Peetz Blows lnto Six-Man Quarterfinals

Although entering the playoffs from the middle of the pack, Peetz showed it is still a team to be reckoned with, rolling over Flagler/Hi Plains 64-7 in the opening round of the Colorado Six-Man Playoffs Saturday.

As it has all year, Peetz used the one-two punch of a powerful running game and a smothering defense to muffle the Thunder's attempts to make some noise.

Peetz was on the receiving end of the opening kickoff and took just five plays to take the lead, on a 30-yard run by junior Cooper White.

Flagler/Hi Plains went three-and-out on its first possession, then met an unexpected foe in the high plains wind. Punting into the wind, the Thunder scrambled backward as a punt that originally looked like a good one was caught by the 35-mile-an-hour wind. The kick reversed course and landed at the Flagler/Hi Plains 37 yard line, two yards behind the line of srimmage.

Four plays later Peetz quarterback Zach Holtz connected on a rare Peetz pass to Gage Travis for a 13-yard touchdown play.

Again Flagler/Hi Plains went three-and-out, again leaving Peetz with a short field when the wind blew back an otherwise promising punt. Starting at the 10 yard line, Peetz scored quickly on another Holtz-to-Cooper pitch on the second play of the series. That was the last time Flagler/Hi Plans tried to punt.

That set the stage for a long afternoon for the Thunder, who's passing game went better in the second quarter with the wind. They managed a touchdown midway through the quarter, but were for the most part stifled by Peetz' defense.

By halftime the spread was just one point shy, 50-7, of playing the second half under a running clock. But the Bulldogs remedied that soon after the Thunder fumbled at midfield on its first possession. Peetz again needed just a handful of plays to score, initiating the running clock.

"They came out and played well today," said Peetz Coach Scott Sorensen "Things went the way we needed them to happen today."

Sorensen said while Flagler battled the wind, it didn't affect the Bulldog game plan much.

"We run the ball most of the time anyway," Sorensen said. "We just picked and chose the right times to throw the ball."

Defensivley, the Bulldogs play was what Sorensen hoped for, "although they kind of snuck out on us with a bunch of short passes in the second quarter."

Bryson Long led the Bulldogs with 159 yards rushing, three touchdowns and 16 tackles (11 solo) defensively. White also scored three touchdowns, with 123 yards rushing and was in on 10 tackles. Holtz made just two pass attempts, completing both for a total of 24 yards. He also ran for one touchdown and made 5 PATs.

Peetz will now meet Otis, which handed it one of two season losses on football's opening night. Sorensen said to beat Otis and keep its season alive, Peetz will have to contain one of the best running backs in the state in Bryce Miracle. The teams square off at 1 p.m. Saturday in Otis.