(Daniel Stoeber)
For the first time since 2012, Wray will head to the Class 1A football semifinals.
The Eagles, the No. 4 seed in the bracket, beat No. 5 Hotchkiss 38-13 on Saturday.
“Hats off to Hotchkiss staff and players,” Wray coach Levi Kramer said. “They have one heck of a program. I was really proud of how our boys played today. We have a ton to work on next week, but looking forward to putting in the work with this group.”
After Hotchkiss scored first, and held a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, Wray scored 24 unanswered points to lead 24-7 at halftime. Wray’s Tyler Collins paced the offense with three first-half scores.
Collins kept it up in the second half when he added a fourth touchdown, this one from 12 yards out, that made it 32-7 at the end of three quarters.
(Daniel Stoeber)
Payton Wade, a sophomore, scored in the fourth quarter to make it 38-7.
Hotchkiss’ Drayden Taylor and Blaine Peebles scored for the Bulldogs.
“Credit Coach Kramer and his kids, as they created big plays in the passing game that got them up a couple of scores,” Hotchkiss Curtis Hintz said. “They played hard for four quarters. Felt like we matched them physically in the first quarter. They hit a couple of big plays and couldn’t close the gap. Proud of this group, they had a great year. But kudos to Wray.”
Wray will advance to face top-seeded Limon in the semifinals.
“I’m proud of how my team played today,” Wray’s Tyler Collins said. “We aren’t satisfied. Our focus is beating Limon now.”
(Daniel Stoeber)