There won’t be much of a feeling-out period or any sort of warm-up game for the Durango High School football team to get their feet under them at the start the 2016 season.
The Demons will get thrown right into the fire, and they’ll get a good idea of how they stack up this year after Friday night’s season opener in Delta. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The DHS opening-week opponents finished 11-2 and lost in the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 3A semifinals last season. However, like Durango, Delta dropped a classification and will be one of a handful for teams in their new 2A class. DHS is now in 3A.
Though Bayfield is the preseason No. 1 according to CHSAA, Delta received more first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, and MaxPreps.com has Delta ranked 14th in the state, well ahead of No. 27 Durango and No. 30 Bayfield.
The Panthers will be led by a pair of seniors that dominated the opposition last season, and the Demons’ secondary better be ready to deal with them.
“They’ve got a lot of talent returning from what was already a good team,” Demons head coach David Vogt said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “It’ll be a great test for us to start the season.”
Delta quarterback Kole Roberts and favorite target Beau Byers both finished in the top 10 in 3A at their positions last year. Roberts’ 2,091 passing yards were seventh in the state, and Byers was fifth in receiving yards with 1,034 to go with nine touchdown catches.
It’s no question that Demons’ free safety Gavin Mestas is going to have his hands full on defense with Delta’s air assault, but the opposing secondary will suffer if they lose Mestas when he lines up on offense.
Mestas is a threat no matter where he is on the field. The speedy, jack-of-all-trades junior is certain to burn cornerbacks on the outside, blow past special teams units as the return man and even use his feet as the Demons’ kicker and punter.
Senior quarterback Peyton Woolverton and the Demons’ offensive coaches will look to get Mestas the ball as often as possible after breaking out with five touchdowns as a sophomore. The Demons will have to be sharp on offense to put up points as the Delta defense had four shut outs last season.
“We’re going to mix it up offensively and keep their defense on their toes,” Vogt said. “And we’re going to be physical, fast, and tough in the trenches. That’s Durango football.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
Durango at Delta
What:
High school football
When:
7 p.m. Friday
Where:
Delta High School
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KKDG 99.7 FM
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