Individual stat leaders in 8-man football
There were plenty of players who had impressive seasons in 8-man football in 2021, a classification which saw Haxtun defeat Mancos for the state title. Though it was Haxtun who came out on top, other teams saw athletes who stood…
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Continue ReadingThere were plenty of players who had impressive seasons in 8-man football in 2021, a classification which saw Haxtun defeat Mancos for the state title.
Though it was Haxtun who came out on top, other teams saw athletes who stood out in different areas. Here is a look at the individual statistical leaders for the 2021 season.
Passing: Dakota Eaton, 2022, 5’10, 170, QB, Holly: A four-year varsity contributor, Eaton showed he could make some plays in his career, but he blossomed into one of the best quarterbacks in his classification for his senior year. He threw for 2,619 passing yards, almost more than 500 yards more than the next highest quarterback in 8-man football, and had 31 touchdowns, two more than he threw in his first three seasons combined. He completed 66 percent of his passes and showed good decision-making with the football, and his ability to run the ball (695 rushing yards) created other ways he could attack and find favorable matchups down the field. He also did not hurt his team, only throwing six interceptions, so he was a trustworthy player his team could lean on.
Rushing: Chase Moore, 2022, 5’9, 160, RB/LB, Mancos: A key player in helping Mancos reach the state championship game, Moore had his third-straight season surpassing the century mark on the ground. In his senior campaign, he ran for 1,846 yards, and 28 touchdowns. He is a true cowbell running back who can handle a heavy amount of carries per game, and he runs just as hard in the fourth quarter as he does in the first. He does not shy from contact, and with his frame, he has the leverage to bounce off of tackles and get extra yardage. He churns his feet at the point of contact and is willing to fight for the extra yardage. And he had a taste of the end zone in goal-line situations.
Receiving: Fernando Dominguez, 2022, WR, Holly: Here is a player who was able to find big plays when catching the ball. He showed the skills to get down the field and catch the deep ball, but he also caught the short passes and made plays in space for extra yardage. In 12 games, he was able to catch 53 passes, but those receptions totaled 1,104 yards (20.8 yards per reception) and 13 touchdowns. He could beat the man-to-man coverage and did a good job working with his quarterback to give him a nice, big target to throw to. The versatility he had to make plays in the short and long passing game also helped some of his other teammates have favorable matchups to go up against.
Tackles: Clay Roweth, 2022, 6’2, 205, RB/LB, Swink: Watching his highlight tapes, it’s clear how Roweth, who anchored the middle of the defense, was able to finish with an impressive 180 tackles to his name. He is a downhill linebacker who can shed blocks and plays with great leverage in the hole when he gets there. He does a good job wrapping up ball carriers and is fundamentally sound. There were some good physical moments he shows when he is able to line up a ball carrier in front of him, or he has the speed to chase down a ball carrier to make a play when needed. His tackling prowess stands out, but Roweth also shows a high IQ when it comes to his play-making at times intercepting passes and getting in the passing lanes as well.
Sacks: Colby Swopes, 2023, 6’2, 195, Holly: Using his length, good speed and a relentless drive, Swopes wreaked havoc in the backfield all season long. He recorded sacks in 11 games for Holly and would end the year with 18.5 sacks to his credit. A variety of ways he can beat the offensive lineman on the edge allows him to get creative and mix things up, getting his opponents on their heels. He also displayed skills on the ball while getting a rush, forcing three fumbles as well. Swopes will be a key player in the classification to watch next year in Colorado.
Interceptions: Ryan Campbell, 2022, 5’10, 160, RB/DB, Calhan: An active player who shined for Calhan on both sides of the ball, Campbell showed great range in the secondary and a knack for getting to the football in the passing game. When given the chance to make a play, he did so, leading the classification with nine interceptions. There were three games where he recorded multiple interceptions, highlighted by his three picks versus Custer County. He also had some big returns and scored twice on interceptions. His teammate Zach Peterson finished second in 8-man football with eight interceptions himself, helping form a dynamic duo that was hard to attack in the air against.