Parker Joens - most of all.

Leader of a defense as dominantly balanced as his team's offense, for which he sees action as both a tackle and tight end, Joens will look to add to his team-high nine quarterback sacks and 21 tackles-for-loss (out of 94 reported total stops) while constantly knowing the whereabouts of Bayfield's best in tomorrow's Class 2A State Football Championship up in Kersey.

Proud to defend in droves, multiple Platte Valley Broncos have topped 100 tackles so far in 2015, led by senior Matt Hoffman's 125, junior Derek Miller's 115 and junior Drew Neuerburg's 111, and along with junior Eastin Franek (six sacks) all will look to regularly find themselves in the Wolverine backfield.

Hoffman leads PV also with seven interceptions - ironic given his outstanding 24-for-506 (with six touchdowns) receiving figures-while Joens shares the team lead with three fumble recoveries.

And if that doesn't somewhat illustrate the Broncos' all-around ability without the ball, their offensive numbers certainly do, with senior Parker Gilliland (35-451, 5 TD) joining Hoffman to give versatile senior QB Tanner Schwindt (1,696 yards passing, 713 rushing) at least two prime aerial options.

Senior Derek Wert, who also handles placekicking duties, has even caught four TD's as part of his 12-155 receiving work and Joens (10-89) has snared a score, but Schwindt will have to improve his accuracy-14 INT, compared to 16 TD - against BHS' pick-happy secondary.

Fortunately able to carry for 13 TD's, he'll have junior running back Austin Hill (130-914 rushing, 5 TD) with whom to share the job of moving the chains, as well as freshman Trevon Wehrman (40-308, 7) as the Patriot Conference champs hope to end the season with a 7-0 record at home.

And, of course, another Gold Ball trophy.

Tale of the tape

Points per game: Bayfield 39.4 (433 total), Platte Valley 37.9 (455).

Points against per game: BHS 6.4 (70 total), PVHS 11.2 (134). Record - Bayfield 11-0 (5-0 Western Slope Conference, South Division), Platte Valley 11-1 (5-0 Patriot).

Meet the minds

Bayfield: Gary Heide, 32-10 overall (19-5 in conference) in his fourth season with the Wolverines.

Platte Valley: Troy Hoffman, 53-17 (31-6) in his sixth season guiding the Broncos.

Following similar steps

In 2014, trying to defend their 2013 State Championship, PVHS advanced to the 2A Playoffs' semifinals despite a more-vulnerable 6-3 regular-season mark. The Broncos then lost 19-16 to Englewood Kent Denver - whom they rallied to defeat, 29-23, on the road in the 2015 semis last Saturday.

Ironically, Platte Valley had eliminated Strasburg (by a 56-28 margin) in the quarterfinals to get their shot at revenge against the Sun Devils, and had also ousted SHS in last year's quarters.