There’s plenty to be encouraged by if you’re a member of the Demons’ faithful.
The 2-0 start to open 2013 and head coach David Vogt’s tenure is the first for the Durango High School football team since 2009, coincidentally the first year in the tenure of Vogt’s predecessor, Greg Wyatt.
Now, it’s early. Very early. DHS hasn’t hit arguably the toughest portion of its nonconference schedule – Friday’s home game against 2-0 Piedra Vista and a road trip in two weeks to Palisade, No. 6 in the chsaanow.com Class 3A poll – much less the Southwestern League slate.
But, in an admittedly small sample size, the Demons have outscored opponents 96-21, earning two mercy-rule, running-clock victories in the process. Seven different Demons have found the endzone thus far, both Jeremy Szura and Hayden Sill have thrown touchdown passes, and the wins have been impressive enough to earn DHS 13 votes in the latest chsaanow.com Class 4A poll.
So forgive the Demons if they’re a bit energized about what’s transpired two games in.
“I think it’s good for our kids just to have that statement,” Vogt said. “We’ve been telling them all week just to make a statement out of every game that we play.”
Isiah Mayberry, who has a blocked punt and a rushing touchdown to go with his strong work at linebacker, said a big reason for the quick start dates back to the summer and a revamped weightlifting program. The senior said the Demons physically are more stout than last year.
“I think the weight room has really been the key to our success,” he said. “That’s basically it. We’ve just been small the past few years. Once we got coach Vogt in here, who actually got on our (butts) and started working, we’ve just been clicking with one another.”
There’s also quality experience in the trenches, particularly the offensive line. The O-line – despite losing All-SWL performer Austin Miles to graduation and the CSU-Pueblo program – starts four seniors and a junior, and junior lineman Jordan McKnight said continuity is key in helping the Demons churn out a robust amount of points this early in ths season.
“We’ve got a lot of seniors. We lost about four last year,” McKnight said. “This year ... our whole offensive line is seniors except for me. We have a lot of seniors, and they really help stepping up and showing leadership.”
Now comes the next test. Piedra Vista, much like Cheyenne Mountain, hung a lopsided loss on the Demons, winning 43-6 last year in Farmington. The Panthers are ranked 13th in New Mexico according to maxpreps.com and boast a 31-30 win over Miyamura and a 47-21 victory over Grants so far this season.
Durango will try to flip the script on Piedra Vista as they did Cheyenne Mountain, which the Demons beat 54-14 in the season opener. And, much like Cheyenne Mountain, Piedra Vista presents one more chance for DHS to open some more eyes both locally and statewide.
“We’re ready for a competitive game,” McKnight said. “We’re working hard for it, watching a lot of film, so I think we’ll be ready.”
rowens@durangoherald.com
