The sixth-grade Durango Demons’ Youth American Football League team, which won YAFL championships as fifth graders and third graders and has gone 30-1 over its last three years, started 2014 right where they left off.
They ran their winning streak to 11 games and now has scored 25 points or more in 11 consecutive games, dating back to last year’s championship run.
The sixth-grade Demons opened their 2014 season with a 27-6 victory Saturday in Aztec, which, coincidentally, matched their season-high points allowed from last season.
This year’s run started on defense; Niko Mestas intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards to the Tigers’ 3-yard line. Jordan Woolverton scored two plays later from 8 yards out, and Haezen Mestas added the extra point on the ground for an early 7-0 lead.
Solomon Gabel added a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Ty Martinez recovered a fumble, then Gage Mestas rushed 47 yards for a touchdown. Woolverton to Gabel on the extra point gave Durango a 20-0 lead, then Woolverton added a 6-yard touchdown run, with a Cal Walsh-rushing extra point, for a 27-0 halftime lead.
Alex Pavon and Demetrius Trujillo were credited on defense for containing a potent Aztec offense.
Durango will host the Farmington Wolfpack at 11 a.m. Saturday at Miller Middle School.
The fifth-grade Durango Demons started their season with a 24-0 shutout over Aztec.
Slow and methodical, these Demons started their 2014 scoring with an 11-play touchdown drive that ended with Jake Swift scoring from 5 yards out for an early 6-0 lead.
Defense, too, played a part in this Demons’ victory. Cass Maloney blocked a punt, the Demons recovered, and three plays later Swift scored again from 2 yards out for a 12-0 lead. Douglas Malcom intercepted Aztec and returned it to the 2-yard line, then quarterback Jordan Stanley carried it himself into the endzone for an 18-0 halftime lead.
After some tough running from Cole Matava, Nate Messier, Chase Robertson, Emmet Thompson and Swift, Stanley again QB-sneaked a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the final margin of victory.
Durango, whose defense held the Tigers to two first downs, one via penalty and one via rushing, will play Saturday at Bloomfield.
The fourth-grade Durango Demons won 18-13 at Farmington.
Tagert Bardin, Jeric Baruch and Micha Stahl all scored touchdowns, and AJ Fulk led the Demons’ defense with 15 tackles. Josh Bates finished the victory with eight tackles, three for a loss.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
