BAYFIELD – Bayfield High School football fans still talk about the glory years of 2015 and 2017 when they rolled to state championships, defeating both Durango and Farmington in the meantime.
But the program has been hit by hard times since COVID, with dwindling participation and only eight wins in the past four losing seasons.
New coach Rocky Long also has great memories, even older than his young Wolverines.
Long came to the University of New Mexico from California to become the quarterback for the Lobos in 1969-71, earning WAC Offensive Player of the Year in his final season.
He started his coaching career almost 50 years ago, winning more games at his alma mater than any football coach in UNM history during his 11-year stint. He then led San Diego State (2011-2019) and earned MWC Coach of the Year during that stretch.
Having spent the summer in the Durango area, Long and his wife retired in the area, and he helped with the Ft. Lewis program in 2024, then at Durango High in 2025 before taking the head job for the Wolverines.
“We expect to be young and small this season. They’re good kids and work hard but we could use some more numbers,” Long said, referring to the 24 players in uniform this week. “With school starting this week, we hope more kids might come out.”
He pointed to Harrison Williams and Cole McWhirter as two returning starters who will play an important part of the team this season.
Williams, a sophomore receiver, is following in his brother’s footsteps. Lincoln Williams starred as an all-around athlete at BHS two years ago. “We are more like a team this season,” Harrison said. “Everybody is working together and focused on improving every week.”
He has high hopes that the Wolverines, 3-6 last season, can make the playoffs.
“The senior leadership was active in the weight room this summer and attended several camps.”
Williams’ best friend, McWhirter, smiles when he talks about his debut as Wolverine quarterback in his sophomore season’s opening game against Aztec.
“Yeah, that was one of the best games with four touchdown passes and 14 of 18 passing,” he remembers.
Now a senior, he believes the discipline on the team demanded by Long will make a difference.
“It’s going to be a lot more enjoyable as we start building a new culture.”
Both players are all grins when they talk about playing for a coaching legend like Rocky Long.
The difference between college and high school football programs is obvious.
In the way to approach and teach a younger athlete, Long said, “you expect college recruits to have the basic fundamentals when they arrive on campus. Teaching those fundamentals is an important part of high school coaching, especially the underclassmen.”
Friday night, Bayfield opens its 89th football season against the Aztec Tigers, an opponent dating back to the original 1925 encounter. Bayfield has handled the Tigers convincingly in the last two seasons.
“We don’t know much about them but understand they have practically doubled their participation from last year,” said Long, “They have a new coach with championship credentials.”
The Bayfield schedule this season has the 2A Wolverines playing in a 1A league. While that sounds like an inviting opportunity, three of those league opponents are ranked in the top-10 in 1A.
Aztec, with its own new coach, Colton Weaver, an AHS alumnus, came over from Bloomfield where he was offensive coordinator for the state champion Bobcats. He inherits a program that boasts only one win in the past two seasons. Game time at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium is 7 p.m.