When the Durango High School football team lost a 24-20 heartbreaker to Pueblo East way back on Oct. 7, it was likely that the Demons would have to run the table and play nearly perfect football to make the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 3A Football Playoffs.
Five weeks later, riding a four-game winning streak and a wave of recent dominance, the No. 12 Demons (7-3) are headed to Longmont to play the undefeated, fifth-ranked Silver Creek Raptors (10-0) in the first round of the playoffs.
“We’re just excited to have the opportunity to keep playing because this has been so much fun,” Durango head coach David Vogt said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I’m proud of the boys for all the work they’ve put in and, I keep saying it, we just keep getting better and better every week that goes by.”
That isn’t just coach speak, either, as the Demons have been clobbering teams down the stretch. The offense has come together nicely, but the Durango defense has been serving up a steady diet of punishment that has allowed them to wear down opponents and dominate play in the second half.
The physical DHS defensive crew didn’t allow a point in last week’s 31-7 win at Harrison. An interception return was Harrison’s only score, but the team served up a goose egg back on Oct. 15 in a 46-0 win that sparked a dominant four-game winning streak in which the Demons have outscored opponents 154-27. The defense has allowed less than 14 points in six of the 10 games.
“The weight training we’ve done this year has really paid off,” Vogt said. “Just listening to some of the hits on the sidelines is exciting. It takes a toll on the other team.”
Gavin Mestas can score points for Durango in all facets of the game. He has eight touchdown catches as a receiver, two interception returns and four kick returns for touchdowns. He is the favorite target for senior quarterback Peyton Woolverton who has racked up 1,408 yards this season with 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Durango will need all of its firepower on offense and muscle on defense to slow down the unbeaten Raptors.
The two-headed power running game of the Demons is led by sophomore Dawson Marcum and junior Max Hyson. Together, they’ve amassed 1,199 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Durango will need its offensive firepower to click once again, and the defense will have to muscle up if they want to slow down the unbeaten Raptors.
Silver Creek quarterback Dylan Ordway has been a star at the quarterback position. The senior is completing passes at a 63-percent clip and his 23 touchdown to eight interception margin is a major factor in their success. Ordway has a variety of weapons in the passing game, particularly seniors Junior Ramirez and Khari Harrison. The two have combined to catch 15 of Ordway’s 23 passing scores. Ramirez leads the team with 12 touchdowns, six on the ground and six through the air. However, the bulk of the backfield work will come from junior Andreik Knechtel, who has 10 rushing touchdowns this season with 1,043 yards on the ground.
“They have a good quarterback and they like to spread it out a lot,” Vogt said. “They haven’t lost a game all season, so they’re going to be tough. Everyone is tough this time of year so it’s just going to come down to who can execute and make plays.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
If you go...
What:
CHSAA 3A State Football Playoffs
Where:
Silver Creek High School, Longmont.
When:
Saturday, 11 a.m.
Listen Live:
99.7 FM, KKDG
Twitter:
@The7thFreezer
