Durango’s Gavin Mestas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown on Durango’s new home turf field, setting the tone in a 32-26 win.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Army Golden Knights make a special appearance before the start of the Durango High School football game against Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Army Golden Knights make a special appearance before the start of the Durango High School football game against Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Army Golden Knights make a special appearance before the start of the Durango High School football game against Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jacob Bourdon of Durango High School rushes Kody Becenti of Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mannasseh Brockus aof Durango High School tackles Axel Fowler of Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mannasseh Brockusleft, and Max Hyson of Durango High School tackle Kody Becenti of Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School looks for open field while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School gets protection from the line while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School gets gets hit while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School tries to bring in a pass while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School punts the ball while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Alex Hise, left, and Travis Von Tersch of Durango High School tackles Axel Fowler of Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School takes on Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kody Becenti of Farmington High School looks for a receiver while playing Durango High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School looks for open field while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School students cheer on their team while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School gets protection from the line while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School takes on Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Justin Williams of Farmington High School makes a catch but looses it after getting hit by Alex Hise and Dawson Marcum on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Mannasseh Brockus and head coach David Vogt of Durango High School celebrates stopping Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kody Becenti of Farmington High School runs the ball while playing Durango High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School brings in a pass for a touchdown while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School brings in a pass for a touchdown while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gavin Mestas of Durango High School scores a touchdown and celebrates with Dawson Marcum while playing Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Durango High School plays their first game on the new field against Farmington High School on Friday night at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
It didn’t take long for the Durango Demons football team to break in the new turf and put points on the new scoreboard Friday night.
With only 12 seconds ticked off in the team’s first game of the year in their fresh new stadium, Gavin Mestas introduced the 2016 Demons to the hometown faithful by taking the opening kickoff 90 yards kick for a touchdown.
“I’ve been envisioning the opening kick all week,” said Mestas, son of Gary and Malaika Mestas. “I saw a huge hole, and the kick team made it all happen for me.”
Mestas added another touchdown later in the half, and sophomore running back Dawson Marcum carried the ball 19 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns as Durango beat Farmington 32-26.
“We want our guys to play quick and the field here makes them even faster.” DHS head coach David Vogt said of his speedburners on offense.
Everett Howland led the Durango defense with an interception and a fumble recovery. The Scorpions (0-4) led in time of possession but were forced into committing four turnovers and were continually stuffed by the Durango defense in the red zone.
“We take pride and hang our hat on being tough on defense creating turnovers,” Vogt said. “We fought hard and I’m proud of the way we hung in there when we needed to.”
Mestas’ early sprint and a 41-yard touchdown reception later in the half from quarterback Peyton Woolverton gave the Demons a 13-0 lead.
The Demons senior quarterback finished 12-for-20 passing with 141 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
Marcum’s first touchdown run capped off a three-play, 54 yard drive in which he rumbled for every yard.
“My line just kept opening holes and I just took what they gave me,” said Marcum, son of Damian and Stephanie Marcum. “I feel strong. All those early morning workouts are paying off I guess.”
The score pumped the lead up to 20-0, but the Scorpions did well to stay in the game.
Durango (2-0) led 20-6 at half, but Farmington cut the deficit on the first possession of the second half with a touchdown on fourth-and-11 pass play from Scorpions quarterback Kody Becenti to Ethan Todd.
Marcum’s second touchdown of the night gave the Demons a 26-13 lead, but Becenti’s third touchdown pass, a 70-yard bomb to Donovan Gonzalez, brought his team back to within six with 7:23 remaining in the game. Woolverton and the Demons offense fed their big backs, Max Hyson and Marcum, who plowed through the opposing defense repeatedly until Hyson carried the whole defensive line into the end zone for a touchdown that seemed to put the game away.
Farmington wasn’t done, though.
Becenti answered with his fourth touchdown pass of the night, another 70-yard strike to Gonzalez that put some doubt into the hometown crowd.
The Farmington senior quarterback racked up 381 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss.
The Scorpions had the ball back with 18 seconds left in Durango territory after a bad snap squandered a punt attempt, but time ran out on the Scorpions comeback.
Durango will host Bayfield for the first time in 79 years at 7 p.m. Friday for homecoming.
“We should have been playing Bayfield every year,” Vogt said. “Two great programs so close to each other, we can’t wait.”
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