Not many football fans across the 1A landscape are surprised to see Limon and Centauri as the last two teams standing. The Badgers have ranked number one since the first preseason polls were released and Centauri moved into the second spot after week one and has not moved since. And both clubs received first place votes in every poll of the year.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SHELLY SWING-POLZIN & OT SPORTSCHECK
Both programs have grown accustomed to playing into late November. Limon of course, owns the state record for state championships with 20 including the last three in Class 1A. La Jara, where Centauri is based, won a six-man crown in 1950 but the Falcons as a school have not captured a state championship but has recent finals appearances in 2013 and 2017. They’re also the last team to beat Limon in the playoffs with their 21-8 semifinal victory in 2017. Centauri is 3-0 all-time with Limon including victories in 2013 and 2014.
While looking back at history is fun, those numbers mean absolutely nothing when the Badgers and Falcons kickoff this Saturday at one o’clock in Pueblo. Tempo will play a more important role as Limon wants to run the football and control time of possession. Centauri would like to snap the football every 15 seconds on offense and expects big plays from both the running and passing game.
Centauri’s offense generates 41 points per game and that average includes a 2-0 forfeit win over Ignacio. They have balance with 184 yards per game on the ground and 130 through the air. RB Mason Claunch has enough speed to score from anywhere on the field and enters the championship game with 15 scores in just eight games. He’s also runs for 850 yards. QB Byron Shawcroft has 22 touchdown passes on the season with half of them ending in the hands of Baron Holman who leads the team with 27 catches overall.
Another threat is Deven Brady. The sophomore stepped in for Claunch in the conference clinching championship win over Monte Vista; rushing for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 11 attempts.
That offense created a 21-0 halftime lead over Buena Vista in the semifinals last Saturday and then exploded for another 21 points in the third quarter. Shawcroft hit 9 of 10 pass attempts for 166 yards with TD passes to both Holman and Peyton Polzin. Claunch had just 15 touches in the backfield but sprinted for 161 yards and two scores.
With Trey Hines, a three-year starter at QB, Limon has the ability to throw the football but they average just 74 yards per game because the running game has not been stopped all season. The Badgers compile 326 yards per contest and again have a potent 1-2 punch in Jeremiah Leeper and Gabe Schubarth. Leeper sits at 1,678 yards with 16 touchdowns while Schubarth has amassed 1,230 yards with 25 scores. Fullback Ky Bandy has also provided eight touchdowns and another 321 yards.
Leeper and Schubarth each ran for for 125 yards and combined for three scores in last week’s semifinal win over Wray (42-8). The Badgers also had big plays in the passing game as Hines was three for three with 131 yards and two touchdowns. One went to Kailer Schmidt for 75 yards and the second to Stephen Murray covered 40 yards.
On the season, Limon has 520 points in 12 games with Centauri totaling 453 over 11.
Neither team has given up much defensively. The Badgers have posted four shutouts and held four other teams to eight points or less. They allowed a season high 27 points to Wiggins late in the year. Centauri has surrendered 75 points the entire season with two shutouts and only two opponents have scored double figures (Pagosa Springs & Northfield).
The big play trend that leads the Centauri offense can also be found on the defensive side. The Falcons have recorded 105 tackles for loss this season including 18 from Claunch and 16 from Danny Brady. Centauri has forced 21 turnovers including 15 interceptions and the Falcons have returned six of those for touchdowns. Claunch has two of those returns and he’s also scored on a punt and kickoff return as well.
Leading tacklers include Zach Buhr (116), Claunch (90) and Holman (89). Other contributors include Blade Absmeier (68 tackles), Deven Brady (64) and Danny Brady (63). Ben Tailleur (60) is a sixth Falcon defender with at least 60 tackles on the year.
Limon’s defense pitched a shutout against Strasburg in the state finals last season and has allowed just 20 total points in their three recent title wins. Bandy tops the group with 101 tackles including 14 behind the line of scrimmage. Schubarth is second in both categories with 72 stops and 11 for loss. Brady Rockwell (47) and Hines (42) are also important leaders on that side of the ball.
The Badgers have 12 sacks and have created 18 turnovers. Hines has two interceptions has returned both a pick and fumble recovery for a touchdown this season. He also intercepted two passes in last year’s state championship game. Murray and Rockwell also have two interceptions this season.
Kickoff is at 1:00pm Saturday afternoon at CSU-Pueblo. It’s the third of four state finals at that location this weekend with six and eight man crowning their champions on Friday and the 2A final on Saturday evening.
