Durango High School’s football team will try to get back on track Friday night after suffering its first loss of the season last week in a game the Demons would like to put in the rearview mirror.
The 41-3 loss last Friday at No. 1 Pine Creek snapped Durango’s seven game winning streak but only bumped the team down one spot in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A rankings. The Demons (7-1, 2-1 Pikes Peak League) are still a respectable No. 6 heading into Friday’s matchup with Air Academy High School on the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Though the Kadets are winless in league play and currently on a four-game losing streak, this isn’t a cupcake matchup for Durango. Air Academy (3-5, 0-3 Pikes Peak League) started 3-1, and two of the three losses in the current streak came to No. 1 Pine Creek and No. 7 Palmer Ridge.
“This isn’t a tune-up by any means. They’re the real deal,” Durango head coach David Vogt said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Their quarterback is near the top in the state for passing yards, and they have two big receivers so we spent time preparing for that this week. They like to sling it, so we have some wrinkles we added in.”
Air Academy appropriately prefers to air it out on offense, and they have one of the premiere passing attacks in Class 4A. The Kadets average 276 passing yards a game to only 77 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Cale Powers has thrown for 2,172 yards this season, which ranks third in the state. Their two top receivers, Anthony Castellano and Bridger Waters, are both in the top 10 in receiving yards.
The Demons hope to bring their own air assault to Air Academy. Senior quarterback Terrence Trujillo has been firing missiles regularly this season, mostly to wide receiver Lucas Baken. When Baken hits the afterburners and Trujillo acquires his favorite target, a precision touchdown strike is often the result.
Last week was the first time the two didn’t connect for a score, but don’t expect the drought to last long. In the previous seven games, Trujillo and Baken hooked up for 11 touchdowns, and the Air Academy defense is susceptible to giving up a lot of points.
The Kadets gave up 72 points last week to Palmer Ridge. Pine Creek got them for 54 points, and Rampart’s offense scored 56.
The loss last week was also the first game Durango senior running back Lawrence Mayberry didn’t run for 100 yards. Coming off a 260-yard, three-touchdown performance on homecoming against Palmer Ridge, Pine Creek held Mayberry to 58 yards on 13 carries. The Demons were down big early, which limited Mayberry’s opportunities.
“We just have to get back to doing what we do, run the ball effectively and control the pace of the game,” Vogt said. “We need to take it one play at a time and execute the way we have been all year.”
Friday’s game begins at 6 p.m. Those who plan on attending must bring a government-issued photo identification to be allowed into the United States Air Force Academy.
jfries@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who: No. 6 Durango at Air Academy
What: Class 4A Pikes Peak League high school football
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Air Academy High School, Colorado Springs
Listen Live: KKDG 99.7 FM
Twitter: @The7thFreezer
