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Bulldogs fall in season opener

Moffat County loses to No. 1 team in state, 40-7

John Vandelinder

Team Statistics:

Moffat County Berthoud

First Downs 9 9

Rushes-yards 41-110 23-210

Passing-yards 22 165

Comp-att-int 1-4-0 3-6-1

Punts 4-167 0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 0-0 3-35

Key individual statistics

Moffat County

Rushing-

Lyle Schaffner 14-32

Jason Kettle 10-36

Pablo Salcido 6-49

Berthoud

Jordan Major 8-117-3td

Bryce Munoz 5-53

Passing-

Moffat County

Matt Linsacum 1-4-22

Berthoud

Jordan Major 3-5-165-3td

Receiving-

Moffat County

Pablo Salcido 1-22

Berthouds

John Duncan 2-118-2td

Jeffory Shields 1-47-1td

Defense-

Halen Raymond - 20-yard interception return TD

Moffat County football coach Kip Hafey knew it was coming.

Heading to the Eastern Pains to face the defending state champion Spartans, the Bulldog skipper was optimistic about his chances, but not overly confident.

Sure, the Bulldogs are young, but the greatest sporting movies are built on the David vs. Goliath scenario.



Berthoud left no doubt who was playing the role of Goliath on Friday.

The Spartans scored on three of their first four plays. Blazing to a 27-0 first-quarter lead, Berthoud never looked back on its way to a 40-7 victory in both teams’ season-opener.



Berthoud (1-0 overall, 1-0 Tri-Valley Conference) utilized the spread-option attack to perfection behind quarterback Jordan Major.

Major, a shifty senior, scored on an 81-yard run and hooked up with senior receivers John Duncan and Jeff Shields at will.

Duncan hauled in two touchdown passes for 118 yards, and Shields broke away for a 47-yard touchdown pass, as well.

All in the first-quarter.

Moffat County (0-1 overall, 0-1 Western Slope League) was overmatched on both sides of the ball, gaining just 132 to Berthoud’s 375.

The Bulldogs maintained two steady drives in the first half, but “small miscues” as coach Hafey out it, halted the offense from reaching Spartan territory.

“We would get rolling along on each of our possessions,” Hafey said, “and then something would happen to set us back two or here yards and we would end up facing third and long. You’ve got to hand it to Berthoud.”

The teams matched first downs at nine apiece, but it was the big play offense of Berthoud that resulted from them that was the difference.

“We executed really well in our offense,” Spartans coach Dan McGinn said. “Our quarterback is a magician. That Jordy, we’re lucky to have him.”

By the time the halftime buzzer had sounded. The No. 1 ranked team in the state held a 33-0 lead.

McGinn emptied his bench after a 50-yard touchdown jaunt by Major – and subsequent extra point that followed – had put the game into the mercy-rule category.

The Bulldog got on the board in the fourth quarter, albeit by a defensive score.

MCHS junior middle linebacker Halen Raymond intercepted an errant Spartan pass and returned it – while juggling the ball several times – for a 20-yard touchdown.

“I was reading the quarterback’s eyes,” Raymond said. “I just went over to it, the ball was behind me, and I hit it, juggled it up and hauled it in.

“I wasn’t thinking touchdown, but it happened.”

Sophomore Justin Benedict and junior Brian Ivy made solid contributions to the Moffat County defense, constantly stuffing Spartan defenders, enough so to impress defensive coordinator Lance Scranton.

“The big plays hurt us,” Scranton said. “Those guys played good games, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

The Bulldogs host Rifle on Friday in both teams’ conference-opener.

Berthoud opens conference play Friday at Fort Lupton.


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