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Hayden football creams Lake County, 41-6

Tigers await word on playoffs

Joel Reichenberger

— The Hayden High School football team did all it could. Now the squad simply has to wait.

The Tigers rolled over Lake County on Friday night, racking up a big 41-6 win to close out the regular season and set their record to 5-4 and 4-1 in the Class 1A Western Slope League.

Even after the victory, Hayden’s spot in the playoffs was anything but certain, however. Nine spots in the 16-team bracket will be filled with wildcard teams, and the Tigers will be left hoping when it is released Sunday that they’ll be included.



“We’re going to be right on the bubble,” coach Shawn Baumgartner said. “I just don’t know.”

The team couldn’t have done much more Friday night to prove it belongs. Hayden junior running back Ryan Domson had his



second-consecutive huge game, and that helped lift the team on the road.

Domson rumbled for 173 yards on 12 carries, more than 14 yards per rushing attempt. He racked up four touchdowns, three on the ground with runs of 40, 30 and 9 yards, and one through the air, a 21-yard pass from junior quarterback Mark Doolin.

“Things are clicking for us,” Baumgartner said. “Our team has really come together. We’ve been really good these last two games, and we seem to be having some confidence as a team.”

Doolin picked up the other two scores, rushing from two yards out to establish a 7-0 first-quarter lead, then running another in from 28 yards.

Hayden led 7-0 after one, but exploded for 20 points in the second quarter to take a 27-0 lead into halftime.

It added two more scores in the third quarter, maintaining the shutout before Lake County finally got on the board in the fourth to set the final score.

“We took care of business,” Baumgartner said. “We did what we needed to do, so hopefully that helps us out.”

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253 or email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com


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