Ignacio Football head coach 'Ponch' Garcia discusses matters with an official prior to the Bobcats' home game versus Center earlier this season. He regretted to inform the media that Ignacio's Oct. 19 win over Dolores will be the team's last game. Ignacio is forfeiting the scheduled Oct. 26 season finale to Centauri.
Ignacio Football head coach 'Ponch' Garcia discusses matters with an official prior to the Bobcats' home game versus Center earlier this season. He regretted to inform the media that Ignacio's Oct. 19 win over Dolores will be the team's last game. Ignacio is forfeiting the scheduled Oct. 26 season finale to Centauri.Joel Priest/Pine River Times

“I apologize to everybody for that. That was my call,” said Garcia, acknowledging the decision may not be popular. “I have 13 kids, they’ve got…I don’t know how many, and I don’t want to see my kids hurt to end the season.”

“They’ve worked their asses off,” he stressed, “and I want them to be healthy for the next sport they’re going to play.”

Centauri began Southern Peaks Conference work with a 55-19 rout of Center on Sept. 28, then mangled Monte Vista 45-8 – in Monte Vista on Oct. 5, before they were to welcome Dolores (which had already lost 52-0 to MVHS).

IHS’ forfeit will boost the postseason-bound Falcons to 7-2 overall and a first-place 4-0 in conference. The Bobcats will finish 2018 standing 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the SoPeaks. The Bobcats’ final placing will be determined by the Oct. 26 Center-at-Dolores contest.

Centauri is now ranked #4 in the CHSAANow.com 1A poll released Oct. 15. The Falcons lost a tense 12-7 non-conference clash at #10 Florence on Oct. 19.