If the clock is running and the Durango Demons football team is playing, it is almost certain that Gavin Mestas is somewhere on the field. After all, sitting around watching time go by isn't something the DHS junior likes to do.
When talking about future prospects, Mestas, a football and baseball player for the Demons, has one requirement: “I just don't want to be sitting in an office all day when I'm old,” he said.
Unfortunately for coaches and players who will have to line up against Mestas, those days are a long way off, and they'll be seeing a lot of him.
Mestas is the Demons' wide receiver, safety, punter, punt returner, kicker and kick returner. In last week's season opening game against 2A's, No. 4 ranked Delta, the speedster scored every point the Demons put on the scoreboard.
His 42-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter gave the Demons their first lead of the season. On the next play from scrimmage, he picked off Delta senior quarterback Kole Roberts' pass and returned it for his second touchdown in a matter of seconds.
After scoring on offense and defense, Mestas took the kickoff to open the second half and ran it back 99 yards for his third touchdown of the game. He was also 3-for-3 kicking extra points.
Added all up, his 21 points were one better than the opponents as the Demons came away with a 21-20 win, and Mestas barely had a chance to take a seat.
He led the team with 104 receiving yards and tied for the most tackles with five to go along with kicking and punting duties.
He finished with 225 all-purpose yards.
“I just want to contribute and do the job, or jobs, I'm asked to do,” said Mestas, son of Gary and Malaika Mestas. “Everyone has a job to do and if the other guys didn't do their jobs, I wouldn't have had any touchdowns. They made it possible.”
As a sophomore, Mestas was a second team all-league selection in the 4A Pikes Peak League after racking up five touchdowns and finishing second on the team with 944 all-purpose yards, a number that will be easily surpassed this season if the first game is any indication of the near future.
“Gavin is such a good athlete and he brings so much to the table,” Durango head coach David Vogt said. “He might be the best guy we have on both sides of the ball. Football just clicked with him and it's not just the athleticism, he's putting in the time learning the playbook and studying film. He's preparing and at the same time teaching the younger guys how it's done.”
In the spring, Mestas shifts to the baseball diamond, where he played in every Durango varsity game his sophomore year. He was third on the team last spring with 15 runs scored and tied for second with four stolen bases. Luckily, he doesn't have to choose between the two sports now, but he might have to down the road.
“I love playing both equally, but I'm not that big of a guy,” Mestas said. “If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the one where I don't get hit.”
When his playing days are over, Mestas hopes to do something in wildlife biology or chemistry, his favorite areas of study.
“I'm from Durango,” he said. “I have a passion for hunting, fishing and outdoors stuff. I like to always be doing something not sitting around watching.”
Judging by the season opener, that's a bad thing for Durango's opponents.
jfries@durangoherald.com
Behind the scenes
What is your favorite sports movie?:
Facing the Giant
Who is your favorite athlete?:
Bryce Harper or DeAnthony Thomas
What is your favorite area restaurant?:
Seasons
What song gets stuck in your head often?:
Paper Chasers by Kevin Gates
What teacher has made a great impact on you?:
Mr. Ty Flom my Biology teacher. He was an athlete too, and he's helped me find a balance with school and sports.
Where is your least favorite place to play?:
Palmer Ridge. The weather was awful when we played there and the field was all torn up. It was tough.
What is your favorite outdoor activity?:
I've been hunting deer and elk since I was young. I love to fish, too.
Would you rather score a touchdown or hit a home run?:
It depends on the moment but I gotta say scoring a touchdown there's just nothing like it. Both are great.
Who is your celebrity crush?:
Selena Gomez
What place would you most like to visit one day?:
I'd love to see Italy and all of Europe one day. So much history.
