craigdailypress.com

Dave Close knows his team is up for a big challenge Saturday.

The Class 2A Wolverines suit up 36 players and, for most of the game, 14 athletes reach the playing field. The Bulldogs started the season with more than 70 players. In a series they easily play 14 different guys.

"We took this game knowing Moffat County was a bigger team," he said. "But I would rather play a team like Moffat than have a week off."

Last year the Bulldogs defeated the Wolverines 24-6. There are four seniors back from that game for Bayfield while Moffat County has nine seniors back.

"I would rather have four seniors than 24 and lose them all next year," Close said. "We know we have a team returning next year."

The Wolverines, 2-2, are in the 2A Intermountain League. A league Close believes they can win and a game against a larger school will help them prepare.

"We can only learn against them," he said. "We just have to be careful not to get any injuries."

The Bulldogs go into the game with one thought on their mind.

"We can't let another Cedaredge happen," said head coach Kip Hafey referring to a game the Bulldogs lost last year 28-19 against a school similar in size to Bayfield.

In addition to preparing for an undersized and undermanned team, the Bulldogs face next week's homecoming game against league favorite Rifle who defeated top-ranked Palisade last week.

"Normally a team would have a hard time focusing for this game," Hafey said. "But this group of kids has really remained set on getting the win this weekend."

The Wolverines bring an offensive set called the wing-T, which features a full back and two halfbacks out wide. The offense utilizes quick passes and a power running game according to Close.

His 4-3 on defense is what Close hopes to see improve before conference play rolls around.

"We're still learning on D," he said. "There has been a lot of shuffling around early in the season."

With the game on Saturday the Bulldogs took Thursday off from practice to do community service.

A sign of their feeling prepared for the smaller match up already?

"(Not practicing) has nothing to do with our opponent this week, we owe the community this because they have supported us," Hafey said. "The kids also deserve a mental and physical break."

The teams will split the difference of 331 miles between their cities and meet in Olathe for the game. Kick off is at 1 p.m. Saturday.