Durango football seniors say goodbye with 34-14 win

Saturday, Oct 29, 2016 12:52 PM Updated Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 3:44 PM

Senior day win is DHS’ third in a row

Durango’s Mannasseh Brockus fought through a hold to make a tackle to lead a dominant Durango defensive performance against Pueblo County.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango junior Max Hyson was pushed by quarterback Peyton Woolverton as the Demons fought for yards in a win against Pueblo County. Hyson eventually broke free for a 13-yard touchdown in the win.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Durango High School defense wrapped up the Pueblo County Hornets for yet another big win Saturday in Durango.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Kaleb McMunn of Durango High School makes a tackle while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango High School coaches Chris Woolverton, left, and Ryan Woolverton congratulates players for a job well done while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango High School defense wait for the snap Pueblo County High School player on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The cheer squad cheers on Durango High School while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jacob Bourdon of Durango High School makes a tackle while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango High School defense wrap a Pueblo County High School player on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The cheer squad cheers on Durango High School while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Durango High School defense wrap a Pueblo County High School player on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School fires off a pass while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jacob Bourdon of Durango High School looks for an opening while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Mannasseh Brockus of Durango High School fights his way and then makes a tackle while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Durango High School band performs during half time of the Durango Pueblo County High School football game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The Durango High School dance team performs during half time of the Durango Pueblo County High School football game on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School fights for inches and scores a touchdown while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School throws a completion to Jacob Bourdon while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Ball carrier Max Hyson gets pushed by Quarterback Peyton Woolverton of Durango High School as he fights for yardage while playing Pueblo County High School on Saturday at DHS. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

The emotions and celebrations of senior day at Durango High School didn’t distract the Demons’ football team one bit on Saturday.

Instead, Durango put up one of its best efforts of the season as it won a physical 34-14 matchup against new league opponent Pueblo County. The win was Durango’s third in a row, and the Demons (6-3, 3-1 3A South Central League) seem to be playing their best football heading into a critical final week showdown against Harrison.

“We feel like we are peaking at the right time now and we just have to keep that going,” Durango head coach David Vogt said. “We use an example like Loveland last year, which lost some games early and shocked people late in the year.”

It didn’t take long for senior quarterback Peyton Woolverton to announce his presence on senior day. After the Demons defense stopped a fourth down attempt on Pueblo County’s opening drive, Woolverton hit Gavin Mestas on a 54-yard pass play to set up a touchdown run by sophomore Dawson Marcum that gave the home team a 6-0 lead.

The Hornets answered back early in the second quarter to take a brief lead that didn’t last very long.

Down 7-6, Woolverton led a 12-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by Max Hyson. On the second play of the Hornets’ next drive, the Demons defense forced a fumble that setup a 34-yard touchdown pass from Woolverton to Mestas that gave DHS a 20-7 lead.

Woolverton added a rushing touchdown to give the Demons a 27-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Hornets (4-5, 1-3 SCL) wouldn’t go away.

They cut the deficit to 27-14 and had the ball at midfield halfway through the fourth quarter looking to turn it to a one-possession game. However, Demons’ freshman Everett Howland came up with a huge interception to shut the door on a potential comeback. For good measure, Marcum’s second rushing touchdown of the game sealed the deal for Durango’s third win in a row.

Woolverton finished the game 12-for-19 passing for 180 yards and a touchdown through the air to go with a rushing score.

“It’s a bit bittersweet because it’s the last game I’ll play in front of the hometown crowd,” said Woolverton.

Though there might not be another home game, the tight-knit group of seniors are locked in a battle for second place in the league with next week’s opponent, Harrison.

“No matter how you look at it, next week might be the last game we play,” said senior Richard Hall. “These are my brothers and we’ve been playing together since fourth grade. We’re going to finish this season like it’s our last, because this time it is.”

jfries@durangoherald.com