Durango High School turned in its best game last Saturday against Lutheran in the state quarterfinals. The Demons will need an even better performance this week.
No. 2 Holy Family (7-0) awaits No. 3 Durango (6-0) in the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 3A State Football Playoffs semifinals at noon Saturday at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium in Broomfield. Both teams will enter after lopsided quarterfinal wins, as Holy Family smashed No. 7 Evergreen 41-6 while the Demons disposed of No. 6 Lutheran 47-6.
Saturday’s showdown is a true heavyweight matchup between two dominant offensive lines, a pair of the state’s top defenses and offenses that have plenty of firepower.
“They are big, strong and fast. They are a great team that is well coached. We are not going to go over there and have a pushover,” DHS senior quarterback and safety Jordan Woolverton said. “It’s going to be a battle up front against some big dudes who are very skilled. Their size and skill against ours, it’s going to be a really fun battle to watch all game.”
It is a more than 350-mile road trip for the Durango Demons. And while the host may see that as an advantage, it is nothing new for a Demons team that routinely makes trips more than 300 miles for league games.
Holy Family, which is 4-0 in its home stadium this season, has run through all of its opponents this year by a combined score of 307-66. Durango, in one fewer game, has outscored its opposition 249-68 with a 3-0 mark in road games.
Much of the focus of the game will come on the offensive line. Holy Family boasts left tackle Cord Kringlen, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound left tackle who is committed to Boise State University. At left guard, the Tigers have 6-7, 320-pound junior Jacob Barry, nicknamed “The Mountain.”
Durango has plenty of talent on its offensive line that averages 252 pounds. It is led by 6-4, 280-pound center Joshua Bates, a Division I prospect in his own right.
“Being a lineman, you look across and you see kids that are huge,” said DHS senior lineman Rocco Estes. “The key is to not let them touch you. If they lock onto you, it’s going to be tough. We have to swipe their hands and keep them off. They are big, but I think we are faster and can get around them.”
Elite defenses will clash against powerful offenses. Holy Family’s defense has 12 interceptions this season, led by three from senior Justin Trostel. The Tigers also have recovered nine fumbles for 21 total takeaways through seven games.
Durango’s defense has 14 interceptions with four from Woolverton and three each for Zach Haber and Chase Robertson. The Demons’ defense also has a pair of fumble recoveries from senior linebacker Ford Pitts.
“One of the biggest things we work on is technique and everyone doing their individual job,” Pitts said. “They’re guaranteed to make more mistakes than us if we do our job. No matter what they do, we are going to make plays.”
The Demons have 11 quarterback sacks this season with four each from Pitts and Kyler Reimers. And when they don’t get a sack, Durango has had plenty of pressure with 22 quarterback hurries.
“We aren’t trying to kill guys and put them in the hospital, but it’s a mental thing that we want them to know if you’re going to play against Durango football, you’re in the line of fire,” Pitts said. “You’re gonna feel us every play. We aren’t the biggest or strongest. We don’t have a 100-man roster, but we have intensity and the drive to win a football game.”
As expected for a pair of semifinalists, neither team has turned the ball over much on offense. At quarterback for the Holy Family Tigers is senior Michael White. He has thrown for 1,145 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions with a 55.7 completion percentage. White’s go-to receivers are seniors Liam Gray, Oscar Sena and Benton Daniels. Gray leads the way with 17 catches for 415 yards and eight touchdowns. Sena has 13 grabs, four for touchdowns, and 352 yards. Daniels has snatched 15 passes for 226 yards and five touchdowns.
The two-headed Holy Family rushing attack is led by senior Trevin Johnson, who has 869 yards and 12 touchdowns on 99 carries for an average of 8.8 yards per carry. Senior Matt Mollendor has 413 yards and five more touchdowns on 69 carries.
“They are going to run the ball a lot and won’t stop until we stop it,” DHS linebacker Thomas Barnes said. “They will run to the left side behind those big guys, so we have to attack their weaknesses when we can. Stop the ball, play hard and get their linemen tired. It’s a big job.”
DHS head coach David Vogt, who calls the defense, is confident in his unit to get the job done.
“As long as we get off the ball and strike them, we’re going to be fine,” Vogt said. “We’re more athletic than them. I’ve challenged the defense this week to go for a shutout. I think we’re good enough to do that. I think we have the best defense in the state, and we want to try to prove we can be the most physical defense in the state, too.”
Vogt also believes Durango has the best offense in the state when fully healthy, like the Demons are going into this game.
Through only five games and a shoulder injury since Durango’s second game of the season, Woolverton has thrown for 783 yards and nine touchdowns to one interception. He has completed 62% of his passes. Holy Family head coach Michael Gabriel said the team is focused on not letting Woolverton beat them with his legs, as he has rushed for 254 yards and six touchdowns on only 30 carries.
Woolverton has his full arsenal of weapons at receiver with Ben Finneseth and Gage Mestas along with Robertson. Mestas has 16 catches for 326 yards and a touchdown. Finneseth has another 16 catches for 225 yards and three scores, while Robertson has six catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Woolverton has shown he can hit any receiver, as seven Demons have TD receptions this season.
“Having Ben and Gage’s speed outside, it’s a big part of our game,” Woolverton said. “Those guys make my job easy.”
Durango’s rush attack is also well balanced with junior Nate Messier leading the way with 488 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 totes. Finneseth has another 324 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 25 carries and is coming off a game in which he had rushing scores of 80 and 35 yards.
Special teams could be key in this game. Durango kicker Sam Carozza is 28-of-29 on extra points this year and 2-of-3 on field goals with a long of 37. Gray is one of the best kickers in the state for Holy Family. He is 34-of-34 on extra points and 5-of-6 on field goals with a long of 42 yards.
“It comes down to all the little things and not making mistakes in a game like this,” Vogt said. “You have to not get penalties, have to secure the ball and win that turnover battle. In the playoffs playing against teams that are just as good as you, it’s all about wanting it more and executing. This group of ours, they want it bad.”
Weather is not expected to be a factor in Broomfield. The forecast calls for temperatures near 50 degrees with winds below 10 mph.
DHS is in its first semifinal since 1997 and has not reached a state championship game since 1988. Holy Family will look to get back into a title game for the first time in 15 years.
“This is the first time we’ve played in a semifinal game in high school,” Woolverton said. “It’s a huge game for us and our town, too. We are not just representing ourselves but also Durango. It’s our first time here since 1997, and we have the opportunity to represent our town in a semifinal game. That’s huge. We are not taking it as a joke. We want to put a good name on Durango.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
Game info
Who:
No. 3 Durango (6-0) at No. 2 Holy Family (7-0)
What:
CHSAA Class 3A State Football Playoffs semifinals
When:
Noon Saturday
Where:
Mike G. Gabriel Stadium, Broomfield
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KKDG 99.7 FM
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@jlivi2
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