Defense is the name of the game for Centauri versus Limon

ALAMOSA — As the clocked wound down the Centauri football team were already beginning to savor the victory. It had been a 3 possession game for the majority of the second half and they were just waiting for the clock to run out. Centauri had capitalized on the mistakes made by Monte Vista cashing in on 28 points off turnovers, for a final score of 35-7. Meanwhile 240 miles away Limon was staving off #2 Meeker, in an 18-14 win.


Upsets don’t seem commonplace in prep football as many are either lopsided or worse yet mercy rules. So it comes as no surprise that many people were expecting Meeker to run roughshod over the tenth ranked Badgers. Spectators leaving Harvey Sullivan Field in Monte Vista spectators could be heard saying, “Meeker is going to be tough” without knowing the final score from up north.


A cursory glance at their stats and the Badgers don’t look all that intimidating, Limon has been a run first offense through the regular season, keeping it on the ground for 79 percent of recorded snaps. And their leading rusher Hauk Hubbard has gotten 817 yards, good for 6.1 yards per carry with ten scores. Not particularly nightmare fuel with wins against the likes of Paonia and Monte Vista under Centauri’s belt.


 In the passing game the Badgers look to Cannan Bennet. Bennet is decently accurate going just about 50 percent on his passes having thrown for 684 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense the Badgers are pretty good as well, as a team they have gotten to the quarterback 12 times for sacks and recorded 18 takeaways.


But local viewers have seen attacking defenses before as Centauri has 31.5 sacks and 21 takeaways. In the regular season the Meeker Cowboys were protecting a perfect record and were averaging over 36 points per game. In the post season their success continued with a 50-point shutout of Cornerstone Christian Academy. Against the Badgers their vaunted pass attack was stifled for 108 yards all game. Their rushing attack was kept equally silent only mustering 97 yards.


And so it goes the further one delves into Limon's schedule. Individually the players don’t jump out but as a team it’s a different story. In nine games Limon posted 6 shutouts. Throughout the regular season the Badgers only allowed 6 points per game.  And if there was any question about competition, they have kept that number low averaging 10 points per game to post season teams.


Centauri’s own defense is nothing to scoff at as in 8 games they have 4 shutouts and have allowed just under 5 points per game. In the post season that number only budged to 7 points per game.  


Expect a low scoring affair as the defenses make the offense earn every yard in La Jara on Saturday Nov. 18 at 1 p.m.