Grant Statz helps Haxtun to 8-man state championship in Colorado

    The Haxtun, Colorado football team capped an undefeated season with an eight-man state championship Nov. 26.
    Grant Statz, grandson of Champion’s Bud and Sharon Statz, helped anchor the Bulldog defense and finished seventh in Colorado in tackles.
    Haxtun blew through the Class 1A playoffs with wins over Byers, 56-16, Akron, 42-24, and Holly, 46-26, before facing undefeated Mancos in the state championship game.
    Played at Colorado State University-Pueblo, Haxtun rolled to a 40-0 win for the school’s first title since 2004.
    Statz had a team-high nine tackles in the game.
    Over the course of the season, the 5’9”, 160 pound freshman totaled 38 solo tackles, 79 assists and three sacks.
    He also had 55 kickoffs on the season with five touchbacks and an average of 39.3. His total yards on kickoffs was second in Class 1A.
    As a backup running back, Statz had 16 carries for 169 yard on the season, three touchdowns and eight conversions.
    Haxtun had two players finish with at least 1,400 yards and in the top seven of Class 1A.
    Along with Statz, Haxtun had two other players in the top eight for tackles.
    Haxtun had six players named to the all-conference team and four, including Statz, earning honorable mention.
    This season was a family affair for the Statz family.
    Grant’s dad, Steve, helped on the chain gang for Haxtun and his mom, Lila, took time away from her day job as a doctor to serve as the team’s trainer.
    Bud and Sharon made the trip to Pueblo for the game with their daughter, Coletta.