From their expectations at the beginning of the season to the makeup of their offenses, the Pueblo County Hornets and Alamosa Mean Moose could not have taken more disparate paths to the same destination – the Class 3A state football championship.
High-flying Alamosa (13-0) opened and ended the season at the top of the rankings, and quarterback Clay Garcia led a record-breaking offense that put up 602 points this season, more than 46 per game. The Mean Moose lived up to the hype, alternately blowing out a number of teams and winning the close games, including victories over these Hornets in the regular season and defending state champion Florence in the semifinals last week, both by scores of 21-20.
“Most teams have one good player that teams can key on. But we have so many weapons, it’s hard for teams to cover us,” said Alamosa receiver Jason Espinoza, who has 62 receptions for 1,351 yards.
Blue-collar Pueblo County, with a 10-3 record that includes a Week 2 forfeit to Prairie View, also has plenty of weapons, but who expected the Hornets to become the most confident, hard-hitting team in their classification?
The Hornets went 1-9 last season and hadn’t won a playoff game since 2003. Sure, there was plenty of talent on the preseason roster, but it takes more than just skill to put together this kind of run. Pueblo County answered all questions with a mix of a snarling defense and stunning upsets and near-upsets.
After dropping the season opener the Hornets ended Florence’s 15-game winning streak, went for two points and the win – but lost – to Alamosa, and then rolled Sterling, Steamboat Springs and Summit in the playoffs.
The Hornets are all ground game – Zach Martinez, Myles Martinez, unrelated, and Joe Pullara have combined for 2,716 rushing yards – and the defense prides itself on hitting.
“That’s what we do, hit people,” Myles Martinez said.
The South Metro foes will get a rematch of their regular-season classic at 1 p.m. Saturday at Alamosa’s Al Bennett Field, and it will be Alamosa’s third playoff game against a league opponent.
CLASS 3A: CHAMPIONSHIP STARTERS
ALAMOSA MEAN MOOSE (13-0)
Offense
QB Clay Garcia, 6-0, 219, Sr.
TB Sonny Yohn, 6-0, 200, Sr.
FB Jason Espinoza, 5-9, 184, Sr.
TE Dustin Bolt, 6-2, 200, Sr.
SB Nick Rogers, 5-11, 155, Sr.
SE Elario Rickey, 6-0, 165, Sr.
LT Bobby Cody, 6-1, 225, So.
LG Jeremiah Archuleta, 5-7, 205, Sr.
C Tim Hodges, 5-10, 180, Sr.
RG Mark Martinez, 5-10, 175, Sr.
RT Brian Ford, 6-3, 195. So.
K Dustin Bolt, 6-2, 200, Sr.
PK Jason Espinoza, 5-9, 183, Sr.
Defense
S Donovan Marquez, 5-9, 170, Jr.
CB Richie Meyer, 5-11, 170, Sr.
CB Jason Espinoza, 5-9, 184, Sr.
OLB Cody Yohn, 5-11, 170, Jr.
ILB Brian Ford, 6-3, 195, So.
MLB Sonny Yohn, 6-0, 200, Sr.
ILB Gabe Gutierrez, 5-9, 180, Sr.
OLB Dustin Bolt, 6-2, 200, Sr.
DE Arthur Espinoza, 5-7, 175, Jr.
NG Jeremiah Archuleta, 5-7, 205, Sr.
DE Logan Martinez, 5-11, 165, Sr.
P Jason Espinoza, 5-9, 184, Sr.
Coach: Manny Wasinger
STATISTICS
Rushing – S. Yohn, 123 carries, 931 yards, 7.6 avg., 17 TDs; Espinoza, 60-455-7.6-9; Garcia, 82-270-3.3-5.
Passing – Garcia, 314 attempts, 183 completions, 3,741 yards, 47 TDs, 8 INTs.
Receiving – Espinoza, 62 receptions, 1,351 yards, 21.8 avg., 17 TDs; Bolt, 59-1, 246-21.1-18; S. Yohn, 25-649-26.0-7; Rogers, 17-296-17.4-2; Meyer, 13-152-11.7-1.
Championship game appearances – 2-4 (1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1995, 2001)
PUEBLO COUNTY HORNETS (10-3)
Offense
QB J.T. Greenhood, 5-9, 150, Jr.
RB Myles Martinez, 5-8, 185, Sr.
RB Zach Martinez, 5-10, 190, Sr.
RB Joe Pullara, 5-11, 190, Jr.
TE Daryk Froman, 6-1, 220, Sr.
TE Myles Meserve, 6-3, 200, Jr.
OL Zach Bunn, 6-1, 185, Sr.
OL Brian Harshman, 6-2, 240, Sr.
OL Kyle Houston, 5-11, 215, Jr.
OL Jarret Martinez, 5-9, 225, So.
OL Max Stepan, 5-11, 210, Sr.
PK Garrett Hannafious, 5-11, 130, So.
Defense
FS Zach Maes, 5-10, 155, Sr.
CB J.T. Greenhood, 5-9, 150, Jr.
CB Isaac Hernandez, 5-5, 140, Sr.
LB Buddy Gonzales, 5-10, 240, Jr.
LB Myles Martinez, 5-8, 185, Sr.
LB Ty Martinez, 5-8, 190, Jr.
LB Zach Martinez, 5-10, 190, Sr.
LB Joe Pullara, 5-11, 190, Jr.
DE Zach Bunn, 6-1, 185, Sr.
DL Jarret Martinez, 5-9, 225, So.
DE Marvin Starkweather, 6-3, 195, Sr.
P Max Stepan, 5-11, 210, Sr.
Coach: Jeff Wilson
STATISTICS
Rushing – Z. Martinez, 160 carries, 1,092 yards, 6.8 avg., 8 TDs; Pullara, 143-865-6.0-9; M. Martinez, 96-759-7.9-8; Greenhood, 71-398-5.6-6.
Passing – Greenhood, 67 attempts, 38 completions, 628 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Receiving – Z. Martinez, 12 receptions, 117 yards, 9.8 avg., 1 TD; Pullara, 11-171-15.5-1; Meserve, 7-224-32.0-2.
First championship game appearance
