The Durango Demons started dominating the Eagle Valley Devils soon after the opening whistle blew. Just two plays in, to be exact.
On that second play, quarterback Tyler Harms threw a beautiful deep ball down the right side to wide receiver Seb Tripp at the opposing 40-yard line. Tripp then took it to the house for a 70-yard touchdown reception about 40 seconds in.
Durango was in control from there on, scoring touchdowns on three of its first six offensive plays en route to a 48-7 homecoming victory on Friday night.
With the win, Durango improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the 3A Western Slope league. Eagle Valley fell to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in 3A Western Slope league play.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who you line up against,” Durango coach Matt Burton said. “It’s about us playing our football and dominating, but dominating with class.”
Jaxon Fancher led the way for the Demons. The running back rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter.
“Jaxon, three touchdowns and close to 100 yards on not very many carries, because up front they dominated and up front. They’re creating lanes for Jaxon to get in and do his thing,” Burton said.
Harms had an easy night managing the game as Durango’s skill players dominated. Harms threw for two touchdowns and no interceptions before the starters were pulled after the third quarter.
After Durango kicked the ball to Eagle Valley after the opening score, but EVHS fumbled an outside toss at its own 10-yard line on its first play from scrimmage.
The Demons recovered the ball, and running back Ryan Dugan punched it in on third-and-goal with 10:11 left in the first quarter for Durango’s second score of the night.
Eagle Valley had a few first downs on its next drive, but was forced to punt after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty killed that drive.
Then, on only its sixth offensive play of the night, Fancher seemingly had miles of room to run in a 45-yard touchdown. The Demons led 20-0 with 5:03 left in the first quarter.
After numerous punts by Eagle Valley, Fancher quickly rushed for two more scores before the end of the first quarter, one from 15 yards out and the other from 20 yards out. Durango led 34-0 after one quarter.
Eagle Valley got to the Demons’ 38-yard line early in the second quarter, but Durango’s Braxton Waddell came through with a huge sack.
On the next play, Eagle Valley quarterback Caiven Lake tried to evade a sack and got lit up, losing the ball in the process.
Durango’s Gage Voiles scooped the ball up and took it 44 yards for a score, putting the Demons up 41-0 with eight minutes left in the second. That’s when the running clock turned on, and the countdown to inevitable victory began.
Harms’ second touchdown pass came shortly after with a 28-yard pass to Peyton Dike.
Durango led 48-0 at halftime, despite only running 15 offensive plays.
Eagle Valley got on the board with about two minutes left in the third quarter, thanks to a 9-yard touchdown reception by Camden Carle, but the game was already long over.
The Demons wrap up the regular season next Friday at Palisade.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
