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Moffat County 3-0 in league play with Friday win vs. Coal Ridge

Bulldogs crush Titans, 39-12

Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School varsity football players greet the crowd following their Homecoming win. The Bulldogs defeated Coal Ridge, 39-12, Friday night to progress to 3-0 in 2A Western Slope League play, 5-2 overall.
Andy Bockelman

After scoring nearly 80 points against a single school in the course of a week, Moffat County High School football must be exhausted.

The varsity Bulldogs improved to 5-2 overall Friday night in New Castle with a 39-12 win against Coal Ridge, keeping them at the top of the 2A Western Slope North League2A Western Slope North League, now 3-0 in the conference., now 3-0 in the conference.

2A Western Slope North League, now 3-0 in the conference.

A 40-0 JV blowout of the Titans at home on Monday was a good sign for the Craig team, and assistant coach Jeff Sullivan was quick to remind them of their strengths during the week’s practices.



“They’re the most physical team in the league, by far,” he said.

The Dogs flexed their muscles early and often in the first half, with Dylan Kincade getting the first score, catching a throw by Keenan Hildebrandt that amounted to a 33 yard reception, part of 77 passing yards Hildy would have. It didn’t take long before the starting QB scored himself, running it in from two yards out on their next possession.



Eddie Smercina had another triple-digit running game with back-to-back rushing TD’s, the first 53 yards and the next 45, both serpentine jaunts that had the Titan defense scrambling, accounting for 168 yards in the first half alone.

A fumble on a punt return put Coal Ridge in prime position to score late in the second quarter, with Cameron Chacon able to get his team up from zero, but Brett Loyd had the final touchdown of the half with a quick slam from 5 to make it 32-6.

The scoring frenzy ended from there, but neither team was completely done in the second half as Moffat County’s Shandon Hadley found plenty of room for a 51-yard rush in the third, while Coal Ridge took advantage of another fumble recovery early in the fourth for Matt Jensen to get in the end zone.

The Bulldog roster was on their game on both sides of the ball, with high points including a blocked kick by Mikinzie Klimper, huge hits by Hildy, Loyd and Hugo Hernandez and more and more field time for younger players.

While 2-1 Battle Mountain slaughtered 0-3 Aspen 54-6 and 2-1 Basalt beat 1-2 Roaring Fork 21-17 during the night’s activities, things look brightest for MCHS as they prepare for the last two weeks of the regular season, both of which will be at the Bulldog Proving Grounds.

Though head coach Keith Gille doesn’t want to plan too far ahead, the anticipation of the weeks to come is considerable.

“We should have the opportunity to take things a long way, we’ll see,” he said.

Some tightening will be needed as the Dogs host the Skiers, but he believes things are looking promising as a whole.

“I’m blessed because they’re doing good stuff,” Gille said.

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.


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