Demons win 49-14 to improve to 1-1; PVHS slips to 0-3
Jaxon Fancher of Durango High School breaks a Piedra Vista High School tackle on Friday at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The Durango High School football won its home opener on Friday 49-14 against the Piedra Vista Panthers.
The Demons scored six touchdowns in the first half to take a 42-7 lead into the break. On the third play of scrimmage in the second half, DHS forced Piedra Vista to fumble and Mason Palmer scooped up the ball and ran it 25 yards into the end zone to enact the running-clock mercy rule.
Piedra Vista was able to add a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it couldn’t catch the Demons and slipped to 0-3 overall.
DHS improved to 1-1 after losing to Farmington in its season opener.
“I think we executed our game plan and we didn’t have the mental mistakes or penalties (this week),” said DHS head coach Matt Burton.
DHS also set the tone right away.
Tate Rose returned the opening kickoff about 20 yards to midfield for the Demons. DHS then marched 53 yards in seven plays with four rushes and three passes. Quarterback Tyler Harms finished the drive by tossing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Louden Grimes.
Durango High School head football coach Matt Burton smiles after his team scores a touchdown against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
“I think we got our run game going and it allowed us to open some stuff up in our passing game,” Burton said.
Brigham Keiser picked up one rushing first down for Piedra Vista on the ensuing drive, but DHS forced the Panthers to punt.
DHS running back Jaxon Fancher busted free for a 37-yard rush to start the next drive. Harms then threw a 17-yard strike to Seb Tripp on third-and-13. A few plays later, Harms faked handoff and ran five yards into the end zone. On the extra point there was a problem on the snap but Harms, the holder, picked up the ball ran into the end zone to convert a 2-point conversion and put DHS up 14-0 with 4:07 remaining in the first.
Dane Matlock then made a pair of big plays on defense for Durango. Matlock first intercepted a Felipe Begay pass at midfield. DHS was forced to punt, but it got the ball back right away. Jacob Neubert hit Piedra Vista’s quarterback and forced a fumble on the next drive. Matlock was there to dive on it and recovered the ball inside Piedra Vista’s 10
Ryan Dugan later rushed into the end zone from a yard out and Dylan Burns’ kick put DHS up 21-0.
The Panthers answered on their next drive, which started at their own 48. After a nine-yard run from Keiser, Begay threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Mason Courtney.
Dylan McCoy of Piedra Vista High School moves the ball against Durango High School on Friday at DHS. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
“That offense is tough to stop,” Burton said. “Piedra Vista is well coached and ran a good scheme, but our defense played solid.”
Mason Palmer returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards into the end zone, but the touchdown return was negated by a holding penalty. The Demons, however, only needed two more plays to reach the end zone. Harms busted up the middle for a 52-yard run. Fancher then broke free for a 17-yard rushing touchdown.
Piedra Vista had two long catches wiped out by penalties on its next possession, but a Durango personal foul on fourth-and-30 extended the drive. The Panthers kept threatening and were just outside Durango’s red zone when Brett Hamer intercepted a pass for DHS.
On the next play, Peyton Dike of Durango got behind Piedra Vista’s secondary and Harms hit him in stride for a 75-yard throw and catch that put DHS up 35-7.
The Panthers faked a punt on their next drive and Begay connected with Hunter Schwartz for 17 yards to get a fresh set of downs. Piedra Vista, however, eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Durango then struck once more before halftime. After an eight-yard reception by Tripp and a 22-yard run by Fancher, Harms was forced to scramble out of the pocket, but saw Grimes open at the goal line and threw him a 25-yard touchdown pass.
DHS then enacted the running clock early in the third quarter. Piedra Vista’s final score came on a 10-yard pass from Begay to Cole Barnett.
“It feels great, but it’s not a surprise because of the coaches and the kids we have,” Burton said about his first win as Durango’s head coach. “It was a team win. On offense, defense and special teams, every aspect came together and executed.”
Durango will next play Aztec at 7 p.m. Thursday at DHS.
Aztec escaped Bayfield with a 28-22 win over the Wolverines on Friday to improve to 3-0 overall. The Wolverines begin 0-2 after the losing the battle and will next play at Moffat County (1-1) on Saturday.
Ignacio football also lost a close game on Friday, falling to Grand County 42-30 in Moab, Utah. In the first half, Nate Hendren had a 10-yard touchdown run, Rylan Martinez caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Zane Pontine and later Pontine ran four yards behind center Cruz Martinez for a score and IHS went into the half trailing 21-18.
The Bobcats, however, would get no closer and slipped to 0-2 to start the year.
Ignacio will play in its third state of the year on Friday when it takes on Wingate (2-1) in New Mexico.
Joel Priest contributed to this report.
The Durango High School football team runs onto the field before playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Durango High School football team runs onto the field before playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Durango High School Red Pride Marching Band takes to the field before the start of the DHS and Piedra Vista High School football game on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Durango High School Red Pride Marching Band takes to the field before the start of the DHS and Piedra Vista High School football game on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Tate Rose of Durango High School runs the ball against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Brigham Keiser of Piedra Vista High School moves the ball against Durango High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Jaxon Fancher of Durango High School breaks a Piedra Vista High School tackle on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Durango High School cheerleaders perform during the Piedra Vista High School game on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Peyton Dike of Durango High School lines up while playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quarterback Tyler Harms of Durango High School runs the ball against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Durango High School cheerleaders perform during the Piedra Vista High School game on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Color Guard marches before the start of the Durango High School and Piedra Vista High School football game on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Piedra Vista High School football team stands for the national anthem before playing Durango High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Nathan Beal of Durango High School makes a block while playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Seb Tripp of Durango High School makes a catch while playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quarterback Tyler Harms of Durango High School fakes a handoff to Jaxon Fancher while playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Tyler Harms of Durango High School runs through a huge hole while playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Louden Grimes of Durango High School catches a touchdown pass against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Louden Grimes of Durango High School breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Dylan McCoy of Piedra Vista High School moves the ball against Durango High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Durango High School head football coach Matt Burton smiles after the Demons score a touchdown against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Durango High School team stands during the national anthem before playing Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Brigham Keiser of Piedra Vista High School moves the ball against Durango High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Wyatt Bartel of Durango High School congratulates teammate Dane Matlock after he picked off a Piedra Vista High School pass on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Mason Palmer of Durango High School runs for a touchdown against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The Durango High School student section celebrates a DHS touchdown against Piedra Vista High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Piedra Vista High School punts the ball while playing Durango High School on Friday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
