Back in 1903, Durango and Montrose played the first recorded football game between the two high schools in the Four Corners. To get to Durango, Montrose took the train that ran through Telluride and Dolores. This visiting team then spent the night at the Strater Hotel.
Durango won.
Friday, the rivalry will continue when Durango travels to Montrose for a battle of top-4 teams in their respective classifications.
The game will also be a homecoming of sorts for DHS head coach Todd Casebier. Casebier was the head coach at Montrose for 10 years, winning several league titles along the way.
“I was in Montrose 10 years and won a bunch of league titles, so it does have a special meaning to me,” Casebier said. “I also know how tough it is to win there so we’ll have to be at our very best.”
Montrose moved from No. 5 to No. 4 in CHSAANow’s class 4A rankings this week after beating the 4A No. 7 Fruita Monument Wildcats last week, 26-22.
On the strength of 293 rushing yards, and 57 through the air, MHS overcame a 22-13 halftime deficit to beat the Wildcats. The Indians started its season by beating Grand Junction Central, 46-6.
Durango, coming off a 3A state title last fall and coached by Casebier, who also won a 3A title at Rifle in the spring, has dominated its first two opponents. The Demons outscored Pagosa Springs and Aztec by a combined 112-0.
“We’re going to find out where we are at the next two weeks,” Casebier said, also referring to the team’s Sept. 17 game at Farmington. “But our focus is 100% on Montrose.”
The Demons are ranked No. 2 by CHSAANow in Class 3A behind Roosevelt.
Durango also has had a balanced offensive attack while flying around on defense to make plays and keep its opponents from scoring. In the team’s win against Aztec, the Demons rushed for five touchdowns while sophomore quarterback Tyler Harms three three touchdown passes. Harms, Nate Messier, Zach Haber and Dylan Whatcott also rushed for scores.
Friday’s game will kick off at 6 p.m. in Montrose.
Several other teams will also be in action tonight and this weekend.
Ignacio football (2-0) will play at Trinidad (0-1) Friday, ande Bayfield’s football team will have a week off before facing Aztec on Sept. 17.
The Durango volleyball team (0-3, 0-0 SWL) will take on Grand Junction (3-7, 0-1) tonight in its league opener.
DHS boys soccer (5-0-1, 1-0) will also take on Grand Junction (1-3, 0-0) on Saturday.
Bayfield soccer (1-2), fresh off a win over Kirtland Central, will play at Cortez (0-5) Friday.
Bayfield’s volleyball team (4-2) will play in a stacked Lewis Palmer tournament over the weekend.
Ignacio volleyball (2-1) will take on Telluride (2-3) in Telluride Saturday.
Durango golf will host its home tournaments Monday at Hillcrest Golf Club, and Tuesday at the Dalton Ranch Golf Club.
The Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio and Fort Lewis cross-country teams, meanwhile, will run in Alamosa Saturday at the Joe Vigil Invitational.
The Fort Lewis football team will play at Division I’s Tarleton State on Saturday.
FLC volleyball will rest up for its home opener Tuesday against New Mexico Highlands.
The men’s soccer team will play at Colorado School of Mines Friday and then at Regis University Sunday. The FLC women’s team, meanwhile, will play at the University of Texas at Tyler on Saturday. Senior Katie Smith was named the RMAC offensive player of the week after scorin three goals in the team’s first two games last week.
Both the FLC men’s and women’s golf teams will start their fall seasons Monday in Lakewood and Thornton, respectively.
colivas@durangoherald.com
