PUEBLO, Colo. - Haxtun captured their ninth 8-man football state championship in school history Friday night, defeating Akron 46-20 at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.

Senior quarterback Ryland Wolff scored four touchdowns, including two 67-yard runs. One of his long runs was on the opening play. 

“That was the best feeling ever,” Wolff said. “But I couldn’t do it without my line and teammates.”

Haxtun led 26-14 at halftime but saw its lead narrow to 26-20 late in the third quarter after Akron’s Jax Kusel recovered a fumbled snap in the end zone. The Bulldogs responded immediately, with Zach Statz breaking free for a 51-yard run that set up his own 1-yard touchdown, extending Haxtun’s lead to 34-20.

Wolff sealed the game with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including his 48-yard scoring run with just over three minutes remaining.

“It’s always hard to beat a good team twice,” Haxtun head coach J.D. Stone said. “Akron fought hard, but our boys made the plays we needed.”

The Bulldogs beat Akron 48-0 on Oct. 11. 

Akron, searching for its first title since 2008, scored on a 12-yard run by Anderson Filla and a recovered fumble but couldn’t keep pace.

Haxtun finishes the season 12-1, rebounding from last year’s title-game loss, and winning their first championship since 2021.

Tracy Renck with CHSAANow contributed to this report.